Sen. Brian Stack

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's state pension and annuity funds must stop investing in the 200 largest publicly traded fossil fuel companies, defined by carbon content in their oil, gas, and coal reserves. Funds must divest from these companies within one year (two years for coal companies), though they may temporarily pause divestment if fund values drop below 99.5% of their hypothetical value without divestment. Annual reports on progress and investments sold will be required, with transparency mandated to the Governor, Legislature, and Attorney General. The bill directly affects New Jersey's public employee retirement funds and their investment management.

Maddy summaryS 2900 prohibits the disclosure of body worn camera recordings without the prior written consent of each person directly featured in the recording (such as suspects, victims, or detainees), unless the disclosure serves a legitimate public health, safety, or compelling public interest purpose. It applies to individuals who obtained such recordings under New Jersey’s open public records law and are not subjects of the recording. Violating this prohibition is a disorderly persons offense and may result in civil liability, including $1,000 per violation, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The bill defines "subject" to exclude people who only appear incidentally in the recording, ensuring the rule targets those directly involved in the recorded event.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2789 allows 16- and 17-year-olds who are U.S. citizens and live in a school district to vote only in local school board elections, if their district adopts the bill. It requires either voter approval via a petition (signed by 15% of past presidential election voters) or a local school board resolution to implement. The bill also mandates the state to create voter registration processes, acceptable ID forms (like school transcripts or state IDs), and special ballots for this age group. Crucially, it explicitly limits voting to school board elections only - no other state or federal elections. The bill takes effect January 1 after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2785 establishes doxxing as a criminal offense. It prohibits knowingly disclosing someone's personal identifying information without consent when done with the intent to cause fear, violence, stalking, or mental anguish - specifically when the disclosure creates a substantial risk of serious harm, stalking, or severe emotional distress to the person or their "close relation" (defined broadly to include family, household members, or people with significant personal/professional ties). The bill includes exemptions for good-faith disclosures about unlawful conduct to the public or law enforcement, and for reporting misconduct by officials or protected speech activities. Violations are punishable as a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine) or a third-degree crime (3-5 years in jail or $15,000 fine) if serious harm results.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1431) provides temporary mortgage payment relief to New Jersey homeowners significantly impacted by Hurricane Ida's 2021 remnants. It requires mortgage servicers to grant a minimum one-year forbearance (with possible extensions totaling 545 days) to qualifying homeowners who received federal disaster assistance for primary residences damaged by the storm, have income below 150% of area median income, and hold limited bank reserves. During forbearance, servicers cannot charge fees/penalties, report missed payments to credit agencies, or initiate foreclosure. The bill was introduced in January 2024 but withdrawn from consideration in February 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios in New Jersey hospitals, ambulatory surgery facilities, developmental centers, and psychiatric hospitals. It requires facilities to maintain specific ratios (such as 1:4 for medical/surgical units and 1:2 for critical care) and implement an acuity-based staffing system to adjust for patient needs. Facilities that violate these requirements face civil penalties, with fines deposited into a dedicated fund for nursing recruitment, retention programs, and student loan forgiveness. The bill directly affects healthcare facilities and their nursing staff, aiming to improve patient safety through mandated staffing standards.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 2555 regulates residential mental health treatment facilities by establishing licensing requirements and care standards. It mandates that facilities provide 24/7 care consistent with ASAM's Level 3.5 standards for patients who don't need hospitalization, limit treatment duration to prepare patients for community care, and prohibit retrospective medical necessity reviews. Facilities must obtain a license from the Commissioner of Health, demonstrate compliance with minimum standards, and cannot operate at the same location as substance use disorder facilities. The bill also exempts these facilities from New Jersey's certificate of need requirements for facility expansions or modifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities to provide free voice calls, video calls, and email services to incarcerated individuals. It eliminates all fees for both the incarcerated person and their family members receiving calls or messages, prohibiting facilities from charging commissions, surcharges, or additional fees. The bill amends existing law to mandate that these communication services be provided at no cost to any party, while allowing facilities to maintain security measures. It also includes an appropriation for implementation, as certified by correctional authorities. The policy directly affects incarcerated individuals and their families across all correctional facilities in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new hotels and multiple dwellings (apartment buildings) in New Jersey to install monitored carbon monoxide detectors. Specifically, it mandates that units in newly constructed properties must have detectors meeting UL 2034 standards that not only sound local alarms but also automatically alert fire departments or emergency services during a carbon monoxide emergency. The requirement applies only to new construction completed after the bill's enactment date. It does not affect existing buildings or basic detectors without emergency notification capabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits home improvement contractors from requiring subcontractors to cover 100% of liability for defects or poor workmanship in contracts. It limits such liability clauses to a maximum of 50% indemnification. Contractors must certify in writing (for contracts over $500) that they will not seek full indemnification from subcontractors. The law directly affects contractors and subcontractors in home improvement projects, ensuring homeowners are not left fully responsible for contractor or subcontractor errors. It amends existing law to clarify that contractors cannot shift all financial risk to subcontractors for work quality issues.