Sen. Angela McKnight

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 water utilities in New Jersey that use smart meters to send residential customers monthly notifications about their water usage. Notifications must include the cost (in dollars) and volume (in gallons) of water used during the billing cycle, up to two days before the notice is sent. Customers can also opt to set spending thresholds for alerts or receive comparisons of their current usage to prior cycles. Utilities must provide initial sign-up instructions and obtain prior consent for text message notifications, and bills must display previous/current charges and differences. The law applies to all water public utilities, local authorities, and municipal utilities serving residential smart meter customers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1650 creates a program to reimburse school districts for costs incurred when expanding local food sourcing beyond current levels for students. It directly affects eligible school districts participating in state meal programs (like National School Lunch) that submit plans to increase local food procurement - such as adding more locally grown fruits, vegetables, or meats - above their baseline levels. The bill appropriates $4.5 million annually to cover "eligible costs" like new sourcing efforts, excluding fluid dairy milk and routine procurement at existing levels. Reimbursements are distributed via the Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Fund, administered by the Department of Agriculture. This policy change aims to strengthen local food systems in schools while clarifying what costs qualify for funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in New Jersey with more than 4,000 residents to create and maintain a free, publicly accessible list of local community service organizations. These organizations are defined as groups that provide voluntary services to benefit the community, and the list must include their contact information. Towns must publish this list on their official websites or on a free online news publication, updating it at least once every year. To help cover the costs of compliance, the bill allows municipalities to apply for financial reimbursement from the state Department of Community Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a statewide framework to regulate the development of large data centers that consume significant amounts of electricity and water. It requires developers to submit a detailed impact statement to the State Planning Commission before seeking local approval, covering issues like energy demand, water usage, environmental effects, and traffic. The legislation specifically directs that these facilities be located on brownfields or in industrial corridors to protect sensitive lands and overburdened communities. Additionally, the impact statement must include plans for alternative energy generation, water recycling, and grid reliability measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's existing laws regarding search warrants to require law enforcement to act more quickly when investigating domestic violence and stalking cases. It specifically updates legal definitions for terms like "wire communication," "electronic communication," and "intercept" to ensure they cover modern technology such as cordless phones and electronic storage. By clarifying these definitions, the legislation aims to streamline the process for investigators to obtain and execute warrants related to digital and electronic evidence in these specific types of cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1395) allows limited liability companies (LLCs) in New Jersey to stop using a registered "alternate business name" before the standard 5-year registration period ends. It directly affects LLCs that have previously registered an alternate name (like a brand or shortened version of their legal name) but no longer need it. The key mechanism requires LLCs to file a "termination certificate" with the state office, pay a $50 fee, and state they’ve stopped using the name - though residential landlords must still wait until the 5-year period expires. This change simplifies name management for businesses without altering the basic registration rules or fees for initial registration.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that water providers regularly inspect and repair underground pipes, valves, and fire hydrants to prevent leaks and infrastructure failures. It requires specific maintenance schedules, such as testing valves every four to eight years and inspecting underground lines every five years, with more frequent checks for older iron pipes or those in sinkhole-prone areas. The legislation also obligates companies to mark hydrants, map infrastructure locations using GPS, and keep detailed records of all maintenance for at least 12 years. Finally, the bill establishes penalties for water providers that fail to comply with these new inspection and repair requirements.

Maddy summarySenate Joint Resolution 147 designates the month of May each year as "Mothers' Grief Awareness Month" in New Jersey to honor mothers who have lost children. The bill requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation to encourage public officials and citizens to observe the month with awareness activities and programs. This symbolic designation aims to raise visibility about the mental health challenges associated with child loss and to promote support for grieving mothers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special process for victims of domestic violence in New Jersey to get driver's licenses and identification cards even if they lack standard proof of address or identity. Instead of requiring normal documents, applicants can submit medical records, court papers, police reports, or letters from social workers to prove their situation. The Motor Vehicle Commission must verify these documents and may issue temporary licenses while checking them, but the sensitive information cannot be shared with the public except under specific legal exceptions. The law also mandates that MVC staff receive training on how to interact with trauma victims and requires the commission to report annually on how many licenses are issued through this new pathway.