Asm. Pam Lampitt

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retailers from selling over-the-counter diet pills (for weight loss) or muscle-building dietary supplements to anyone under 18 without a parent or guardian present. It specifically excludes basic protein powders, drinks, and protein-fortified foods unless they contain additional muscle-building ingredients. Retailers violating this law face civil fines up to $750 per violation, collected by local health agencies or courts. The law does not apply to products prescribed by licensed healthcare providers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2652 revises laws to better protect children from sexual exploitation. It creates a civil right for victims (or their guardians/advocacy groups) to sue perpetrators for three times the profits gained from distributing child sexual abuse material, holding both individuals and corporate employees personally liable. The bill also expands sex offender registration requirements to include anyone working with children in schools or jobs for over 14 consecutive days, clarifies which offenses trigger registration (like creating or sharing exploitative material), and adds a limited exception for juvenile-created nude photos under strict conditions. These changes directly affect victims of child exploitation, perpetrators, and institutions that facilitate such abuse. The law passed unanimously in 2024 (P.L.2024, c.92).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires healthcare providers to help pregnant patients create personalized postpartum care plans during prenatal visits. It mandates that plans include specific elements like care team contacts, breastfeeding guidance, mental health support for postpartum depression, and management strategies for physical complications. Hospitals must also provide standardized discharge information covering warning signs of postpartum complications (such as severe bleeding, high blood pressure, and infection) before patients leave after childbirth, pregnancy loss, or stillbirth. The law directly affects pregnant people in New Jersey receiving maternity care, aiming to address preventable maternal health issues and reduce disparities in maternal mortality rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Stay NJ property tax credit program, providing eligible senior citizens (65+ years old) with a property tax credit equal to 50% of their property tax bill, up to a maximum of $6,500 for tax year 2026 (with annual adjustments based on property tax increases). The program targets New Jersey residents with annual income under $500,000 who own or rent their principal residence as a homestead. Eligible claimants will receive the greater of the Stay NJ credit or the combined ANCHOR rebate and homestead property tax reimbursement, with a single application process to replace current multiple programs. The credit will be implemented starting in 2026, with applications accepted February 1 through October 31 each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1,000,000 to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to study pediatric mental health care access for children. It requires the Institute to form a stakeholder group (including providers, administrators, and experts from all regions) to map the family journey in accessing care, identify barriers, eligibility rules, funding structures, and disparities by race/ethnicity. Within 13 months, the group must produce two reports: a visual map of the care access process and a summary of system issues with policy recommendations. The Department of Children and Families will then submit these reports to the Governor and Legislature within 15 months of enactment, making them publicly available online.

Maddy summaryAJR 60 is a joint resolution declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" to honor veterans and active duty military members from the state who have been awarded the Purple Heart Medal. The Purple Heart is a military decoration given to service members wounded or killed in action while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. This resolution joins three existing "Purple Heart States" (West Virginia, Virginia, and Washington) and takes effect immediately, recognizing New Jersey's existing connections to the "Purple Heart Trail" - a network of roads, bridges, and monuments honoring recipients. It serves as a symbolic tribute without creating new programs, funding, or legal obligations.

Maddy summaryAJR 25 designates the first full week of May each year as "Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public awareness about the challenges faced by military veterans with physical or mental injuries sustained in service, including those with combat-related stress, PTSD, or traumatic brain injuries. It requests the governor issue a proclamation encouraging New Jersey residents and officials to observe the week with activities honoring wounded warriors. The bill does not create new programs, allocate funding, or impose obligations on state agencies - it is purely a ceremonial designation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 131) urges the federal government to update the poverty threshold used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs. It argues the current federal poverty line - based on 1960s food costs and unchanged for decades - fails to account for modern expenses like housing, healthcare, and transportation, leaving millions who struggle to afford basics ineligible for aid. The resolution states that 53 million households face hardship but only 37.9 million are officially counted as poor under the current measure. It directly affects low-income households excluded from programs like Medicaid and food assistance due to the outdated calculation, especially amid rising costs since 2020. The resolution has no binding effect but requests federal action to expand access to public assistance.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 165) urges the U.S. federal government to create legislation providing proportional property tax relief for veterans with service-connected permanent disabilities. It proposes that veterans receive tax relief based on their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (e.g., 30% disability would yield 30% tax relief), limited to their primary residence and veterans earning under $200,000 annually. The resolution highlights that New Jersey currently offers full property tax exemptions for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities, but this federal standard would extend similar proportional benefits to veterans nationwide. It does not create new state law but calls for federal action to ensure consistent support for veterans across all states.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 95) urges Congress to permanently change federal tax law so that all forgiven student loans become tax-free. Currently, borrowers who have student debt discharged through programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness or death/disability (but only until 2026) do not owe income tax on the forgiven amount, but other forms of forgiveness - such as after 20 or 25 years in Income-Driven Repayment Plans - still require borrowers to pay federal income tax on the discharged debt. The resolution requests Congress make all student loan discharge tax-free permanently, directly affecting borrowers who receive loan forgiveness but face unexpected tax bills. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change law but formally requests federal action.