Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Summer Termination Program" that prevents utility companies (including local authorities, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and public utilities) from disconnecting electricity, water, or sewer service to eligible residential customers during extreme heat. It triggers when a 72-hour forecast predicts temperatures reaching or exceeding 85°F for at least 24 hours. Eligible customers include those receiving assistance under the existing Winter Termination Program or those unable to pay bills due to hardships like unemployment, illness, or family emergencies. The program requires the Department of Community Affairs and the Board of Public Utilities to establish self-certification processes for customers to claim financial hardship.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey to disclose lead drinking water hazards to tenants before lease agreements, including information about lead service lines, building construction dates (pre-1986 properties may contain lead), and recent lead exceedance notices. Landlords must provide a standardized disclosure statement within 90 days of the bill's effective date, with exemptions for newer buildings (post-1986), lead-safe properties, and seasonal rentals. Tenants can request free lead testing from water systems, which must test annually upon request (or every 60 days if lead levels exceed standards), and landlords cannot obstruct replacement of lead service lines - tenants may terminate leases without penalty if obstruction occurs. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 for repeated non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryS 4376 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey, creating a dedicated state agency focused exclusively on veterans' needs. The bill transfers all existing veterans' programs, services, and personnel from the current Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to this new department. The new department will manage veterans' memorial homes, cemeteries, benefits programs, and other services, with a Commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran. This change makes New Jersey one of the few states without a separate department for veterans' affairs, aiming to provide more efficient and focused support for veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and Economic Development Authority (EDA) to give priority consideration to municipalities that meet their state-mandated affordable housing requirements when awarding competitive grants through programs like Main Street New Jersey and Neighborhood Preservation. It specifies that compliance is determined by factors such as past housing obligation fulfillment, settlement agreements, or builder's remedy use in the prior housing obligation round (for the first five years), shifting to current-round fulfillment after that. The priority does not apply to grants specifically intended to help municipalities meet their housing obligations. Exempt municipalities (those not subject to housing requirements) automatically qualify for priority consideration.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1682) requires New Jersey public school districts to include instruction on labor history in social studies curricula for students in grades 6 through 12. It mandates teaching four specific topics: the history of organized labor, notable historical strikes, unionization drives, and the collective bargaining process with workplace legal protections. The Commissioner of Education must provide age-appropriate lesson resources to help schools implement this requirement. The policy applies to all school districts under the state's existing social studies learning standards, beginning with the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers of first responders (law enforcement officers and paid firefighters) to cover workers' compensation for up to 12 hours of confidential mental health counseling after a "critical incident," such as witnessing violence, serious injury, or trauma during duty. Additional up to 24 hours of counseling may be covered if a mental health professional deems it necessary for the responder's well-being. The law also mandates confidentiality for mental health communications between first responders and peer support teams or resiliency program officers, with limited exceptions if a responder poses a risk to themselves or others. All counseling must be completed within one year of the first session and cannot require use of the responder's accrued paid leave.

Maddy summarySJR 154 directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection's capacity market pricing model to determine if it ensures reliable electricity at the lowest cost, requiring a report within 12 months. It also mandates the state to collaborate with neighboring PJM states to promote affordable energy practices, urge PJM to implement market reforms protecting ratepayers from rising prices, and accelerate reviews of new power generation projects. The resolution addresses concerns about increasing electricity costs for New Jersey customers, linked to PJM's current pricing structure and delays in new energy resources entering the grid. This action aims to align PJM's operations with New Jersey's energy affordability goals under the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill A5921 exempts drug manufacturers and wholesale distributors from needing a pharmacist license when distributing dialysate drugs or devices for home dialysis to patients with kidney failure. It applies only under specific conditions: drugs must be FDA-approved, delivered in original sealed packaging with a physician's order, directly to patients, their designees, or healthcare providers, and manufacturers must contract with a consultant pharmacist for weekly quality checks. This change specifically affects companies distributing dialysis supplies for home use, removing a licensing barrier for these transactions while maintaining pharmacist oversight. The bill does not alter existing requirements for pharmacists or other drug distribution.

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.