Sen. Paul Moriarty

Maddy summaryThis bill requires restaurants in New Jersey to clearly disclose any mandatory gratuity charges to patrons through prominent displays on menus, at restaurant entrances, on customer bills, and on the restaurant's website. It directly affects restaurants by mandating transparency and patrons by ensuring they know if a gratuity is automatically added to their bill. Failure to disclose the mandatory gratuity is classified as an unlawful practice under the Consumer Fraud Act, punishable by fines up to $10,000 for a first offense or $20,000 for repeat violations, plus potential penalties like treble damages. The law takes effect three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires automatic enrollment in New Jersey's Immunization Information System (NJIIS) when a vaccine is administered to individuals not already registered, unless the person (or their parent/guardian for minors under 18) provides a written opt-out request. It applies to all New Jersey residents receiving vaccines, with newborns (born after 1998) automatically enrolled at birth unless parents opt out, and those born before 1998 able to enroll via written request. The system tracks vaccination records for healthcare providers, schools, and public health use, while allowing individuals to review or correct their data and opt out of participation. During public health emergencies, the commissioner may temporarily override opt-out requests to monitor vaccine uptake.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding Senate resolution (SR 127) urges all New Jersey residents to stay up-to-date on vaccinations, particularly in response to rising measles cases. It cites declining vaccination rates - especially among school-age children - and notes that 94% of 2025 measles cases involved unvaccinated or unknown-status individuals. The resolution asks the state Department of Health to create and distribute vaccination awareness materials but does not impose new requirements or penalties. It serves as a symbolic call to action, not a law, to promote community immunity and prevent disease outbreaks.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4461 authorizes counties to choose cremation as an option for unclaimed bodies (instead of only burial) and requires counties to cover the cost if the decedent has no estate to pay for it. Hospitals are now permitted to store unclaimed bodies for up to 30 days, after which counties may bury or cremate the body at county expense. The bill also mandates that cremains must be retained by a medical examiner's office for at least one year before being interred, and specifies that individuals claiming buried bodies or cremains must pay disinterment costs - unless a medical examiner's investigation requires it. This update streamlines the handling of unclaimed remains while clarifying financial responsibilities.

Maddy summaryS 4345 would change how New Jersey fire districts request an exemption from the 2% property tax levy cap (which limits annual tax increases on property). Currently, fire districts must hold a public vote to seek such an exemption, but this bill would allow them to instead apply directly to the Local Finance Board for approval. The Board would review requests, considering factors like cost changes or revenue shifts, and its decision would be final without appeal. This applies only to fire districts, streamlining a process currently required for all local units like municipalities.

Maddy summaryS 3999 exempts creditors from paying municipal property registration fees for properties under federal bankruptcy protection. Current law requires creditors to pay annual fees for registering properties in foreclosure, with higher fees if properties are vacant or abandoned. This bill specifically exempts creditors when a property is subject to the automatic stay under Chapter 7 or 13 of the federal Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. § 362(a)), as long as the stay has not been lifted. The exemption applies to all fees authorized under Section 3 of P.L.2021, c.444 (C.40:48-2.12s3) for properties in bankruptcy proceedings. This change directly affects creditors in foreclosure cases who have filed for bankruptcy protection.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have New Jersey join the Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing social workers licensed in New Jersey to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The compact establishes a system where social workers must meet specific requirements (including passing national exams, holding appropriate degrees, and completing supervised practice) to qualify for a multistate license. It creates a commission to manage the compact, handle data sharing among states, and address disciplinary actions. The compact aims to increase access to social work services, reduce duplicate licensing requirements, and support workforce mobility for social workers across member states. This would directly affect social workers seeking to practice in multiple states and the states' licensing authorities.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3620 requires electric and gas utilities using smart meters to establish an "Energy Bill Watch" program for smart meter customers. The program mandates utilities to notify customers when their daily usage exceeds the previous billing cycle's average (on the 10th and 20th days of each cycle), offer customizable dollar-value alerts, and include average monthly usage costs and kilowatt/therm amounts in notifications. Utilities must automatically enroll smart meter customers, provide opt-out options, advertise the program through multiple channels, and include specific billing details in all customer bills (previous cycle amount, current cycle amount, and the difference between them). This bill directly affects smart meter customers of New Jersey's electric and gas utilities.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3540 establishes criminal penalties for creating or sharing deceptive audio or visual media (commonly called "deepfakes") that falsely depict someone doing something they didn't actually do. It makes it a crime to produce such media for unlawful purposes (like harassment, theft, or privacy violations) or to share it without clearly labeling it as fake. Individuals harmed by these deepfakes can sue for $1,000 per violation plus damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law exempts news media from penalties unless they knowingly share unmarked fake content created in violation of the bill.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.