Rep. Wayne DeAngelo

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to extend death and disability benefits to members injured or killed while on active military duty (federal or state). It defines members on such duty - ordered by the President for federal service or the Governor for state service - as "active members" for benefit purposes, ensuring they qualify for the same death benefits as if actively serving in their department. The amendment covers both death benefits for survivors (including lump-sum payments) and disability retirement benefits for members disabled during military service. This directly affects PFRS members who serve in the military while retaining their retirement system eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide a property tax rebate to disabled veterans who own or rent their primary residence in New Jersey. It directly affects disabled veterans, including those experiencing financial hardship due to high property taxes and rental costs, as highlighted by the bill's findings (73% of NJ veterans have disabilities, with 518 homeless veterans in the state). The rebate is intended to help prevent homelessness and reduce financial burdens for this group. The bill defines key terms like "homestead" and "disabled veterans" but does not specify the rebate amount or exact eligibility calculations in the provided text. It is currently pending before the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county boards and municipal clerks to display voting-by-mail information and application forms at all polling places, including posters prepared by the Secretary of State. It mandates that mail-in ballots received by county boards within 48 hours of an election are considered valid, and that certain mail-in ballots must be retained for record-keeping. Additionally, county clerks must include printed instructions with each mail-in ballot, explaining how to prepare, send, and check the ballot's status online. These changes aim to improve transparency and accessibility for voters using mail-in ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a two-year grant program using funds from the societal benefits charge. It provides grants to individuals, businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions to develop innovative technologies for pilot projects at publicly-owned drinking water and wastewater systems. These projects must implement new technology (not routine upgrades) to improve water quality, flow, purification, conservation, energy efficiency, or infrastructure - specifically prioritizing renewable energy solutions like in-pipe hydropower. The BPU must evaluate proposals, coordinate with systems, and report annually on funded projects and their statewide potential. The program expires 25 months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis proposed New Jersey bill (A 1931) prohibits auto insurance companies from using a person's educational level, occupation, or credit score to set insurance rates or determine policyholders' risk tiers. It also bans insurers from asking applicants about these factors during the application process. The law would require insurers to file all underwriting rules with the state commissioner and apply them uniformly statewide. If passed, this would directly affect all auto insurance applicants and policyholders in New Jersey who might have previously faced higher rates based on these factors. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A 2463 allocates $100 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for grants to local governments. The DEP must create a transparent grant program to fund drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure projects, with at least 10% reserved for projects targeting harmful algal blooms in Lake Hopatcong and Greenwood Lake. Grants must be distributed statewide, and the DEP must report all funded projects to the Governor and Legislature within three years, after which the program expires. This directly affects counties, municipalities, and regional entities needing water system upgrades.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Community Power Storage Program," allowing electric utility customers to receive bill credits for participating in remote energy storage projects within their service area. The Board of Public Utilities must create rules within 210 days, including a 5-megawatt cap per project, a goal of 2,000 megawatts of storage by 2034, and requirements to prioritize urban areas and industrial sites. The program mandates low-income customer access, minimum customer participation (two per project), and standards for project connections and bill credit values. Utilities can recover implementation costs, and the Board must report annually on the program's effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 11-member task force within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to study challenges faced by returning members of the U.S. Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard who deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The task force, including agency commissioners and public members with expertise in military transition, mental health, and veteran support, will hold public hearings and review current programs. It must identify issues affecting veterans' physical, mental, and social well-being, develop recommendations for state action, and issue a final report with legislative proposals within six months. The task force expires 30 days after submitting its report.

Maddy summaryAJR 12 designates the first full week of June each year as "New Jersey Fishing and Boating Week" to promote recreational fishing and boating. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public participation and directs the Division of Fish and Wildlife to publicize the week and coordinate at least one free fishing day with it. This procedural resolution does not create new regulations or funding but aims to highlight the state's fishing and boating opportunities and community benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1772) provides free undergraduate tuition and mandatory student fees at New Jersey public colleges for dependents of qualifying veterans. It directly affects children (ages 17-26), spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners of veterans who were New Jersey residents when entering active duty and who were killed in action, declared POW/MIA, permanently and totally disabled (100% service-connected), or died from a service-connected disability. To qualify, dependents must be New Jersey residents, enrolled full-time in good standing at a public institution, and have applied for all available state and federal grants/scholarships. Benefits are capped at the credit hours needed for a bachelor’s degree (at four-year colleges) or associate degree (at community colleges), and spouse/partner benefits expire after 10 years or upon remarriage.