Sen. John McKeon

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create best practices for managing medical waste, focusing on public health and environmental protection. It directly affects hospitals (licensed facilities) and medical offices (non-licensed provider locations) by mandating they develop written waste management plans based on these state guidelines. The plans must include clear instructions for proper waste sorting at the source, visual signage, and guidelines for personal protective equipment use. Additionally, facilities must train relevant employees on implementing these plans.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3619 requires all new residential, commercial, and state-use washing machines sold in the state on or after January 1, 2030, to include a microfiber filtration system with a mesh size of 100 micrometers or smaller. The bill mandates that these machines must also display a visible label stating: "NOTICE: THIS WASHING MACHINE CONTAINS A FILTER TO CAPTURE MICROFIBERS. CHECK THE FILTER REGULARLY AND DISPOSE OF CAPTURED LINT IN A WASTE BIN." Manufacturers and retailers violating this requirement face civil penalties up to $10,000 for a first offense. The law aims to reduce microfiber and microplastic pollution entering waterways by capturing these particles during the washing process.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3584 requires all operators and riders of low-speed electric bicycles and scooters to wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet meeting state safety standards. This applies to both the rider and anyone using an attached restraining seat on the vehicle. Violations carry fines of up to $25 for a first offense and $100 for subsequent offenses. The bill aims to reduce head injuries, citing increased crash risks compared to traditional bicycles as its justification.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets a 9:1 minimum student-to-employee ratio for determining state funding for fringe benefits at New Jersey's four-year public universities. It requires the state budget director to ensure that for every full-time employee position funded by the state (for fringe benefits), there are at least nine full-time equivalent students enrolled. The bill allows institutions to use a better ratio (more students per employee) if they choose, but the state-funded positions cannot exceed the actual number of employees at the institution. This applies to how the state calculates support for employee benefits, not other funding. The rule takes effect immediately for the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to specifically include Sikhism as a protected class, alongside existing categories like race, religion, and sexual orientation. It requires law enforcement to properly classify anti-Sikh hate crimes and provides $100,000 annually for three years to fund Sikh awareness education and outreach initiatives. The bill mandates training for law enforcement on Sikh identity features (such as turbans and beards) to prevent misclassification of hate incidents. It also requires public entities to incorporate anti-Sikh hate definitions into their bias policies and directs the Attorney General to develop educational programs about Sikhism for schools. These measures address the fact that Sikhs are the second-most targeted religious group for hate crimes in the U.S., with 198 anti-Sikh hate incidents reported by the FBI in 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits businesses holding amusement games licenses (e.g., arcades or venues with such permits) from accepting bets, allowing gambling activities, or advertising gambling related to those games. It directly affects licensed operators under New Jersey’s amusement games law (P.L.1959, c.109). Key provisions amend Section 14 to ban holding wagers, permitting gambling on licensed premises, or promoting such activities. Violators face disorderly persons charges and potential license forfeiture. The law takes immediate effect.

Maddy summaryS 3546 requires large warehouses, distribution centers, and high-traffic facilities (with 50,000+ square feet in overburdened communities or 100,000+ square feet otherwise, or generating 50+ truck trips daily) to obtain a permit from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and annually implement air pollution reduction measures. The bill establishes a points-based system where facilities earn points for actions like purchasing electric trucks, installing solar power, or using electric forklifts, with the goal of reducing emissions to zero by 2050. Facilities must pay annual permit fees and submit detailed reports on truck traffic, emissions, and health impacts, while the DEP will conduct regular inspections, particularly of facilities in overburdened communities. Violations could result in civil penalties of $10,000-$20,000 per violation.

Maddy summaryThe "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act" prevents credit reporting agencies from including paid medical debt or medical debt under $500 in credit reports, regardless of when the debt was incurred. It prohibits medical creditors and debt collectors from reporting medical debt to credit agencies for services provided after the law takes effect. The bill requires a 180-day waiting period before collection actions can begin and mandates a 30-day notice with a clear payment deadline before starting collections. Additionally, it protects patients by prohibiting debt collection during pending insurance appeals and requiring credit bureaus to remove debt information if an appeal is pending or the debt is paid.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $101.7 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and Green Acres funds to the Department of Environmental Protection for local government open space acquisition and park development projects. The funds will support $24.3 million in land acquisition projects (including planning incentive, standard, site-specific, and urban aid acquisition) and $75 million in park development projects (including inclusive playgrounds required by "Jake's Law" and projects in densely populated areas). Local governments across New Jersey will receive grants or loans to acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, with $2.4 million allocated for administrative costs. The bill defines eligibility based on population density criteria to target funding to areas with higher population needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program to include wages and salaries paid to workers not subject to New Jersey's gross income tax due to reciprocity agreements with other states. It expands the definitions of "qualified film production expenses" and "qualified digital media content production expenses" to cover these payments, including compensation paid to workers from states like Pennsylvania with which New Jersey has reciprocal tax agreements. The bill also updates the definition of "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include workers whose wages aren't subject to New Jersey tax due to reciprocity agreements. The changes apply retroactively to January 1, 2024, allowing taxpayers who haven't used their tax credit certificates to receive revised certificates under the new rules.