Asm. Yvonne Lopez

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 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 adds a new sentencing mitigating factor for defendants who were victims of domestic violence (physical, sexual, or psychological abuse by a family or household member) and where the abuse contributed to their criminal behavior. It establishes new sentencing ranges (from up to six months for fourth-degree crimes to up to ten years for first-degree crimes) and allows for resentencing of individuals currently incarcerated serving eight or more years for prior offenses. The bill also creates a grant program to fund trauma-informed reentry support services including mental health counseling, peer recovery support, vocational training, and housing assistance for eligible individuals. These services are designed to support people who were victims of domestic violence and whose abuse contributed to their criminal behavior, with priority given to culturally responsive care provided by trauma-impacted individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds licensed land surveyors and land surveying businesses to the list of professionals who may access unredacted property records under Daniel's Law. Specifically, it allows professional land surveyors (as defined in New Jersey law) and their firms to receive unredacted property addresses when requested in their ordinary business operations. The exemption applies to documents like deeds and tax maps that would otherwise have home addresses redacted for privacy. This change ensures land surveyors can perform their duties without unnecessary redaction, aligning with existing exceptions for title companies and real estate professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects 50% of revenue from taxes and fees on real estate sales exceeding $1 million to New Jersey's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Currently, these funds go to the General Fund, but the bill specifies they must instead support affordable housing programs. It directly affects sellers of high-value residential, commercial, farm, or cooperative properties (over $1 million) and the housing fund's funding stream. The key mechanism is an annual deposit of half the collected revenue from two existing taxes: the additional fee on property transfers and the controlling interest transfer tax. This changes how existing revenue is allocated, without creating new taxes or altering property sale thresholds.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program governance by expanding the State Health Benefits Commission to 11 members and eliminating the previous Plan Design Committee. It requires the program to offer exactly five health plans for employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, including a new "NJ Gold" plan that doesn't require salary-based employee contributions. The bill establishes an escalator system to adjust employee contribution rates based on premium cost trends, increasing rates if premiums rise significantly above inflation and decreasing them if premiums fall. Additionally, it mandates that local government employers must decide within one year whether to join the SHBP, with a two-year commitment if they choose to participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the filing deadline for members and retirees of New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits related to 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It allows for a two-year filing period after the bill's effective date (with potential two-year extensions) and replaces the requirement for a pre-employment physical examination with evidence of medical examinations that failed to disclose qualifying health conditions. The bill also permits retirees previously denied due to late filing to petition for reconsideration or resubmit their eligibility forms. Retirement systems must notify all affected members within 60 days of enactment about these provisions using clear language explaining filing requirements and time limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public schools (grades 7-12) and colleges to print the telephone number for mental health and suicide crisis resources on student ID cards, replacing the current mandate for the NJ Hopeline number. The Commissioner of Education or Secretary of Higher Education (with input from the Commissioner of Human Services) will determine the specific resources to be listed. Schools may also include additional support services like the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or on-campus crisis centers. The law takes effect immediately for the next school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide parents or guardians of special education students with a hard copy of a draft Individualized Education Program (IEP) and a list of excused IEP team members at least two business days before annual IEP meetings. The draft IEP must clearly state "DRAFT" on every page, and the notice must explain that proposed programs/services are preliminary and invite parent input. It directly affects parents of students with IEPs, ensuring they have sufficient time to review recommendations before meetings. The bill aims to improve parent engagement by standardizing advance notice of draft IEPs, aligning with existing federal and state requirements.