Rep. Brian Bergen

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to New Jersey Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. It requires that these rates match the average reimbursement for Day Habilitation Services Tiers D and E (currently $9.89 per 15 minutes) as used for developmental disability services. The policy directly affects approved brain injury service providers who deliver these programs to Medicaid beneficiaries. This amendment expands existing law, which previously only set minimum rates for community residential services, to now include structured day program services.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Fairness for School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act, provides additional state funding to specific school districts located in municipalities within New Jersey's Highlands or Pinelands preservation areas. To qualify, a school district must have a resident enrollment of over 500 students, be entirely located in a municipality where at least 25 percent of the land is in these protected areas, and have experienced a net loss in state school aid since the 2017-2018 school year. The funding amount is calculated by multiplying $250 by the number of acres in the municipality that fall within the preservation areas, with maximum annual caps of $2.5 million for districts with fewer than 1,000 students and $5 million for larger districts. The legislation takes effect immediately and applies to the first full school year following its enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of human trafficking crimes in New Jersey and removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting these offenses, allowing authorities to pursue cases regardless of how much time has passed. It also creates specialized human trafficking response teams to coordinate investigations and support services, while increasing training and education requirements for law enforcement and related professionals. Additionally, the bill appropriates $1 million to the Commission on Human Trafficking to fund these initiatives and improve victim support systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual cigarette and tobacco tax revenue allocated to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from $1 million to $10 million and creates a dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the state treasury. The fund will be managed by the State Treasurer and used exclusively for grants and contracts supporting general cancer research and pediatric cancer research, with at least $5 million each year designated for each category. By establishing a revolving fund, the bill ensures that money and any earned interest remain available for future research projects rather than being transferred to the general budget each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes reducing the annual salary of New Jersey state legislators from $82,000 to $0 starting with the 2028 legislative year, while maintaining a $150,000 allowance for member staff services. The legislation amends existing state law to set compensation at zero for all elected members of the Senate and General Assembly effective prospectively, without affecting current terms. The bill frames this change as a performance-based compensation reform, arguing that legislative pay should align with fiscal outcomes. It does not affect the President of the Senate or Speaker of the General Assembly's additional allowances, which remain separate from the base compensation reduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates two property tax relief programs in New Jersey: the ANCHOR Homestead Property Tax Credit Act and the Stay NJ Act, which previously provided tax credits to homeowners and renters. The legislation directly affects residents who were eligible for these property tax credits, removing their ability to claim these specific tax benefits. The bill also includes unrelated amendments to jury selection procedures and hospital debt collection processes, though these are separate from the main repeal provision. By repealing these acts, the state will stop administering these specific tax credit programs and will no longer process applications for them.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority from charging or collecting tolls on highways they operate. It removes the legal authority for these agencies to set and collect toll fees, while allowing them to continue charging other types of fees like licenses and rents. The legislation also requires the authorities to update their rules and regulations to reflect the elimination of toll collection powers. Existing toll revenues collected before the bill takes effect may be used to support non-highway transportation projects on an interim basis.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to obtain and maintain ready-to-use glucagon rescue therapy for students with diabetes who may experience severe low blood sugar. It authorizes trained school employees to administer this medication in emergencies when authorized by a student's individualized emergency health care plan, covering settings including classrooms, buses, and offsite activities. The legislation also provides legal protection for school staff acting in good faith when administering the medication and clarifies that using syringes for this purpose does not violate existing drug possession laws.

Maddy summaryACR 121 is a procedural resolution proposing a special session of the New Jersey Legislature focused solely on property tax relief and reform. It would require the presiding officers of both legislative houses to convene the session within seven days of the resolution's passage, dedicating it entirely to developing solutions for New Jersey's high property taxes. The resolution states that these taxes - among the highest in the nation - disproportionately burden residents, including the elderly, young people, and low-income families, while supporting schools and local governments. This measure does not enact tax changes itself but creates a dedicated legislative process to consider such reforms.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. It provides a proportional exemption based on disability percentage (up to 100%), covering veterans with conditions like paralysis, amputations, or total blindness, and caps partial exemptions at $10,000. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans or those who died in service also qualify for similar exemptions. Crucially, the state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the lost tax revenue from these exemptions to offset costs. The law amends existing veteran property tax protections under P.L.1948, c.259.