Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric and gas public utilities to implement or maintain warranty programs covering the full repair or replacement cost for common household appliances like furnaces, water heaters, HVAC systems, refrigerators, and stoves. Utilities must notify customers about the program via bill inserts every billing cycle for one year, explaining coverage details and how to switch from existing programs. The bill also prohibits utilities from passing these program costs to customers through rate increases, as the state's Board of Public Utilities cannot approve such rate changes.

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 imposes a 10% surtax on electric utilities in New Jersey with annual profits exceeding $10 million, calculated using the same definition of "allocated taxable net income" as the state's corporate business tax. The tax applies in addition to existing corporate taxes and generates revenue that must fund state utility assistance programs, such as the Winter Termination Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance. Utilities cannot pass this tax cost to customers through rate increases, and no tax credits apply except for specific payment-related adjustments. All revenue collected (excluding constitutionally dedicated funds) is directed annually to support programs helping low-income residents with energy costs.

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 revises New Jersey's "Community Wealth Preservation Program" for foreclosure sales of residential properties. It establishes new requirements for nonprofit community development corporations that purchase foreclosed properties, including needing to be on a Department of Community Affairs list and negotiating affordable lease agreements that cap housing costs at 39% of household income. The bill creates a 30-year renewable deed restriction requiring future owners to sell properties to households earning no more than 120% of area median income or rent to households earning no more than 80% of area median income. It also extends the right of redemption for foreclosed upon defendants from 10 days to 90 days after a sale and requires sheriff's offices to provide program information in plain language.

Maddy summaryThe bill establishes a three-year pilot program for electronic monitoring of defendants charged with or convicted of sexual assault, human trafficking, kidnapping, domestic violence crimes, or contempt of domestic violence orders in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union counties. Electronic monitoring would require victim consent and be ordered only after a court hearing considering risk factors using a standardized assessment tool. Defendants would pay an initial $250 fee and $50 per day (with waivers for financial hardship), with all funds going to the Electronic Monitoring and Crime Victim Notification Fund. The monitoring system would operate 24/7 and notify victims when offenders approach within specified distances (3 miles, 1 mile, and 1/2 mile). The bill appropriates $15 million total ($12 million for the monitoring program, $3 million for domestic violence victims).

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 summaryA5682 establishes New Jersey's "Problematic Sexual Behavior Program" to address cases involving youth under 18 who engage in or are impacted by developmentally inappropriate or potentially harmful sexual behaviors, including technology-facilitated behaviors like sexting. The program, administered by the New Jersey Children's Alliance, creates specialized care coordinators to connect youth and families to medical and mental health services, establishes a screening and referral process through the State Central Registry, and provides training for mental health providers in evidence-based treatment approaches. The bill appropriates $8.5 million from the General Fund, with $5 million allocated to a "Child Treatment Assistance Fund" to cover medical and mental health services and $3.5 million for program implementation including care coordinator positions and training. This legislation expands the responsibilities of the Child Advocacy Center-Multidisciplinary Team Advisory Board and aims to create a coordinated statewide response to cases involving problematic sexual behavior among youth.