Asm. Erik Simonsen

Maddy summaryBill A 546 repeals New Jersey’s prohibition on certain businesses selling single-use products (like plastic straws or utensils), directly affecting restaurants, retailers, and food service establishments that previously faced restrictions. It also amends the Clean Communities Program Fund to adjust how state funds support litter cleanup and education initiatives, including distributing money to municipalities and counties based on housing units or road mileage. The bill removes sections 1-9 of P.L.2020, c.117, which established the single-use product ban, and takes effect immediately. This change shifts policy from restricting single-use items to enabling their sale without legal barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program, which provides funding to veterans' organizations for building-related expenses. It directly affects qualified veterans' groups by covering costs like construction, renovation, repairs, and upgrades to their facilities. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will administer the program using existing statutory authority, distributing grants to support physical infrastructure needs. The program is designed to help veterans' organizations maintain or improve their operational spaces without requiring new legislative authorization for each project.

Maddy summaryAJR 50 is a commemorative resolution designating August 27 of each year as "Billy Cray Day" in New Jersey. It honors William "Billy" Cray, a 33-year-old man with developmental disabilities who died in a congregate setting in 2017, and aims to raise public awareness about abuse and neglect in such facilities. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation but does not create new laws or requirements. It is purely symbolic, referencing ongoing concerns highlighted by the Ombudsman's reports and pending legislation (AB 2483/SB 1897) focused on safety reforms.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax relief to small retail businesses (50 or fewer full-time employees) located in areas affected by public highway construction projects, such as the I-80 project. It creates two main credits: (1) a refundable credit against sales tax remittances for businesses in impacted zones during construction, and (2) a credit against business privilege tax based on verified revenue loss. Businesses must apply for approval, document their impact, and claim credits during the project’s active "relief period" (from start to completion). The credits are limited to 50% of tax liability and expire after seven years if unused.

Maddy summaryThis bill adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism as an educational resource for New Jersey state agencies, schools, and law enforcement. It defines antisemitism as hatred toward Jews, including specific examples like Holocaust denial, harmful stereotypes (e.g., conspiracy theories about Jewish control), and double standards applied to Israel. The definition is explicitly non-binding and must be used while protecting constitutional rights like free speech. New Jersey lawmakers cite the state's high rate of antisemitic incidents - including ranking third nationally in 2023 - as the basis for this measure.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises how New Jersey allocates state funds for public highway projects to municipalities and counties. It establishes a new formula based on factors like county population, municipal road mileage, evacuation routes, and flood plain locations to determine funding distribution. The bill specifies that 37.5% of annual highway funds must go to municipalities under this formula, with additional fixed amounts set aside for specific programs (like the Local Aid Infrastructure Fund, Local Freight Impact Fund, and Local Bridges Fund). The formula also requires prioritizing projects based on traffic volume, safety, and whether they address hazardous conditions for school routes or pedestrian safety. This directly affects all New Jersey municipalities and counties managing public road infrastructure.

Maddy summaryMichelle's Law requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover mammograms when a healthcare provider recommends them. It mandates baseline mammograms for women at age 40, annual mammograms for women 40 and older, and coverage for women under 40 with breast cancer risk factors (like family history) based on provider recommendation. The law also requires coverage for additional tests like ultrasounds or MRIs if needed due to dense breast tissue, abnormal results, or other risk factors. This applies to all health insurance contracts, including those allowing premium changes, without limiting coverage for other medical conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would make local government business administrators eligible for the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) by allowing them to transfer from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS. Currently, business administrators are excluded from both PERS and the DCRP under existing law. The bill amends eligibility rules to include business administrators in the DCRP and establishes a formal process for transferring to PERS. This change would provide these employees with access to a different retirement system they previously could not join.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Rider Advocacy Commission (with three appointed members) and the New Jersey Transit Office of Customer Advocate to directly represent NJ Transit riders' interests. The Office must analyze and report on proposed fare increases, service cuts, expansions, or major spending to NJ Transit's board, the Governor, and Legislature. It requires NJ Transit to share relevant documents with the Office for independent review before major changes. The Office collects public feedback through its website and monthly customer meetings, ensuring rider concerns directly inform transit decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1685) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems, including teachers' pensions. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, rather than requiring separate legislative action for each adjustment. The key mechanism is amending existing law to restore the automatic COLA provision that was previously removed, linking benefit increases directly to the Consumer Price Index. This change simplifies the process and provides predictable income growth for retirees without requiring new votes for each adjustment. The bill is sponsored by Assemblywomen Reynolds-Jackson and Speight and co-sponsored by multiple legislators.