Sen. Carmen Amato

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1895) allows New Jersey municipalities to provide free or reduced beach fees for two new groups: children ages 12 to 17 and veterans (regardless of service length or disability). Currently, municipalities can offer fee exemptions for seniors, disabled individuals, active military members, National Guard members, and veterans meeting specific service requirements (90+ days active duty or service-connected disability). The bill removes the prior service requirement for veterans, expanding eligibility to all honorably discharged veterans. It also explicitly adds children aged 12-17 to the list of those eligible for no-fee or reduced-fee access.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey local governments - including municipalities, counties, school districts, and public agencies - from naming public property (such as roads, parks, schools, or buildings) after a foreign terrorist organization designated by the federal government. It requires these entities to remove all existing signs, plaques, or displays referencing such groups within 30 days of the law taking effect and to rename the property within 90 days. The state will reimburse local governments for the costs of removal and renaming, and violations will trigger daily deductions from state aid. The Division of Local Government Services must maintain an annual list of designated foreign terrorist organizations and lands they control, excluding sovereign nations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for time spent in military service academies (such as West Point or the Naval Academy), in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or as a class two special law enforcement officer before joining the police force. It amends existing law to permit purchasing credit for these specific service periods by paying into the retirement system's annuity savings fund, with options for installment payments over up to 10 years. The bill specifies that credit purchased for military academy enrollment, police academy training, or special law enforcement officer employment will be treated the same as actual police service for retirement benefit calculations. This applies to current and future SPRS members who want to count these pre-service periods toward their retirement eligibility and benefits.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for specific prior service. It permits purchasing credit for time enrolled in military service academies (like West Point or Annapolis), time in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or employment as a "class two special law enforcement officer" before joining the police force. Members can pay for this credit through installments (at least half the normal contribution) over up to 10 years, with the credit counting equally toward retirement benefits as actual police service. The bill specifically requires that the break between such prior service and joining SPRS must be less than 365 days for the credit purchase to be eligible.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4277) would adjust the monetary threshold for New Jersey's pay-to-play prohibition to match the public bidding threshold for certain government contracts. Currently set at $17,500, the threshold would be raised annually to align with the $44,000 public bidding threshold established for counties, municipalities, and school districts. The change would affect State agencies, counties, municipalities, school boards, and fire districts that use qualified purchasing agents for contracts below the threshold. Entities without qualified purchasing agents would continue to operate under the current $17,500 threshold. This adjustment simplifies contracting processes by aligning the pay-to-play prohibition with existing public bidding rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the definition of "aquaculture" in New Jersey state law to explicitly include the construction of facilities and appurtenant structures, which are currently excluded from the definition. The change would clarify that facilities like hatcheries, processing centers, and equipment storage are part of aquaculture operations, not separate construction projects regulated under other laws. This policy change applies to multiple state laws that define aquaculture, ensuring consistent treatment across different regulatory contexts. The goal is to provide regulatory clarity to support New Jersey's aquaculture industry, which includes shellfish farming and other aquatic farming activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover the full cost of organ donation after death, with no out-of-pocket expenses for the insured. It applies when the deceased person was registered as an organ donor in New Jersey's official registry, or when a designated family member (like a spouse, adult child, sibling, or legal guardian) authorizes the donation. The coverage includes all necessary medical procedures related to organ donation following a declaration of death under New Jersey's Death Act. This policy directly affects insured individuals and their families who choose to donate organs after death.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4275 prohibits state contractors and financial institutions from sharing data with "foreign adversaries" (defined as entities deemed a security threat by U.S. standards). It requires the Department of the Treasury to maintain a public list of entities selling data to such adversaries, making them ineligible for state contracts, subsidies, tax benefits, or certifications. Contractors must certify they aren’t on the list, and false certifications face $1 million penalties or five-year bans. The law exempts data shared under court orders, legitimate business transactions, or publicly available information. This directly affects businesses seeking state work or financial partnerships.