Asm. Luanne Peterpaul

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to revise community solar program targets, replacing the previous annual goal of 150 megawatts with a new target of 3,000 megawatts to be registered by December 31, 2029. The BPU must open registration for these projects by August 1, 2025, and accept applications until the target is met or the deadline passes. The bill also mandates the BPU to establish appropriate solar credit levels and bill discounts to support this new target. This change directly affects solar energy developers, electric utilities, and community solar participants, including low- and moderate-income residents who must be provided access to the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for school counselors in New Jersey. It mandates that school counseling programs at colleges must incorporate the American School Counselor Association's model and include training in social-emotional learning and career planning. School counselors (defined as those with a NJ certification and endorsement) must provide services addressing students' academic, career, social, and emotional needs, and complete required professional development in areas like mental health awareness, trauma-informed practices, and cultural competency. The bill also creates a new State School Counselor Liaison position within the Department of Education to support school districts and advance comprehensive counseling services. These changes directly affect school counselors, school districts, and higher education institutions offering counseling certification programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers of first responders (law enforcement officers and paid firefighters) to cover workers' compensation for up to 12 hours of confidential mental health counseling after a "critical incident," such as witnessing violence, serious injury, or trauma during duty. Additional up to 24 hours of counseling may be covered if a mental health professional deems it necessary for the responder's well-being. The law also mandates confidentiality for mental health communications between first responders and peer support teams or resiliency program officers, with limited exceptions if a responder poses a risk to themselves or others. All counseling must be completed within one year of the first session and cannot require use of the responder's accrued paid leave.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric public utilities (and their affiliates) to submit an annual report by February 1st to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The report must list every recorded vote cast by the utility or its affiliates at PJM Interconnection meetings (including votes not publicly disclosed by PJM), describe the meeting context, and explain how each vote supports New Jersey's energy goals of affordability, reliability, and sustainability. The BPU must then summarize these reports for the Governor and Legislature. This aims to increase transparency about how utilities influence regional electricity decisions using ratepayer funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program, which provides tax credits to businesses that make significant investments in New Jersey manufacturing facilities. To qualify, businesses must invest at least $10 million in capital and create at least 20 new full-time jobs with median salaries at least 120% of local manufacturing averages. The tax credit amount is calculated as the lesser of 0.1% of capital investment multiplied by new jobs, 25% of capital investment, or $150 million, with $100 million reserved for clean energy manufacturers in the first two years. Businesses must maintain the jobs and investment for a specified period, and may forfeit credits if they fail to meet requirements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3974 prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers from using deceptive marketing practices. The bill requires all advertising to include accurate, plain-language details about services, locations, and contact information (including phone numbers and addresses), and bans false claims about network status, geographic location, or affiliations with other providers without written consent. Violations carry civil penalties up to $20,000 per incident, and affected individuals may sue for triple damages plus attorney fees. This directly affects licensed treatment facilities, certified providers, and recovery residences offering substance use disorder services within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 862, now P.L.2025, c.11) requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to include significantly more detailed information in its annual report on road conditions. Specifically, the report must now list numerical rankings of roads needing repair, detail completed maintenance projects (including pothole repairs), provide cost estimates for each project, track material usage (tonnage), and include data on pothole damage claims and associated costs from the Treasury Department. The report must be made publicly available on the DOT's website. This affects the DOT directly by expanding its reporting duties and provides the public with more transparency about road maintenance spending and road conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to issue an annual report on compensation awards to crime victims. The report must detail the number of applications granted or denied (with reasons), award amounts, demographics of recipients, services covered, and office funding, and must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within six months after each fiscal year ends. The report will also be published on the Department of Law and Public Safety's website for public access. This formalizes an existing reporting practice without changing eligibility or funding for victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $107,999,000 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues and Green Acres funds to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The funds support local governments in acquiring land for recreation and conservation (e.g., parks, open space) and developing existing lands (e.g., park improvements, inclusive playgrounds under "Jake's Law"). Specifically, $22.4 million funds land acquisition projects, $80.3 million supports development projects like park upgrades and inclusive playgrounds, and $3 million establishes a new planning grant program for local conservation planning. It prioritizes projects in densely populated areas and urban aid municipalities, as defined by population density thresholds.

Maddy summaryBill A5913 would amend New Jersey's farm brewery licensing rules to allow license holders to sell their products for on-premises consumption. Currently, farm brewery licensees can only sell products for off-premises consumption and offer samples. This change would permit them to serve drinks directly to customers at their brewery locations. The bill does not alter the production limits (2,500 barrels per year) or other requirements for farm brewery licenses. It would affect small, farm-based breweries that currently cannot serve customers at their facilities.