Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes pension benefits for New Jersey teachers by moving all current non-retired members of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) into a single benefit tier (previously called "Tier 1"), granting them the same retirement benefits as members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll teachers earning above minimum salary but not meeting work-hour requirements into TAPF within 60 days of enactment. Teachers in the separate Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) can automatically transfer their service credit to TAPF for retirement eligibility (but not pension amount calculations), with contributions staying in DCRP; they may opt out within six months of notification. The bill also allows TAPF members with long-term disability insurance to apply for disability retirement within two years of enactment.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Lead Education, Accountability, and Disclosure Act," requires New Jersey public community water systems (serving 15+ connections or 25+ year-round residents) to provide specific lead-related information to customers. Water systems must include details on lead sources, health risks, and reduction steps in annual Consumer Confidence Reports and send written notices to new customers within 90 days of service. Before any lead pipe work, systems must notify affected customers about temporary water quality risks and provide exposure-reduction measures. The law takes effect immediately, focusing on transparency rather than mandating pipe replacement.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1901) removes specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for New Jersey civil service and pension benefits. It eliminates past restrictions that limited eligibility to veterans who served during exact timeframes (e.g., "between July 14, 1914 and November 11, 1918") or in specific locations (e.g., "in Lebanon" for certain missions). The key change amends the definition of "veteran" in state law to broaden eligibility, allowing veterans who served honorably in designated conflicts to qualify without proving they met these prior time or place conditions. This directly affects veterans whose service history no longer aligns with the old, narrow criteria but otherwise meets the general eligibility standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes creating a new corporate status called "Garden State Corporation" for manufacturing businesses operating primarily in New Jersey. It requires these corporations to include half of their board members elected by employees working in New Jersey facilities, giving workers equal voting rights and access to company records. The bill also offers significant tax credits: up to 60% of certain taxes for the first five years if the company qualifies as both a Garden State Corporation and a benefit corporation, decreasing over time. This would directly affect eligible New Jersey manufacturing companies that choose to adopt this corporate structure, with the tax benefits applying over nine years. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Commerce Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new New Jersey Transit (NJT) programs. The "NJpass Program" provides discounted group fares for eligible organizations (like workforce training providers, schools, government agencies, and social service groups) when purchasing transit passes for their employees or clients. The "GO NJ Transit Card Program" establishes a reloadable card system where individuals can load money (minimum $10) for any NJT service, with funds never expiring. NJT must publish eligibility details, enter contracts with qualifying organizations, and submit annual reports on program effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature. The bill is pending and would take effect after passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) rules to allow temporary state employees at psychiatric hospitals or correctional facilities to qualify for accidental disability benefits. It specifically covers injuries sustained after January 2003 while working temporarily at these facilities (before becoming a PERS member), making such injuries eligible for PERS benefits once the employee gains membership. The key change deems these pre-membership injuries as occurring "during membership" if the employee joins PERS without interruption in the same job. This expands eligibility beyond current rules, which only provided workers' compensation for such injuries before PERS membership.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's State Board of Education to create three new teaching certifications: 1) A "Students with Disabilities Preschool through Grade 12" endorsement (excluding blind/visually impaired or deaf/hard of hearing students), allowing teachers to instruct all students with disabilities across all grade levels without separate endorsements. 2) A "Kindergarten through Grade 8" endorsement enabling teachers to instruct grades K-6 and specialty subjects in grades 7-8. 3) A "Bilingual and Bicultural Preschool through Grade 12" endorsement requiring language proficiency and coursework, replacing current requirements that needed separate subject/grade endorsements. These changes primarily affect current and prospective teachers seeking certification in special education, elementary/middle school, and bilingual education, streamlining their qualifications for New Jersey public schools.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A-1030 requires the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to verify the income of applicants for low-income energy assistance benefits before approving them. It mandates that DCA cross-check applicant income data using information from the Department of Labor and the Division of Taxation, with random or risk-based verification for most applicants - though everyone claiming no income must undergo full verification. The bill also permits DCA to use third-party agencies (under federal privacy rules) to gather income details. This directly affects low-income households applying for energy assistance and the state agencies administering the program. The policy aims to ensure benefits reach only those meeting income eligibility criteria.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires CATV companies with system-wide franchises in New Jersey to provide free, business-class Internet service at public libraries. The Internet access must have bandwidth and circuit capacity proportional to each library's specific needs, not standard residential service. It applies only to new or renewed franchise applications for CATV companies serving municipalities. The requirement is part of a broader set of commitments CATV companies must make when applying for system-wide franchises, specifically outlined in Section 28(k) of the amended law. The bill does not mandate this service for existing franchises but applies to new applications.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to provide public employers (like municipalities and school districts) with detailed health claims data upon request, limiting access to once per calendar year instead of once every 24 months. It mandates specific data including medical claims summaries, top prescription drugs by cost/quantity, utilization trends, and prescription details (e.g., drug types, costs, pharmacy types), while ensuring privacy compliance under HIPAA. The data must be shared with the public employer’s majority employee representatives if the employer requests it. This directly affects public employers participating in SHBP and their employees, enabling transparency about health benefit costs and usage patterns.