Sen. Joe Vitale

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the New Jersey Transit Corporation from displaying advertisements that promote gambling, tobacco products, or vapor products. The law defines vapor products to include e-cigarettes, vape pens, and similar devices, while allowing exceptions for ads focused on gambling prevention and treatment programs. To comply, New Jersey Transit must update its rules and regulations to remove or replace any prohibited advertisements. The restrictions apply to all NJT-operated stations, buses, and trains throughout the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bribery statute to clarify that accepting benefits as consideration for official acts is a crime regardless of whether the benefit was given before or after the official action was taken. The change directly affects public servants, party officials, and voters by ensuring that gratuities received after an official decision are treated the same as those given beforehand. Under the new language, the timing of when a benefit is received no longer serves as a defense in bribery prosecutions, aligning state law with a broader interpretation of corruption. The amendment also specifies that any benefit not authorized by law counts as consideration, and it establishes that the value of the benefit determines whether the offense is a second or third-degree crime.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits targeted advertisements and promotions of vapor products to individuals under 21 years old on social media platforms in New Jersey. It defines vapor products to include e-cigarettes, vape pens, and related devices, while excluding FDA-approved medical products, and defines social media platforms as services that allow users to create profiles and connect with others. The law makes it unlawful for any person to advertise or promote these products to minors on such platforms and establishes civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation for non-compliance. Courts will have jurisdiction to enforce these penalties through existing legal procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's existing family leave law to explicitly include gestational carriers and agreements between parents and gestational carriers in the definition of a child and parent. It clarifies that employees are eligible for family leave to care for a child born through a gestational carrier arrangement or to provide care during a gestational carrier's pregnancy and recovery period. The legislation also updates eligibility requirements for employers, adjusting the minimum employee count thresholds based on the date of employment, and expands the definition of employment to include certain contractual relationships. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for counting time during state-declared emergencies when determining employee eligibility for leave benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Nursing School Expansion Grant Program in New Jersey to help nursing schools increase their capacity and improve the supply of nurses. The program will be managed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which will review applications from eligible nursing education programs at public universities, private colleges, or hospital-based schools. To receive funding, schools must submit detailed plans showing how they will increase enrollment and graduation rates, expand faculty, improve workforce diversity, and strengthen connections between different nursing education levels. The bill appropriates $25 million from the state's General Fund, with $24.5 million available for grants and up to $500,000 reserved for administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows State employees without collective bargaining representation to enroll in specific negotiated health care plans, such as the CWA Unity DIRECT plan, starting January 1, 2027. It authorizes the State Health Benefits Commission to adjust premium payment obligations for these employees to align with terms from existing collective bargaining agreements. The legislation also clarifies how premium costs are shared for retirees who have 25 years of service credit, ensuring consistency between traditional and managed care plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows inactive liquor licenses from municipalities with surplus licenses to be transferred and sold to qualifying smart growth areas that lack available licenses for new businesses. It defines specific criteria for what counts as an inactive license, a smart growth municipality, and a qualifying real estate development project, ensuring licenses move to locations where they can be actively used. The legislation also establishes a process for financial compensation to the municipalities transferring the licenses, creating a mechanism to balance supply and demand for alcohol beverage licenses across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses with at least 50 employees in New Jersey that cater or order food to submit an excess food reduction plan to the Department of Environmental Protection for approval. The plan must outline specific strategies to reduce food waste, such as limiting food orders, improving distribution methods, minimizing landfill disposal, and increasing composting or food donation. Businesses that successfully reduce excess food by 25 percent will receive a tax credit against their business privilege tax to offset costs associated with food recycling and donation programs. The bill also mandates that approved businesses submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature on the effectiveness of their food reduction efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state tax credit for healthcare professionals who supervise nursing students in clinical training programs. Eligible preceptors, including advanced practice nurses, physicians, and physician assistants, can claim up to $1,000 for each student they primarily supervise, provided they complete at least 100 clinical hours of instruction during the tax year. The program is funded through a $10 million annual appropriation to the Department of Treasury and includes administrative rules for verifying student supervision through nursing school certification forms.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a formal certification and oversight system for peer recovery specialists in New Jersey, requiring individuals to meet specific qualifications set by the Division of Consumer Affairs. It mandates that the Division establish certification standards, including criminal background checks, and grants the authority to conduct hearings and set fees for processing applications. The law also outlines ethical restrictions for certified specialists, prohibiting conflicts of interest and exploitation of peer relationships, while exempting certain groups like clergy, students, and licensed professionals from these requirements.