Asm. Jim Kennedy

Maddy summaryThis bill requires development projects over five acres that cause deforestation to obtain a permit and submit a compensatory reforestation plan. The plan must aim for no net loss of forested area, detailing where trees will be planted (preferably on the same property or in the same municipality), species selection (native, diverse, climate-resilient), and costs. Developers can comply by planting trees on-site, contracting for planting, or depositing funds into the new "State Compensatory Reforestation Fund." The fund will also support a grant program to subsidize tree planting costs for private landowners, separate from development project requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to provide written informational materials to all students in grades K-12 about the U.S. citizenship process. The materials must cover applying for citizenship, preparing for tests, and local citizenship workshops, and must be available in English, Spanish, and any other language significant to the district's student population. School districts must also host two annual parent sessions (in-person or virtual) explaining citizenship steps. The New Jersey Department of Education will develop guidelines to help districts identify resources. The law applies to all public school districts starting the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecommunications companies, cable TV providers, and public utilities (like electric, gas, or water companies) to notify the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in writing 14 business days before disconnecting service to public entities. It directly affects school districts, local governments, and state agencies that receive these services. The notice must include the customer's name, location, amount owed, payment history, resolution attempts, and the disconnection date. The goal is to give public entities advance notice of potential service cuts due to unpaid bills, allowing time to address payment issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Hotel and Multiple Dwelling Law to enhance notice requirements and occupancy restrictions when a potentially hazardous condition is identified in hotels or multiple dwellings. A potentially hazardous condition is defined as an imminent health, safety, or welfare risk, or a deteriorating condition that could become an imminent hazard before the next scheduled inspection. If a violation is deemed potentially hazardous, the commissioner must send written notice with large, easily readable text to municipal officials and property owners, and owners must provide hard copies to residents and post notices in conspicuous locations like lobbies and near elevators. Additionally, owners cannot enter new leases for affected units until the hazard is resolved and a certificate of inspection is issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey businesses and public entities to notify affected New Jersey residents within a reasonable time when a security breach compromises their personal information, using written or electronic notice. The notice must include contact details for a representative who can explain the breach, outline protective steps, and inform customers about their access to free credit reports. Businesses must cover the cost of one free credit report per month for 12 months following the breach and reimburse third parties that manage customer data for notification and credit report expenses. This replaces current law's "substitute notice" option for large breaches, strengthening consumer protections after data incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey businesses with tax credits to support electric vehicle infrastructure and fleet transitions. It offers a 50% credit (capped at $1,000 per station) for purchasing and installing EV charging stations used in business operations or at a primary residence, plus a 50% credit on the cost difference between zero-emission commercial vehicles and comparable conventional vehicles - with caps of $25,000, $50,000, or $100,000 based on vehicle weight. Taxpayers must apply for certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner, who has 90 days to approve applications. Credits are non-refundable but can be carried forward for up to seven years and apply for five years starting January 1 after the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2083) requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to ensure all interior doors providing access to train operator cabins or control compartments remain locked at all times. It directly affects NJT rail passenger vehicles, mandating this safety measure except during emergencies or when health, safety, or security needs require otherwise. The requirement takes immediate effect, aiming to prevent unauthorized access to critical train controls. The bill focuses on a specific operational safety rule without broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryACR 66 is a New Jersey Assembly resolution asking Congress and the President to enact specific gun control measures. It requests federal action to require background checks for all gun sales (including gun shows), reinstate an assault weapons ban, fund smart gun research, establish a federal gun buy-back program, and repeal the Dickey Amendment to allow CDC research on gun violence. This resolution does not create new laws but urges federal lawmakers to adopt these measures. It cites New Jersey’s existing strict gun laws and high gun violence costs as context for the request. The resolution is directed at the federal government, not New Jersey residents or state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $17 million supplemental appropriation for New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2023 budget to fund lake management grants through the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The grants will support qualified entities - including lake commissions (like the Lake Hopatcong Commission), local governments, and nonprofits focused on publicly accessible lakes - to cover costs for maintenance, water quality improvement, and preventing harmful algal blooms. The DEP must establish a program prioritizing projects that enhance public access, recreational use, and conservation, with funds also covering eligible stormwater and pollution management activities that directly benefit lake use. This one-time funding is specifically directed at lake management activities for recreation and conservation purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to allow any member who participated in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations to qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits if they develop a disability linked to that work. It presumes that health conditions from 9/11 exposure (like respiratory illnesses or PTSD) resulted from their duties if they worked at least eight hours at the site, or if they had a documented injury preventing further participation. Members who later retire on ordinary disability or service retirement can also seek recalculated benefits if they develop qualifying 9/11-related disabilities. The policy change applies to all PERS members, regardless of when they joined the system, removing previous restrictions that limited eligibility to specific roles like emergency medical technicians.