Maddy summaryThis bill designates online sweepstakes casinos as a regulated form of internet gaming under New Jersey's existing framework. It requires these operators to obtain licenses, submit to state oversight, and pay taxes on their gross revenue - defined as total income from gaming minus winnings paid to participants. The bill specifically targets platforms that offer games using "free currency" (non-cash tokens) that players can combine with purchased credits to win redeemable prizes, while prohibiting direct cash redemption of the free currency itself. It directly affects operators of such platforms, not end-users, by integrating them into the state's casino licensing system. The legislation amends prior gaming statutes to clarify definitions and licensing requirements for these digital gaming services.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2046) expands the Family Leave Act to provide up to 21 days of protected leave for employees experiencing specific bereavement events, including the death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage, or failed fertility treatment. It directly affects employees working for employers with 30+ staff (down from 50 under previous rules), covering situations like pregnancy loss or a child’s death, whether through birth, adoption, or gestational carrier arrangements. The leave is available through the existing Temporary Disability Benefits system, with 21 days for cases not covered by other leave types (like miscarriage) and 7 days when other leave applies (like stillbirth). This change ensures employees can take time off without job loss for these deeply personal losses, aligning with New Jersey’s broader family leave protections.
Maddy summaryS 1497 requires New Jersey state employees (including those at Rutgers and other public universities) to be granted one additional administrative leave day per year for each of the religious holidays Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, without using their regular leave allotment. It also mandates that public school districts record absences for these holidays as excused for all students. The bill ensures students absent for these observances cannot be penalized academically (e.g., lose awards or test opportunities) if a parent/guardian provides written notice, and excludes these absences from transcripts or employment forms. These provisions make Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha official excused religious holidays for both state workers and public school students in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1431) amends New Jersey's campaign finance disclosure laws to update reporting requirements for independent expenditure committees - groups that spend money to influence elections without coordinating with candidates. It specifically clarifies how these committees must report contributions made in the form of "paid personal services" (like hired staff or consultants), requiring detailed statements about compensation paid to individuals providing such services. The changes also refine definitions related to contributions, expenditures, and political committee classifications to improve transparency in campaign financing. These adjustments directly affect independent expenditure committees operating under New Jersey's campaign finance rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1439) would require a drunk driver convicted of causing a fatal accident to pay financial restitution directly to a minor child if the victim was the child’s parent or guardian. Specifically, it adds a new provision to New Jersey’s vehicular homicide law, mandating that drivers violating DUI laws (N.J.S. 39:4-50) must cover the child’s losses through court-ordered restitution - on top of existing criminal penalties and other restitution. The bill applies only to cases where the driver was intoxicated at the time of the fatal crash and the deceased was the child’s legal guardian. It is currently pending in the New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2330) prohibits New Jersey casino licensees from using free, non-wagering games (like demo slots or free play) to attract customers for future gambling. It directly affects casino operators by banning this specific marketing tactic. The key provision explicitly states that casinos cannot use such non-wagering games to solicit future gaming activity. This is a concrete policy change to prevent deceptive marketing practices that might encourage gambling. The bill aims to clarify that only authorized wagering games may be used for solicitation.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the New Jersey State Lottery Commission and its contracted entities from selling lottery tickets online. It directly affects the Commission's ability to operate internet sales, reversing a planned 2024 rollout of direct online ticket sales. The key provision bans all internet sales by the Commission itself or its affiliated entities, though it explicitly allows licensed courier services to continue internet lottery sales under existing law. The bill takes immediate effect and does not impact current courier-based internet sales.
Maddy summaryS 2923 requires online ticket resale websites and brokers to clearly disclose key information to consumers before transactions. It mandates notices stating that the site sells secondary tickets (not primary sales), that primary tickets may still be available, that resale prices can exceed face value, and the refund policy for event cancellations. Websites must also display the venue's printed ticket price and require buyers to confirm reading these disclosures. Additionally, the bill requires a prominent 12-point bold notice when redirecting users to a resale site, clarifying that such redirection doesn't mean primary tickets are sold out or cheaper. The law directly affects ticket brokers, resale websites, and consumers purchasing event tickets online.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission to coordinate New Jersey's state agencies and improve support services for veterans. The commission, composed of 11 members including veterans, mental health experts, and agency representatives, will assess existing programs and develop strategies to prevent veteran suicides. It requires the commission to coordinate efforts across state departments, track service progress, and increase public awareness of available resources. The bill directly affects veterans, service members, and their families by aiming to strengthen mental health support systems through better agency collaboration.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1425) requires that after a property owner’s tax lien is foreclosed, any excess equity remaining from the sale - beyond what the lienholder paid in taxes and interest - must be returned to the former owner. It directly affects property owners who fell behind on taxes and both municipal and private lienholders involved in tax sale foreclosures. The bill amends New Jersey’s tax sale law to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s *Tyler v. Hennepin County* ruling, which found that keeping excess sale proceeds violates constitutional protections against uncompensated property takings. The key provision mandates that courts return excess funds to owners after reimbursing lienholders for taxes paid plus interest, ending the practice sometimes called "equity theft."