Asm. Wayne DeAngelo

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1067) requires the state's Department of Human Services to conduct a landscape analysis of mental health services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing residents. It mandates that mental health services be provided in a client's primary communication method (like sign language or speech), delivered by professionals certified in that method and trained in culturally appropriate care for the deaf community. The bill also requires the creation of a resource guide listing providers meeting these standards and defines key terms like "culturally affirmative mental health services." It directly affects deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking mental health care across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey to issue special license plates to honorably discharged veterans. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of honorable discharge (such as a DD-214 form) and pay a $15 fee in addition to standard vehicle registration costs. The plates would display the word "Veteran" and the specific military branch served (e.g., Army, Navy). Surviving spouses of veterans can continue using these plates on their vehicles. The Motor Vehicle Commission would inform drivers about this option during registration renewals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public school staff in New Jersey to complete training on caring for students with epilepsy or seizure disorders every two years. It directly affects school staff (including teachers, coaches, and support personnel) and students with these conditions. The training, provided through Department of Health-approved courses by nonprofit organizations, covers recognizing seizures, emergency response, and daily care. This update builds on existing law (P.L.2019, c.290) that already requires schools to develop individualized health plans for affected students but adds the mandatory biennial staff training requirement. The law applies to all school-sponsored activities, including those outside regular school hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the automatic presumption that defendants charged with sex offenses against minors (victims under 18) can be released before trial. Instead, courts must now evaluate each case to determine if release would reasonably ensure the defendant's court appearance and protect community safety. The law specifically removes the "presumption of pretrial release" for these offenses, requiring judges to apply stricter standards rather than assuming release is appropriate. It directly affects defendants facing such charges in New Jersey, shifting the burden to the court to justify release conditions. The change applies to all sex offenses against minors defined under state law (C.2C:7-2), not just specific cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for causing death while driving recklessly under the influence of alcohol or drugs. It upgrades reckless vehicular homicide from a second-degree to a first-degree crime when the driver was intoxicated near schools (within 1,000 feet of school property or school crossings), or while driving through highway construction zones. The law removes defenses based on the driver not knowing about school zones or construction areas at the time of the offense. This applies specifically to drivers convicted of causing death while operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs in these high-risk locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's renewable energy incentive programs to support solar projects on landfills, brownfields, contaminated sites, and mining sites. It removes size and power output restrictions for these projects and allows multiple solar facilities to be co-located on the same or adjacent properties (with separate interconnections). Electric utilities must interconnect these projects, and any delays caused by utilities automatically extend the 33-month deadline for commercial operation. Existing projects in the TREC program that haven't achieved commercial operation have 90 days to register under the new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies New Jersey's tax rules for business personal property (like equipment and infrastructure) owned by local telephone companies. It revises the definition to require these companies - specifically those that held regional landline monopolies before the 1996 Telecommunications Act or their successors - to pay property taxes permanently, regardless of annual service coverage percentages. The bill also mandates that if a municipality wins a tax case against such a company, the company must pay the municipality's legal fees. This aims to end costly annual litigation and stabilize municipal tax bases that were eroded by misinterpretations of the 1997 tax law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and electric utilities to establish programs developing 500 megawatts of battery storage capacity statewide by 2030. It mandates utilities to file implementation plans with the BPU, including specific requirements like minimum storage size, incentives for overburdened communities, and provisions to ensure low-income customers benefit. The program aims to improve grid stability, reduce interconnection times, and lower system costs for ratepayers. Utilities must submit annual reports to demonstrate compliance, and the BPU can disallow cost recovery if targets aren't met.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program under New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to support advanced nuclear energy development. It establishes definitions for "advanced nuclear reactors" (with enhanced safety, efficiency, and waste reduction features) and "advanced nuclear energy certificates" (ANECs), which would represent environmental and reliability attributes of generated electricity. The program sets rules for qualifying projects, including cost approval processes for construction and allowances for unforeseen expenses. It directly affects nuclear developers and electric utilities seeking to build new advanced reactors in New Jersey, aiming to integrate these projects into the state's energy infrastructure. The bill is pending legislative action and does not yet change existing law.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill A6190 establishes a program for New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to solicit proposals for new natural gas power plants capable of generating at least 1,100 megawatts of electricity within the state. Developers must submit detailed proposals covering project costs, financing, and pricing structures for energy certificates (representing electricity supply) and natural gas development charges, which would be recovered from electricity ratepayers. The bill requires applicants to analyze the project's economic impact on jobs and local economies, and includes a mechanism to share cost overruns (up to 20% of estimated construction costs) between developers and ratepayers. This program directly affects natural gas power plant developers and New Jersey electricity consumers through potential changes in energy pricing and infrastructure investment.