Rep. Robert Carroll

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new legal framework for protective orders targeting severe stalking behavior, directly affecting victims (petitioners) and alleged stalkers (respondents). It establishes temporary and final "anti-stalking orders" that prohibit contact, surveillance, and remote control of connected devices (like smart home systems), requiring respondents to stay away from victims' homes, workplaces, or schools. The law defines "stalking" broadly to include offenses like harassment, assault, identity theft, and unauthorized sharing of intimate images, requiring a "course of conduct" (two or more acts within 90 days) to trigger the order. Courts must issue temporary orders the same day if an immediate threat exists, with final orders requiring a hearing to confirm evidence supports the petition.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the commercial farming of octopuses in the state for human consumption. It defines "aquaculture" as farming aquatic organisms under controlled conditions and explicitly excludes wild-caught octopuses and research-related farming. The law bans any person from engaging in octopus farming for food, with violations subject to fines up to $1,000 per day and offense. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Promotes consumer choice by requiring manufacturers of digital electronic equipment to provide retail sellers with a repair score that will be displayed to consumers at point of sale.

Maddy summaryBill A 5846 provides remedies for disruptions during early voting or Election Day voting, directly affecting voters and the Boards of Elections. It mandates that if voting at a polling place or district is delayed for over 15 consecutive minutes, the Board of Elections must extend the voting timeframe to compensate for the lost time. This extension can happen on the same day or a subsequent voting day, potentially at alternative locations. The bill also requires the Board of Elections to widely publicize any such remedial actions taken, though they can vote to waive the extension under specific, documented circumstances.

Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to pay a participating pharmacy at minimum at the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC) rate, or at the pharmacy acquisition cost rate if greater or there is not a NADAC rate, plus a professional dispensing fee that is at minimum the professional dispensing fee paid under the state medical assistance program.

Establishes a developmental disability, mental health, and behavioral condition community stakeholder committee to examine effective evidence-based developmental, mental, and behavioral health screening methods for children in kindergarten through fifth grade.

Establishes the homeowner protection program; provides that the department of law shall establish the homeowner protection program to ensure the availability of free housing counseling and legal services to homeowners for the purposes of mitigating threats to homeownership; provides that the department of law shall provide grants to eligible not-for-profit housing counseling organizations and legal services organizations to provide services under the program.

Establishes maximum contaminant levels in drinking water for certain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); sets such levels at no higher than 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and no higher than 10 parts per trillion (ppt) for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA).

Establishes an indirect source review for heavy distribution warehouse operations; requires the department of environmental conservation to conduct a study regarding zero-emissions zones.

Relates to voting rights and access for incarcerated individuals; authorizes polling places to be available at correctional facilities and local facilities; requires such facilities to provide persons detained or confined in such facilities access to register to vote or apply for an absentee ballot; requires voting information to be included in the inmate handbook.