Maddy summaryThe Electronic Cigarette Extended Producer Responsibility Act requires e-cigarette manufacturers to form a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) that will develop and implement a plan for collecting, reusing, recycling, and disposing of e-cigarettes in an environmentally sound way. The PRO must submit a stewardship plan to the Department of Environmental Protection within five years, including collection sites that provide convenient access for 90% of residents within 15 miles of their homes. Producers will pay fees based on the quantity of e-cigarettes they sell and their environmental impact, with lower fees for reusable or recyclable products. After six years, the law prohibits the sale of e-cigarettes from producers not part of the PRO, with civil penalties of up to $500 per violation for noncompliance.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey Transit (NJT) from displaying advertisements promoting gambling (except those for gambling treatment programs), tobacco products, or vapor products (including e-cigarettes and vape devices). It directly affects NJT, which operates public transit systems across New Jersey, by requiring it to remove such ads from buses, trains, and stations. The law defines "vapor products" broadly to cover devices like e-cigarettes and their accessories, while excluding FDA-approved nicotine products. NJT must adopt new rules to implement this ban, effective three months after enactment. The policy change specifically targets advertising locations, not the products themselves.
Maddy summaryS 3466 extends the special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs in the Highlands Region through 2029, requiring landowners to be provided with two appraisal values when selling property for preservation. The bill allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for land preservation, with $5 million for recreation and conservation and $2.5 million for farmland preservation. It creates a new "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund" to support land acquisition and conservation efforts in the Highlands Region, including matching federal funding for watershed protection. The bill also requires distributing state aid to municipalities hosting watershed lands that don't receive existing watershed moratorium offset aid.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Police to notify local law enforcement when a person prohibited from purchasing firearms attempts to buy one. Specifically, if a National Instant Criminal Background Check reveals someone has been convicted of certain serious crimes (such as aggravated assault, domestic violence, robbery, or gun-related offenses) or has had firearms seized due to a domestic violence restraining order or extreme risk protection order, the State Police must inform the local law enforcement agency in the person's municipality. The notification would be sent to the chief law enforcement officer of the municipality, or the appropriate law enforcement officer if the municipality lacks its own agency. This change enhances communication between State Police and local law enforcement regarding prohibited firearm purchasers without altering the background check process itself.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to hold adults criminally liable if a minor accesses an improperly stored firearm they control and uses it to commit a crime. It raises the age of "minor" from 16 to 18, removes the requirement that firearms be "loaded" for violations, and extends the law to cover firearms in vehicles. If a minor gains access to a firearm due to improper storage and then uses it unlawfully, the adult facilitator faces a second-degree crime charge (5-10 years imprisonment or fines up to $150,000), rather than the previous third-degree offense. The bill specifically targets adults who fail to secure firearms in homes or vehicles, aiming to prevent minors from accessing weapons used in crimes.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program to include disabled residents who receive disability payments under the federal Railroad Retirement Act (45 U.S.C. § 231 et seq.). Currently, only disabled individuals receiving payments under the federal Social Security Act (Title II) qualify for this reimbursement. The bill expands eligibility by adding Railroad Retirement disability payments as a qualifying source, without altering existing income thresholds or residency requirements. This change would allow more disabled New Jersey residents to claim property tax reimbursement on their primary residence if they meet all other program criteria.
Maddy summaryS 843 requires New Jersey's Adjutant General (within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs) to create a program helping veterans access evaluation and treatment for service-connected PTSD, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury. The program must coordinate support services like transportation, assistance filing disability claims, updating discharge status, and connecting veterans to healthcare resources at local, state, and federal levels. It directly affects New Jersey veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve components, including the National Guard. The bill amends state law to mandate this program, which will be developed in coordination with relevant state agencies.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights (DCR) for system upgrades to the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS). The funds specifically support updating the NJ BIAS system, which helps state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies consistently track and report bias crimes. The appropriation is supplemental to existing funding for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with any unspent balance carried forward for the same purpose. This directly affects the DCR and law enforcement agencies responsible for investigating bias-related incidents under New Jersey's civil rights laws.
Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (SCR 11) would prohibit the construction or reconstruction of new fossil fuel power plants in New Jersey that burn coal, natural gas, oil, or petroleum products for electricity generation. It directly affects developers, utilities, and state agencies planning new power infrastructure. The ban includes key exceptions: it does not apply to repairs/maintenance of existing plants or to limited "peaking power plants" (used only during peak demand with strict capacity limits) that support grid stability. This is a proposed constitutional change requiring voter approval, not an enacted law.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts serving grades 9-12 to add instruction about gambling addiction risks to their health and physical education curriculum. The teaching must cover gambling addiction dangers, financial risks from gambling, and the difference between probability and predictability. The state Education Commissioner will provide schools with sample lesson materials and develop teacher training on identifying gambling issues and treatment options. The requirement takes effect for the first full school year after the next state curriculum review, not immediately.