Asm. Jim Kennedy

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits electric and gas utilities from charging residential customers in multi-unit dwellings (like apartments) a meter-reading fee that exceeds the actual cost of their electricity or gas usage for the billing period. It specifically targets fees charged to customers who opted out of smart meter installation and require manual meter readings. Utilities must cap these fees at the precise cost of the customer's usage, preventing overcharging for manual reading services. The law applies immediately upon enactment and defines key terms like "meter-reading fee" and "smart meter" in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a proportional property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-connected permanent disability rated at 10% or higher. It directly affects qualifying veterans (and their surviving spouses) by reducing their property taxes in line with their disability rating, with a $10,000 cap for exemptions below 100% disability. Veterans deemed unemployable due to service-connected disability receive a full 100% exemption, matching current benefits for those with 100% disability ratings. The bill also requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax costs for these exemptions, including administrative expenses, through annual reporting by local tax authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of solar energy systems (including rooftop panels and related infrastructure) to remove and recycle them when they are decommissioned, rather than disposing of them as waste. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection must establish rules for the recycling process, mandating secure storage of toxic solar panel components until safe recycling methods are approved. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $1,000 per offense. The law applies directly to property owners, businesses, and entities operating solar installations across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific requirements for New Jersey's prescribed burn program, which involves controlled burns to reduce wildfire risk. It sets annual acreage goals (50,000 acres in the pinelands and 10,000 statewide) and requires all burns to occur between November and March, prior to wildfire season. The bill mandates the Department of Environmental Protection to create a prescribed burn training program and establish Mobile Prescribed Burn Units to provide on-site assistance and training to landowners, local fire officials, and others. It also requires the DEP to publish a public calendar of all scheduled burns and allows landowners/lessees to conduct burns without certification.

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 requires all members (regular and alternate) of New Jersey's historic preservation commissions to complete a mandatory 5-hour historic preservation planning course within 18 months of joining or after the course becomes available. The course, developed by the Department of Community Affairs with input from the New Jersey Historic Trust and State Historic Preservation Office, must be completed within one day. Certain professionals, such as licensed planners or those with equivalent prior training, are exempt from this requirement. The law applies to all 300+ historic preservation commissions across New Jersey municipalities, aiming to ensure commission members have foundational knowledge for preserving the state's built heritage.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $2.4 billion in loans for environmental infrastructure projects during FY2026. It directly affects local governments and public water utilities (referred to as "project sponsors") seeking funding for clean water and drinking water system improvements. The bill specifies 151 clean water projects totaling $1.7 billion and 59 drinking water projects totaling $651.7 million that qualify for these loans, with repayment terms up to 45 years. The loans cover a portion of construction costs, and the bank can adjust loan amounts based on actual project expenses. The bill also includes provisions for transferring funds between state trust funds to support these projects.

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.