Sen. John McKeon

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies that run public advertising bids to reserve at least 30% of their advertising budget for eligible local news organizations. The legislation defines eligible news outlets as those that produce original local content, maintain editorial independence, and meet specific operational standards such as staffing levels and financial transparency. By setting aside a portion of advertising revenue, the bill aims to support local journalism while preserving the editorial freedom of news organizations. The measure applies to all state departments and agencies that currently advertise bid solicitations under existing procurement laws.

Maddy summaryS 1525 creates a new criminal offense for financial exploitation of elderly individuals in New Jersey. It directly affects seniors who may be targeted by caregivers, family members, or others in fiduciary roles (like trustees or financial advisors) who misuse their trust. The bill defines key terms to clarify what constitutes exploitation, such as unlawfully withholding or disposing of an elderly person’s property for personal gain. If passed, it would make specific financial abuse of seniors a punishable crime under New Jersey law, with penalties outlined in amended statutes. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national self-exclusion program, enabling gamblers to voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos across multiple states using a single form. It requires the division to create rules and forms for this participation, ensuring individuals can select which states they want excluded from and must give explicit consent before sharing their information. The bill protects casinos from liability if they follow self-exclusion protocols and keeps the list confidential from public view. It directly affects individuals seeking to restrict their access to gambling venues in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide stockpile of essential medicines, vaccines, and medical supplies to be managed by New Jersey's Department of Health in collaboration with the State Office of Emergency Management. It requires the creation of guidelines for procuring, managing, and distributing these supplies during public health emergencies, outbreaks, or natural disasters, with priority given to rural and medically underserved areas. The stockpile will include a "virtually sequestered buffer" managed by private vendors to prevent expiration and ensure availability. The bill appropriates state funds from the General Fund to implement this program, which would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies and Medicaid programs in New Jersey to pay clinical laboratories for services regardless of whether those labs are part of a managed care network. Under the new rules, non-participating labs must be reimbursed at the same rate as participating ones, though insurers retain the right to review services for medical necessity. The legislation also prohibits state Medicaid officials from forcing laboratories to join the managed care system as a condition for receiving payment or transitioning from a fee-for-service model. These changes directly affect insurance carriers, managed care organizations, and licensed clinical laboratories by mandating coverage and equal pay rates for out-of-network providers.

Maddy summaryThe Efficient Energy Use Act requires electric public utilities in New Jersey to offer time-varying rates to residential customers who have smart meters. Under this bill, these customers must voluntarily choose to enroll in a pricing plan where electricity costs change based on the time of day, rather than being charged automatically. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will oversee the creation of these rates and must work with other state agencies to ensure enrolled customers can still access energy efficiency programs and financial assistance. Utilities are required to inform eligible customers about the new options on their bills, and the Board must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within one year detailing how many people signed up and how the new rates affected their bills.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires construction contractors in New Jersey to use containment devices like vacuums, tarps, and enclosures to prevent dust, debris, and microplastics from escaping worksites and entering the environment. It mandates daily cleanup, proper waste disposal, and the installation of stormwater filters, while also requiring contractors to educate their employees on these requirements. The Department of Community Affairs or local officials will inspect worksites for compliance, and violators face escalating fines starting with a warning for the first offense.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2357 requires parties in civil or administrative lawsuits to disclose any third-party funding agreements upfront - when filing a complaint or when the agreement is made. It directly affects plaintiffs, their attorneys, and third-party funders who pay legal costs in exchange for a share of settlement money. The bill mandates that funders act in the client’s best interest (a fiduciary duty), caps their fees at 25% of settlement proceeds (with total fees for funders and attorneys limited to 50%), and bans funders from influencing case decisions or offering legal advice. Funders must also be jointly liable for court costs or sanctions related to the funded case.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires organizations in New Jersey that provide care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to submit detailed financial reports and disclose any business deals involving their own executives or family members. To achieve this, the law mandates that these providers track and report specific costs, such as staff wages, executive salaries, and expenses for marketing or lobbying, using a uniform reporting system developed by the state. Facilities receiving more than $250,000 in public funding must also send quarterly updates to the Department of Human Services, with penalties including withheld payments for failure to comply. Additionally, the State Comptroller will perform annual financial audits to ensure the accuracy of these disclosures and reports.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill restricts hotels from providing guests with personal care products like shampoo and conditioner in single-use plastic containers. Larger hotels with 50 or more rooms must stop this practice within six months, while all other hotels must comply within one year. Hotels may still provide these items if a guest specifically requests them, but only in areas outside of sleeping rooms or shared bathrooms. The law includes penalties of up to $1,500 for repeat violations and prevents local governments from passing their own conflicting rules on the issue.