Maddy summaryThis bill requires professional firefighters in New Jersey who are eligible for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) but not enrolled in it (due to waiving coverage) to receive regular cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after their employment begins. The screenings must cover 11 specific cancer types - including colon, lung, breast, and prostate - without any out-of-pocket costs for the firefighters. Public employers not participating in SHBP must provide these screenings and can be reimbursed by the state up to $1,250 per firefighter per three-year period. Similarly, employers participating in SHBP must cover screenings for firefighters who waive SHBP, with the same reimbursement eligibility up to $1,250 per firefighter.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $17 million in supplemental funding for Fiscal Year 2024 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide grants for lake management. The grants directly support qualified entities - including lake commissions (like Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong), local governments, and nonprofit organizations focused on publicly-accessible lakes - to cover costs for maintaining lakes used for recreation and conservation. Key provisions require the DEP to prioritize projects improving water quality, increasing recreational access, and controlling nutrients to prevent harmful algal blooms. This builds on a prior $10 million appropriation for similar lake management efforts in 2020-2021.
Maddy summaryThis bill excludes environmentally sensitive and flood-prone land from being counted as available for affordable housing construction under New Jersey's fair share housing law. Specifically, it requires municipalities to exclude lands regulated by state or federal agencies - including those in Highlands Preservation Areas, flood hazard zones under the Flood Hazard Area Control Act (P.L.1962, c.19), and wetlands protected by the Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act (P.L.1987, c.156) - from calculations of "vacant" land. Municipalities must now exclude these areas when determining their affordable housing obligations, preventing such lands from being used to meet housing requirements. The change updates existing law to explicitly include these regulated lands in the exclusion list.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires producers of plastic packaging and certain single-use plastic products (like straws, utensils, cups, and plastic bags) to gradually reduce the amount of plastic they sell by weight over 10 years, with specific targets of 90% after 2 years, 80% after 4 years, 70% after 6 years, 60% after 8 years, and 50% after 10 years. It also mandates that cardboard packaging contain at least 75% postconsumer recycled content and be recycled at a 75% rate after 2 years. The bill expands the "Toxic Packaging Reduction Act" to prohibit additional harmful substances in packaging, including PFAS, phthalates, and certain flame retardants, and establishes a task force to recommend more substances for future restrictions. Producers who violate these requirements face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day of noncompliance, while excluding certain products like medical devices, animal biologics, and packaging for hazardous materials from these requirements.
Maddy summaryS 3173 requires New Jersey group homes housing adults with developmental disabilities (eligible for Tier C+ services) to install video-only electronic monitoring devices in common areas only when all residents and their authorized representatives (like court-appointed guardians) provide written consent. The bill mandates group home licensees to develop internal policies for consent procedures, provide annual notices about monitoring rights, and retain footage for 90 days. It exempts homes already using such devices and imposes penalties ($5,000 first offense) for non-compliance, while ensuring consent withdrawal cannot block housing placement. The law focuses on resident autonomy through explicit consent, not mandatory surveillance.
Maddy summarySCR 104 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the New Jersey Senate condemning hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing the religion's global significance and Hindu Americans' contributions to society. The resolution defines hinduphobia as "antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes" toward Hinduism and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes. Copies will be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's Congress members, and the Hindu American Foundation. It has no legal effect beyond expressing the state's stance.
Maddy summaryS 1114 establishes a 13-member Youth Sports Task Force in New Jersey to study and address key issues in youth sports. The task force will examine topics including coach training to recognize bullying, parent workshops on proper conduct, financial oversight for youth sports organizations, and protection for officials from abusive behavior. It will include representatives from parents, youth athletes, coaches, and experts in bullying prevention. The task force must submit a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its formation, after which it will expire. This bill directly affects youth sports participants, coaches, parents, and organizers across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2422 establishes a state-level occupational heat stress standard and prevention program under the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill requires all employers (including public entities) to implement written heat illness prevention plans by June 2025, mandating practices like providing potable water below 59°F, paid rest breaks in cool areas, and emergency response protocols for heat exposure. It also requires employers to monitor heat levels, acclimatize workers, and activate heat alert systems during forecasted heat waves, including postponing non-essential tasks and increasing staffing to reduce individual exposure. The law directly affects all workers in New Jersey, with heightened focus on high-risk sectors like agriculture, construction, and indoor workplaces without climate control.
Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's "Dry Cell Battery Management Act" to expand coverage to more battery types. It defines "covered batteries" as portable (under 11 lbs or 300 watt-hours) or medium format (11-25 lbs or 300-2000 watt-hours) batteries, excluding certain medical, lead-acid, and vehicle batteries. Manufacturers must submit approved battery management plans to the Department of Environmental Protection within nine months, including requirements for collection sites (at least one within 15 miles of 95% of residents and one per county for medium batteries), consumer education, and proper disposal. The bill eliminates current requirements for retailers to accept used batteries and post specific signage, while maintaining prohibitions against disposing of these batteries in regular trash or curbside recycling.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits participating organizations (like healthcare providers, nonprofits, and housing agencies) from selling or licensing social care information stored in closed-loop referral systems (CLRS). It also bans using this data for any purpose beyond its original intent - such as food, housing, or transportation assistance. Violations carry a $1,000 civil penalty per incident, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law directly affects entities managing social care referrals, ensuring sensitive client information isn’t exploited for commercial or unrelated uses.