Maddy summaryS 1372 clarifies that violating New Jersey's Insurance Fraud Prevention Act (P.L.1983, c.320) voids a motorist's liability insurance coverage for claims related to that fraud. It directly affects individuals who commit insurance fraud (losing their coverage) and innocent people injured by those fraudsters (ensuring they retain protection). Key provisions require insurers to deny coverage for fraudulent claims but direct innocent victims to primary recourse through their own uninsured motorist coverage or the Unsatisfied Claim and Judgment Fund. Crucially, victims using the fund are exempt from standard "verbal threshold" requirements that typically limit claims for minor injuries. This bill ensures victims of fraud aren't left without recourse while penalizing fraudulent behavior.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1389 expands the state's child and dependent care tax credit by raising income limits and increasing credit percentages. It raises the income cap for joint filers, heads of household, and surviving spouses from $150,000 to $250,000, while keeping the $150,000 limit for other filing statuses. The bill also increases the credit percentage across all income brackets by 10 points - for example, taxpayers earning under $30,000 will now receive 60% of the federal credit instead of 50%. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment and extend eligibility to married individuals filing separately who meet federal credit requirements except for joint filing.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners and operators of underground storage tanks (like those at gas stations) to follow specific safety and maintenance procedures. It mandates regular testing based on tank age, stored materials, and nearby water sources; requires adherence to EPA safety standards (with stricter rules near protected water areas); and demands 24-hour leak reporting to authorities. Owners must designate a responsible person for compliance and corrective actions, and face triple damages if leaks aren’t fixed within 14 days. The law directly affects businesses using underground tanks and strengthens environmental protection through clearer enforcement.
Maddy summaryS 1184 designates the 9/11 Heart Symbol flag - a white banner featuring a red heart with "9-11-01 Never Forgotten" and twin towers silhouette - as New Jersey’s official state flag for remembrance. It requires this flag to be displayed during normal business hours on September 11th each year at all state 9/11 memorial sites, the State House in Trenton, and the main municipal and county buildings. The bill does not alter existing laws but mandates specific display requirements to honor the 750 New Jersey residents who died in the 2001 attacks. This is a commemorative measure focused on annual observance, not a policy change affecting citizens or government operations.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 330) requires community agencies and care residences receiving state services to conduct background checks on employees and residents. It mandates criminal history and motor vehicle record checks every two years, disqualifying individuals with recent convictions for violent crimes, family offenses, drug-related crimes, or serious traffic violations (like DUI in the past 10 years). Agencies must verify these checks before hiring or housing individuals, and refusal to cooperate results in disqualification. The law applies directly to state-contracted community service providers and care facilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to identify reservoirs with a history of causing downstream flooding and study their capacity, downstream river limits, and water needs for local communities. Reservoir owners must then create and implement approved flood action plans - including flood gates - and comply with DEP-set maximum water levels that balance flood prevention with maintaining water supply. The Office of Emergency Management can also order immediate reservoir level reductions before or during severe storms if deemed necessary to prevent flooding. These rules apply to reservoirs identified by the DEP as posing documented flood risks to downstream areas.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes the "New Jersey Kratom Consumer Protection Act," which would regulate kratom products sold in the state. It directly affects kratom retailers (stores selling kratom) and manufacturers by requiring clear product labeling showing mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine content, banning sales to anyone under 21 with strict ID verification (including age-checking devices), and prohibiting products mixed with harmful substances or exceeding 2% of a specific alkaloid. Key provisions include banning kratom products with synthetic compounds, unsafe solvent levels, or undisclosed ingredients, and imposing civil penalties up to $1,000 for violations. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Commerce Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows prosecutors in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to retire with a 50% final compensation benefit after 20+ years of service, removing the current requirement that they must be age 55 or older. It applies specifically to active prosecutors enrolled in the Prosecutors Part of PERS before the bill's effective date, who can now retire within five years of that date without age restrictions. The key provision changes eligibility from needing both age 55+ and 20+ years of service to requiring only 20+ years of service, with the retirement allowance calculated as 50% of final compensation. This directly affects prosecutors who meet the service requirement but are under 55, providing them earlier access to a defined retirement benefit.
Maddy summaryThis bill removes an existing exception in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, the law permits smoking in areas of casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games, and in simulcasting facilities with dedicated seating for 50+ patrons. The bill deletes this exception from the statute, meaning smoking would be prohibited in all indoor public areas of these facilities under the general smoke-free law. It directly affects casinos and simulcasting venues that currently operate under the smoking exemption.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's burglary law to explicitly include keyless locking mechanisms in the definition of "burglar's tools." It makes it a crime to manufacture, sell, or publish plans for tools designed to bypass keyless locks (a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine), while merely possessing such tools would be a lesser disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine). The law directly affects individuals or businesses creating or distributing tools that can access premises without physical keys. It updates existing burglary statutes to address modern keyless lock technology without changing broader burglary penalties.