Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation to ensure electric vehicle charging stations are accessible to drivers with disabilities within 18 months of the bill's effective date. New charging stations must include vehicle spaces at least 11 feet wide and 20 feet long with 5-foot-wide access aisles, clear floor space meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards, and accessible communication features including one-handed operation for connectors. Existing charging stations must comply with these accessibility requirements to the maximum extent feasible. The bill directly affects charging station operators and the Department of Transportation, ensuring electric vehicle infrastructure is usable by disabled drivers.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Architectural Paint Stewardship Act," requires manufacturers of architectural paint (interior/exterior coatings sold in 5-gallon containers or less) to create or join a paint stewardship program. The program must collect, reuse, recycle, and responsibly manage leftover paint from consumers, eliminating costs for local governments. Key mechanisms include requiring producers to submit a statewide collection plan (ensuring 90% of residents have access within 15 miles) and adding a "paint stewardship assessment" to the price of paint sold in New Jersey. The bill directly affects paint manufacturers, retailers, and consumers by shifting responsibility for leftover paint disposal from taxpayers to producers.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1475, the "Consumer Legal Funding Act," regulates companies that provide non-recourse funding to residents with pending lawsuits. It requires contracts to include a 5-day rescission period (allowing cancellation without penalty), clear fee disclosures, and written attorney acknowledgments verifying proper disclosure and contingency billing. The bill bans funding companies from paying referral fees to attorneys or misleading advertising, and prohibits them from influencing legal case decisions. This directly affects New Jersey consumers with active legal claims, funding companies, and their attorneys by establishing transparency and consumer protections in this financial service.
Maddy summaryS 3785 creates an independent Office of Nonprofit Ombudsperson within the New Jersey Department of Treasury to assist nonprofits interacting with state agencies. The ombudsperson, appointed by the Governor, will monitor state agencies' compliance with a public nonprofit information portal, provide technical assistance, investigate complaints, and develop better procurement practices for nonprofits. This office, funded with $329,000 from the General Fund, directly serves nonprofit organizations in New Jersey and requires state agencies to maintain accessible online resource hubs. The bill amends existing law to mandate annual reporting on agency compliance with these requirements.
Maddy summaryS 3786 establishes new requirements for New Jersey state and local governments when awarding contracts or grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. It sets a 15% de minimis indirect cost rate for overhead reimbursement (preventing agencies from limiting these costs), creates a centralized database for nonprofits to submit required documents (like tax-exempt status and bylaws), and mandates annual contract adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. The bill also requires payments within 30 days of contract terms (with 1% interest for late payments) and automatically extends contracts by three months if renewal isn't completed within 10 days. These provisions aim to streamline processes, ensure fair compensation, and reduce administrative burdens for nonprofits receiving public funds.
Maddy summaryS 3763 requires physicians and emergency department staff at general hospitals in New Jersey to complete training on communicating with and treating patients who are deaf or hard of hearing. The bill mandates that physicians earn one continuing medical education credit on this topic for license renewal, and directs the state's Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing to create a training program and oversee hospital protocol development. Hospitals must establish specific protocols for emergency staff interacting with deaf or hard of hearing patients. The law would take effect 90 days after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to impose fines for housing or zoning code violations on a daily basis until the violation is resolved. It directly affects property owners who fail to comply with local housing or zoning regulations. The key provision amends existing law to clarify that fines may be charged per day the violation continues, after a 30-day cure period for fines exceeding $1,250. This change validates prior daily fines and ensures municipalities can enforce ongoing compliance without requiring separate penalties for each day.
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 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 summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national self-exclusion program, enabling individuals who wish to ban themselves from gambling to register once for multiple states instead of separately in each. It requires the division to create forms and procedures letting self-excluders select which states' gaming facilities they want to be barred from, while prohibiting the sharing of their personal information without explicit consent. The policy directly affects gamblers seeking to self-exclude and licensed casinos, which must verify exclusion status and comply with the shared list. The key change eliminates the need for repeated registrations across states, streamlining responsible gaming protections.