Asm. Melinda Kane

Maddy summaryThe Climate Superfund Act (A 3735) holds fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments into a state fund. Companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels during 1995-2026 and emitted over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases must pay based on their proportional liability, with joint liability for companies in a "controlled group." Funds collected will be distributed to implement climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs in overburdened communities. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to manage payments and fund these projects.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill authorizes school districts to issue an alternate high school diploma to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities who participate in the state's Alternate Assessment Program. Starting in the 2027-2028 school year, these diplomas will be standards-based and require students to complete specific curriculum units in subjects like English, mathematics, and science using alternate academic achievement standards. The legislation ensures that receiving an alternate diploma does not end a student's right to special education services until they turn 21 and allows these students to be included in state graduation rate calculations. Additionally, the bill permits students to attempt to meet the requirements for a standard State-endorsed diploma and clarifies that participation in the alternate program does not determine their educational placement under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed businesses in New Jersey to manufacture and sell ice cream and other frozen desserts containing up to 5% alcohol by volume without needing a separate liquor license. The products must be sold in sealed packages that display specific warnings about age restrictions, pregnancy risks, and impaired driving. Selling these desserts to anyone under the legal drinking age is classified as a disorderly persons offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes that the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police will hold the rank of Colonel and be authorized to wear the corresponding uniform. It requires the superintendent to be a graduate of the State Police Academy and to maintain an active law enforcement license if they do not already possess one. Additionally, the legislation allows retired state police officers to be appointed as superintendent without needing to rejoin the retirement system, regardless of their age or previous retirant status. These changes directly affect the leadership structure and hiring qualifications for the top position within the state police force.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Health to create clinical guidelines for managing pain during outpatient gynecological procedures, such as cervical biopsies and IUD insertions. The guidelines must recommend specific pain relief methods, including local anesthesia and analgesics, and will be developed within 180 days after the law is passed. Before finalizing these rules, the Department must form an advisory committee made up of healthcare providers, medical professionals, and patient advocates to provide input and monitor the guidelines' effectiveness. The legislation also requires the Department to update the guidelines periodically based on ongoing surveys and feedback from the advisory committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-1950) requires all general and special hospitals in New Jersey to adopt evidence-based protocols for early sepsis recognition and treatment. The protocols must include distinct guidelines for adult and pediatric patients, covering screening, treatment goals, infection source identification, and antibiotic timing, while specifying cases where treatment isn’t appropriate (e.g., palliative care). Hospitals must train relevant staff, submit protocols to the Department of Health for approval within 120 days of enactment, and annually report data to track adherence and mortality rates. These protocols aim to improve outcomes for sepsis patients, a condition that causes over 28% of deaths in New Jersey and is the eighth-leading cause of death in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Holistic Representation Model" statewide within the Office of the Public Defender to expand a pilot program that previously operated in three counties. The law requires each regional office to form teams for eligible clients that pair a public defender attorney with a non-attorney client services specialist. These specialists are tasked with connecting individuals to resources for mental health, substance abuse, housing, employment, and other life challenges while attorneys focus on legal defense. The act also mandates the creation of databases to track community resources and requires all team members to maintain client confidentiality.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill designates May of each year as "Mothers' Grief Awareness Month" to honor mothers who have lost children and to raise awareness about the mental health challenges they face. The resolution requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. By aligning this observance with Mother's Day, the bill aims to ensure that grieving mothers are recognized and supported rather than feeling forgotten on a day that may otherwise cause them pain.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets strict deadlines for the New Jersey Commissioner of Education to review annual audits submitted by Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities (APSSDs). For audits submitted after the bill's effective date, the Commissioner must complete the review within seven years of submission; for older audits, the deadline is seven years after submission or two years after the bill's effective date (whichever is later). If the Commissioner misses these deadlines, the audit is automatically approved, preventing indefinite delays that previously disrupted school district budgeting and created unfair financial penalties for APSSDs. The bill directly affects APSSDs and the school districts that fund them through tuition payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2355) requires New Jersey to provide one free certified copy of a birth certificate to military veterans who were born in New Jersey. It directly affects eligible veterans - defined as individuals discharged from U.S. Armed Forces or the American Merchant Marine (WWII) who are eligible for federal benefits - excluding those discharged under dishonorable circumstances. The law specifies that only one free copy is issued per veteran, with all additional copies subject to standard fees. The provision amends existing state law to add this free service specifically for veterans' birth certificates.