Sen. Patrick Diegnan

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Transportation Commissioner and Highway Safety Director to update public awareness campaigns annually, including specific information about motorists' duty to slow down or change lanes when approaching pedestrians, bicycles, or personal conveyances (as defined in existing law C.39:4-92.4). It mandates that these campaigns explain the importance of complying with this rule, the risks of not following it, and the associated penalties. The campaigns must also include at least one annual use of variable message signs to inform drivers. The bill amends existing laws to integrate these requirements into routine safety communications.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act" to protect immigrants interacting with state and local government agencies. It prohibits public agencies, including law enforcement, schools, hospitals, and shelters, from collecting immigration status information unless strictly necessary for service eligibility. The bill bans state and local law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities with detainers, notification requests, or transfers, and requires adoption of policies ensuring sensitive locations remain accessible to all residents regardless of immigration status. It mandates training for law enforcement officials and public awareness campaigns about these protections, with annual reporting requirements for agencies interacting with federal immigration authorities.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3694 prohibits businesses from owning, controlling, installing, managing, selling, or offering cryptocurrency ATMs within the state. It defines cryptocurrency as decentralized digital currency and specifies that crypto ATMs are internet-connected kiosks allowing users to buy, sell, or exchange digital currency using debit cards, credit cards, or cash. The bill amends existing consumer fraud law to make these activities unlawful, with penalties including fines up to $20,000 per violation and potential court-ordered restitution. This directly affects businesses operating or planning to operate crypto ATMs in New Jersey, aiming to address rising fraud losses - reported at over $110 million in 2023 - particularly impacting seniors with median losses of $10,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3698) allows surviving spouses of retired police or firefighters (PFRS members) who died due to work-related injuries or complications to keep state-paid health insurance (SHBP) and continue receiving pension benefits even after remarriage. It requires surviving spouses to provide documented proof that the injury causing the member's disability was a significant factor in their death. Eligible spouses can also apply to reinstate pensions terminated due to remarriage before this law took effect. The state covers all health insurance premiums for the spouse and dependent children and pays any increased retirement system costs from continued pension payments.

Maddy summaryS 3191 allows New Jersey's Transportation Research Bureau to award transportation research contracts to private universities and certain non-profit organizations, expanding beyond current law that restricted contracts to public institutions. The bureau must now determine if such contracts serve the public interest, and the bureau manager must actively build relationships with these private entities. All contracts must also include provisions addressing transportation and mobility needs for residents with disabilities, while excluding municipal planning organizations from eligibility. This change streamlines the contracting process without altering existing public bidding requirements.

Maddy summaryS 3588 waives the 15-day waiting period for medical aid in dying when a patient is not expected to survive 15 days, based on reasonable medical certainty. This affects terminally ill patients in New Jersey who are nearing the end of life, allowing them to access medication without the standard 15-day delay. The bill retains a 48-hour waiting period between the written request and prescription issuance. Physicians must document the medical basis for the waiver, but other requirements like two oral requests and informed consent remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's NJBEST program to treat distributions from NJBEST accounts rolled into a Roth IRA as "qualified withdrawals" for tax purposes. It directly affects NJBEST account owners who want to transfer funds to a Roth IRA without incurring New Jersey state income tax on the rollover amount. The key provision excludes these specific Roth IRA rollovers from gross income calculations, aligning New Jersey tax treatment with a recent federal change to Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. This allows account holders to move funds tax-free to retirement savings while maintaining the program's tax-advantaged status for education savings.

Maddy summarySJR 129 is a ceremonial resolution designating February 12th of each year as "Carly Day" in New Jersey. It commemorates Carly Fetzer, a Bayville resident born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (a congenital heart defect), who lived 18 years despite medical challenges before passing away. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to raise awareness about congenital heart defects, aligning with National Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week (February 7-14). It does not create new laws or affect any specific group, focusing solely on commemoration and awareness.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school athletic coaches to obtain cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certification. It directly affects coaches in both public school districts and nonpublic schools who lead athletic activities. The Department of Education must create a free, state-funded program using current national CPR guidelines, modeled after recognized training (like Red Cross or American Heart Association), including hands-on practice for all participating coaches. The program will be provided at no cost to coaches, with all implementation expenses covered by the state.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3596 increases penalties for denying access to service dogs and their handlers from civil fines to criminal charges. Businesses, public facilities, NJ Transit, and transportation network companies (like ride-sharing services) that block access now face a petty disorderly persons offense (up to 30 days jail or $500 fine) for a first violation, and a disorderly persons offense (up to one year jail or $1,000 fine) for repeat violations. Fines collected fund law enforcement training on service dog access rights under New Jersey's disability laws. The bill updates existing statutes to strengthen enforcement of access protections for people with disabilities.