Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill A6132 establishes a Fusion Energy and Technology Incentive Program within the state's Economic Development Authority. It provides tax credits to two groups: (1) property owners who lease space on power plant sites (including decommissioned facilities) to fusion energy or technology companies, and (2) the companies operating fusion facilities on those sites. The program is funded using money from the Global Warming Solutions Fund, which supports climate-related initiatives. This policy directly affects power plant owners and fusion technology businesses by creating financial incentives to repurpose existing infrastructure for fusion energy development.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill 6147 would lower the minimum required uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage for transportation network company (TNC) drivers and companies, such as Uber or Lyft drivers. Currently, when a TNC driver is providing a ride, the law requires at least $1.5 million in such coverage; the bill would reduce this minimum amount. This change directly affects TNC drivers and companies by decreasing their mandatory insurance obligations. The bill amends existing insurance requirements without altering other coverage types like liability or medical payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6160) establishes the "New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Master Plan Study Commission" within the Department of Human Services. The commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, legislative appointees, healthcare providers, family caregivers, and dementia care experts, will develop a comprehensive master plan to address Alzheimer's and related dementias. The plan must include specific measures to improve care quality, support caregivers, promote community-based living, ensure sustainable funding, prevent abuse, and create affordable housing for affected individuals across New Jersey. The commission will submit its final plan to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prostate cancer screening without cost sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). It expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to include more diagnostic methods beyond digital rectal exams and PSA tests, such as urinary analysis, serum biomarkers, and medical imaging. The coverage applies to men age 50+ who are asymptomatic, and men age 40+ with family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The bill extends these requirements to additional insurance types, including individual health insurance policies, that weren't previously required to cover prostate cancer screening under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's solar energy target from 3,750 megawatts to 6,500 megawatts by 2035 under the SREC-II program, extending the deadline from 2026. It sets specific annual goals: 300 megawatts of net-metered solar, 3,000 megawatts of community solar (2025-2029), and 150 megawatts annually after 2029, plus 50 megawatts for remote net metering. The program provides financial incentives through SREC-IIs (renewable energy certificates) to solar developers, with the Board of Public Utilities administering the competitive bidding process for larger projects. These changes directly affect solar developers, ratepayers (who cover program costs), and New Jersey's renewable energy infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5049) removes a current restriction that allows the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members if they are involved in pending civil lawsuits related to their employment. It specifically prohibits the PFRS Board from delaying benefits due to such civil litigation, though it maintains the ability to withhold benefits for members facing criminal charges or administrative dismissal. The bill requires the Board to adjust benefits after any legal case concludes, rather than holding payments indefinitely during litigation. This change directly affects current and future PFRS members who are involved in employment-related civil disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) rules to include pay for extracurricular activities in teachers' pension calculations. Currently, additional compensation for duties like coaching sports teams, directing school plays, or supervising clubs is not counted toward pension benefits. The bill changes the definition of "compensation" to include remuneration for extracurricular activities beyond the regular school day or year. This change would affect teachers who receive extra pay for these activities, potentially increasing their future pension benefits. The bill applies to all teachers whose extracurricular duties qualify under the new definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Athletic Training Licensure Act by revising key definitions to modernize the scope of practice. It replaces the term "athlete" with "physically active person" to include individuals participating in sports, performing arts, recreational activities, employment, or military exercise. The bill clarifies that athletic training covers injury prevention, evaluation, and rehabilitation under physician supervision, while explicitly excluding prescription of controlled substances. These changes directly affect licensed athletic trainers, ensuring their scope aligns with current practices and legal requirements. The revisions were enacted without opposition (passed 39-0 in Senate, 77-2 in Assembly).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors and subcontractors working on public projects to submit payroll records to New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). It applies to any business performing work for public bodies (like state/local governments or projects funded by public money), including construction, maintenance, or repair work. The key mechanism mandates that these contractors must register with DOLWD and provide payroll details to verify compliance with prevailing wage laws and apprenticeship program requirements. This affects all employers engaged in public work contracts, ensuring transparency in worker compensation and program participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state agencies to extend the 60-day cure period for certain business violations by an additional 30 days, if the agency determines denial would be contrary to equity and good conscience. It applies to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent) facing first-time violations that don’t endanger public safety, harm the environment, or affect employee income. The extension applies only to violations not related to criminal activity, intentional acts, labor laws, or federal program requirements. Agencies must provide written notice of the violation to trigger the cure period, and must report waived infractions annually on their public websites. The bill amends existing law (P.L.2023, c.28) to add this extension provision.