Sen. Paul Moriarty

Maddy summaryS 2140 prohibits mobile service providers (like phone companies) and app developers from sharing customers' location data with third parties without explicit consent. It requires developers to get customers' affirmative agreement - via a clear "I agree" prompt - before sharing location data, and bans third parties from selling this data or sharing it beyond the purpose for which consent was given. Exceptions apply for legal requirements like court orders or law enforcement requests. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud, potentially resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense. The bill directly affects app developers, mobile providers, and third-party data users operating in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2072) requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a uniform, color-coded system for health inspection placards at retail food establishments. The new standard would use three tiers - color-coded to show "satisfactory," "conditionally satisfactory," or "unsatisfactory" compliance - with the DOH establishing these placards in consultation with local health agencies. It directly affects restaurants, grocery stores, and other food businesses required to display these placards, replacing inconsistent local ordinances with a statewide system. The bill mandates that all such placards must follow this standardized format, ensuring consistent public visibility of health inspection results across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for drivers who fail to secure children in car seats or booster seats. For a first offense, fines rise from $50-$75 to $100, with courts waiving the fine if the driver shows they own a car seat. Second or subsequent offenses carry fines of $250-$500. It also creates a fund where $25 from each fine will be used to buy car seats for distribution programs through New Jersey's Highway Traffic Safety Division.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes new annual registration fees for electric vehicles in New Jersey starting July 2025: $300 for passenger EVs and $450 for commercial EVs (defined as vehicles used for hire, compensation, or property transport). It simultaneously reduces highway fuel taxes - lowering gasoline tax from 10.5¢ to 7¢ per gallon and diesel tax from 13.5¢ to 9¢ per gallon. All fees and reduced fuel tax revenues will fund the Transportation Trust Fund. The bill also directs the Department of Transportation to conduct a feasibility study on alternative transportation revenue sources.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the automatic presumption that defendants charged with certain serious offenses can be released before trial. It specifically applies to individuals accused of sex offenses (as defined by New Jersey law) or violent crimes involving a deadly weapon, as well as repeat vehicle theft cases with prior convictions. Under the bill, judges must now hold a hearing to evaluate each case individually, considering community safety and victim protection, rather than automatically granting pretrial release. Non-monetary conditions like electronic monitoring or avoiding victims may be imposed, but monetary bail cannot be used to address safety concerns. The bill changes the standard for pretrial release decisions for these specific charges in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to provide legal representation for residential tenants facing eviction in New Jersey's Special Civil Part courts. It directly affects tenants in Chapter 18 eviction cases (covering most residential evictions), ensuring they can be represented by counsel or have a lawyer appointed if they earn 80% or less of HUD's area median income or cannot afford one. Courts must allow adjournments to secure counsel and appoint attorneys for qualifying low-income tenants or those deemed unable to pay. The policy change mandates this right for all eviction proceedings filed on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a Deep Fake Technology Unit within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to address AI-generated deceptive videos and audio. The unit will provide law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts with technical training, evidence analysis, and expert testimony to investigate "deep fakes" - manipulated media designed to falsely depict people speaking or acting. It requires the unit to issue annual reports detailing its work, technological trends in deep fake creation, and policy recommendations. The bill appropriates $2 million from the state budget to fund the unit's operations, which would be established within six months of enactment. The bill is currently pending before the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires bus drivers in New Jersey to visually inspect their vehicles at the end of each route to ensure no passenger with a disability was left behind. It directly affects commercial bus drivers who violate this rule, facing penalties including a one-month license suspension for a first offense, six months for a second, and permanent revocation for a third offense. If a passenger with a disability is harmed due to the driver’s gross negligence, the license is permanently revoked. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission must record violations in drivers’ commercial license files and report them to the federal Commercial Driver License Information System.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2930 requires the Department of Children and Families to create a state-wide program promoting trauma-informed care to help children and families affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) like abuse, neglect, or household instability. The bill mandates developing a toolkit for state employees, establishing Trauma Awareness Month, creating recognition programs for frontline workers, and identifying service gaps across agencies and schools. State agencies serving children and families must implement trauma-informed practices, including staff training on ACEs and toxic stress, and use evidence-based approaches to build resilience. This law aims to reduce long-term health and behavioral impacts of childhood trauma by shifting how state services are delivered.

Maddy summaryS 2129 prohibits knowingly sharing deceptive audio or video (like deepfakes) within 90 days of an election if intended to mislead voters about candidates or election issues. It makes this a crime (4th degree for first offense, 3rd for repeat), with penalties including fines and jail time. The law allows voters or candidates to seek court orders to stop such sharing and recover damages, but includes key exceptions: news reporting, satire, and minor edits with clear disclaimers (e.g., "This contains manipulated images"). Platforms like social media and news outlets are exempt from liability under federal law (Section 230).