Sen. Brian Stack

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey local governments (political subdivisions) to purchase unused sick leave from employees under specific conditions. It sets clear limits: purchases can't exceed 60% of the sick leave's value, can't exceed 120 hours per employee annually, and requires employees to retain at least 800 hours of unused sick leave. The bill also prohibits using special emergency funds to purchase unused sick leave before an employee's layoff or retirement. It applies to local government employees who have accumulated sick leave, particularly those nearing retirement. This legislation amends existing sick leave and retirement compensation laws to establish these new purchase parameters for local government entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all pet shops, grooming facilities, and pet daycares (defined as "animal care facilities") to install and maintain video cameras in areas where animals are housed, groomed, or handled. The cameras must continuously record and store footage for at least 30 days, which must be provided to authorities investigating animal cruelty or related violations upon request. Facilities failing to comply face civil fines of up to $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat violations. The law applies immediately to all covered businesses statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires individuals collecting signatures for recall petitions to swear an affidavit before a qualified official (like a notary) verifying key details. The affidavit must confirm the circulator witnessed all signatures, that signers are eligible residents, and that the petition was circulated in good faith. It applies to all recall petitions filed in New Jersey, closing a current loophole where circulators only needed to sign an affidavit without official oversight. The change aims to prevent petition fraud by adding an official verification step, aligning recall petitions with existing requirements for nomination petitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide clear, updated pricing information to pharmacies every seven days, including how drug prices are determined for both generic and brand medications. It mandates that PBMs pay or deny pharmacy claims within 14 calendar days (with written notice for denials) and establish internal appeal processes for payment disputes. Health insurance carriers, including state programs like Medicaid and the State Health Benefits Program, gain access to PBMs' transaction data for audits and must receive annual reports from PBMs. These provisions aim to increase transparency and accountability in pharmacy payment systems, directly affecting PBMs, pharmacies, and health insurance carriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $20 million Stolen SNAP Benefits Replacement Fund in the Department of Treasury to replace SNAP benefits stolen through card cloning or skimming (e.g., unauthorized card copies or illegal data capture). It requires the Department of Human Services to restore stolen benefits to affected SNAP participants via their electronic benefits transfer (EBT) cards, funded by a 5% supplemental fee on fraud penalties collected by courts. The fund is temporary, dissolving three months after New Jersey fully transitions to chip-enabled EBT cards for all SNAP participants. The $20 million also funds the court system to build the technology for collecting the fee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey retailers to disclose the portion of a product's final price caused by tariffs and import taxes. Retailers must show this information on price tags, online listings, or receipts, and maintain records of tariff calculations. It exempts small businesses with under $500,000 annual revenue and products where tariffs impact less than 2% of the price. Retailers failing to comply face fines up to $500 per violation, with enforcement through periodic audits by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors and subcontractors working on public projects to submit payroll records to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). It applies to any business performing work for public bodies (like state/local governments or projects funded by public money), including construction, maintenance, or repair work. The key mechanism mandates that these contractors must register with DOLWD and provide payroll details to verify compliance with prevailing wage laws and apprenticeship program requirements. This affects all employers engaged in public work contracts, ensuring transparency in worker compensation and program participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects 50% of revenue from two specific taxes on high-value real estate transactions to New Jersey's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It affects sellers of residential, commercial, or farm property (or controlling interests in commercial entities) transferring property valued over $1 million, who currently pay additional fees and taxes. Under the bill, 50% of the revenue from these taxes - currently deposited into the General Fund - would instead fund affordable housing programs through the Trust Fund, as specified in existing law. The policy change requires the state to annually allocate this portion to housing initiatives without altering the tax rates or thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to include instruction about the history and contributions of Latino and Hispanic Americans in Social Studies and English Language Arts curricula for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It mandates that school boards integrate this content as part of their existing implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The Commissioner of Education must provide sample lesson resources and activities to support schools, developed with input from the Commission on Latino and Hispanic Heritage. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 4376 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey, creating a dedicated state agency focused exclusively on veterans' needs. The bill transfers all existing veterans' programs, services, and personnel from the current Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to this new department. The new department will manage veterans' memorial homes, cemeteries, benefits programs, and other services, with a Commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran. This change makes New Jersey one of the few states without a separate department for veterans' affairs, aiming to provide more efficient and focused support for veterans.