Asm. Garnet Hall

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3363) creates a centralized online directory for affordable housing and senior citizen housing units across New Jersey. It requires each county to submit monthly data to the Department of Community Affairs, including building addresses, management contacts, application status, and online application links for all qualifying housing units. The information must be published on the websites of the Department of Community Affairs, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, and New Jersey Housing Resource Center. This system aims to make it easier for residents to find available housing options by consolidating location-specific details in one public online resource.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5322 limits how consumer contracts can be used by prohibiting companies from including terms that govern unrelated purchases. The bill requires service contracts (for personal, family, or household use) to apply only to the specific service bought, not controlling how consumers purchase other products or services from the company or its affiliates. It explicitly excludes securities and commodities transactions from this rule. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment and applies to new or renewed contracts entered after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey electricity and gas suppliers to charge residential customers rates no higher than the state's established "basic" service rates for electricity and gas. It directly affects residential utility customers by preventing suppliers from charging more than the basic rate during future rate adjustments. The law prohibits suppliers from exceeding these basic rates for electric generation and gas supply services, as defined under existing state law. The bill takes effect three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of the Rate Counsel to commission an independent third party to study the feasibility and cost savings of moving the state's electric and gas utility services from private companies to public ownership. The study must evaluate two main options: public entities (like state agencies) fully acquiring utilities or sharing ownership with current providers, and analyze factors including service reliability, environmental impacts, customer costs, and long-term financial effects. All electric/gas utilities and public entities must cooperate by providing requested information to the study team. The state will allocate $100,000 from the General Fund to cover the study costs, with a final report due to the Governor and Legislature within one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit electric and gas utilities from charging residential customers lump-sum payments when actual energy usage exceeds forecasted amounts under equal payment plans. It also bans utilities from underbilling (charging customers for the difference between estimated and actual usage) and from adding such balances to future bills. Under the bill, utilities must adjust equal payment plan bills annually based on actual usage data, rather than making monthly adjustments. These provisions directly affect all residential customers of electric and gas utilities in New Jersey by ensuring more predictable billing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric and gas utilities to reset their rates to the lowest level they charged during 2020 for a five-year period. Utilities must file new rate schedules with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) reflecting these 2020 rates, and the BPU must approve them within 30 days. The policy directly affects all residential and commercial customers of these utilities by preventing rate increases above 2020 levels for five years. It aims to stabilize costs for essential energy services without specifying future rate adjustments beyond the 2020 baseline.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5440) requires New Jersey state agencies like the Department of Community Affairs, Department of Human Services, and the Board of Public Utilities to review and potentially raise income limits for residential customers to qualify for utility bill payment assistance and energy efficiency programs. It mandates that these agencies increase the income thresholds within one year of the bill's effective date. Agencies may seek public input or collaborate with other departments to determine appropriate increases. The change would directly help low-to-moderate income households by expanding eligibility for programs that reduce energy costs. The bill expires once the required income threshold increases are finalized.

Maddy summaryThis resolution permanently designates the last week in February as "Eating Disorders Awareness Week" in New Jersey. It requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation for the week and encourages public officials and citizens to observe it with awareness activities. The resolution also directs that copies be sent to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) to support their work. The goal is to raise public awareness about eating disorders and encourage affected individuals and families to seek treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires law enforcement to seize ammunition and specific firearm components (such as detachable magazines, slides, barrels, and other parts essential to firearm operation) when a domestic violence restraining order is issued or following a domestic violence conviction. It expands current law, which only required seizure of firearms, to include these additional items that could be used with firearms. The bill defines "firearm accessory" as devices that attach to or facilitate firearm operation (like stocks or grips) and "firearm component" as parts material to a firearm's function. This applies to individuals subject to domestic violence restraining orders or convicted of domestic violence offenses in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires athletic trainers and coaches in New Jersey public schools (for middle/high school sports, cheerleading, and dance programs) and public colleges to complete a standardized eating disorder awareness training program. The training, developed by the Commissioner of Education with health and education officials, covers identifying eating disorders, prevention strategies, available support services, and protocols for connecting student-athletes with help. Coaches and trainers must complete the training initially within six months of the program's launch and every two years thereafter, with new hires required to complete it within six months of appointment. Additionally, school boards and public universities must adopt protocols for addressing suspected eating disorders among student-athletes.