Maddy summaryThis bill legalizes "natural organic reduction" (also called "controlled supervised decomposition") in New Jersey, which converts human remains into soil-like material. It creates a regulatory framework requiring facilities to register with the State Board of Mortuary Science, be supervised by licensed mortuary professionals, and meet specific construction and operation standards. The bill amends existing mortuary science laws to include this new process, with the State Board authorized to develop regulations and inspect facilities. This provides a new option for final disposition of human remains, alongside traditional burial and cremation. The legislation establishes clear requirements for facilities offering this service while maintaining oversight by licensed professionals.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill limits how consumer service contracts can be written. It prohibits companies from including clauses that let a contract for one service (like streaming or gym access) control unrelated purchases from the same company or its affiliates (such as groceries or insurance). The rule applies to written agreements for personal, family, or household services, excluding financial transactions like stocks or commodities. It takes effect 180 days after enactment for new or renewed contracts.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3812) removes a restriction that allowed the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members due to ongoing civil lawsuits related to their employment. It directly affects current and future PFRS members (police officers and firefighters) who are involved in civil litigation over their jobs. The bill requires the PFRS Board to pay benefits immediately, but permits adjustments if a legal case later results in penalties. It maintains existing rules that allow withholding for criminal charges or administrative dismissals from public employment.
Maddy summaryThis bill legalizes and regulates "natural organic reduction" (also called "controlled supervised decomposition") in New Jersey, a process that converts human remains into soil-like material through contained, accelerated decomposition. It directly affects mortuaries and funeral homes seeking to offer this service, requiring them to register with the State Board of Mortuary Science and operate facilities under licensed mortuary professionals. Key provisions include mandatory facility registration, visible display of operator licenses, and adherence to board-established health and safety rules. The bill updates existing mortuary laws to define the process, set facility requirements, and authorize the Board to create regulations for oversight.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows 12th-grade students in New Jersey public schools to receive excused absences for military enlistment activities without affecting their attendance records. It specifically covers required steps like testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting for those enlisting in the U.S. military or National Guard. Schools cannot count these absences toward perfect attendance records or list them on transcripts, applications, or employment forms. Students must provide documentation to verify their military enlistment plans to school officials.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance companies to be named as the sole defendant in insurance liability cases, rather than just the insured person or entity. It mandates that during litigation and trials, the insurance company must be identified by its legal name (as filed with the state insurance commissioner), not by assumed or fictitious names, and that triers of fact must be informed of this legal name. The law applies to all insurance lines covered under New Jersey law (except annuities) and takes effect immediately for policies issued or renewed on or after the effective date. It directly affects plaintiffs in insurance claims, insurance companies, and courts handling such cases.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health clubs from including clauses in service contracts that limit their liability for injuries caused by the health club's negligence (e.g., slip-and-fall accidents due to poor maintenance). It directly affects health club customers (buyers) and health clubs, requiring all contracts to explicitly state that liability cannot be waived for negligence-related injuries. The key mechanism mandates that contracts must not contain any language restricting the health club's responsibility for such injuries, aligning with prior court rulings that deem such waivers against public policy. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, potentially resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense and penalties like treble damages for injured parties.
Maddy summaryS 4466 would amend New Jersey law to allow juveniles of any age to be waived to adult court for criminal homicide offenses (excluding death by auto), removing the current requirement that the juvenile be 15 or older. This directly affects all juveniles charged with these specific offenses, regardless of their age at the time of the alleged crime. The bill's key change eliminates the age threshold for waiver eligibility in criminal homicide cases, meaning even very young juveniles could face adult prosecution. The amendment also requires prosecutors to provide written justification for waiver requests and mandates data collection on waiver decisions.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding for New Jersey's Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) from $1 million to $10 million by redirecting cigarette and tobacco tax revenues into a dedicated, permanent Cancer Research Fund. The fund, established within the Department of the Treasury, must use at least $5 million annually for general cancer research and at least $5 million for pediatric cancer research, with all funds exclusively supporting approved research projects. Unlike the previous system, this fund is non-lapsing (permanent), preventing annual budget transfers that previously reduced available resources. The bill also repeals outdated provisions and designates the State Treasurer to manage fund disbursements.
Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic annual cost-ofiving adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies to members who have received retirement benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those who retired with 20-24 years of service, are in deferred retirement, or were hired more than 30 days after the bill's effective date. COLAs will be calculated based on the Consumer Price Index, with a $75,000 annual benefit threshold for the first year (adjusted annually thereafter), and capped at a 1% increase for benefits exceeding this amount. The bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds from the General Fund to cover these adjustments, with the State Treasurer taking over implementation if the Board of Trustees fails to comply within six months. The adjustments apply only to future benefit payments, not retroactively.