Rep. Dave Bailey

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.65 million from the "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" specifically for Cumberland County Technical Education Center to expand its career and technical education programs. The funds are directly allocated to this single institution for program growth, not distributed through a competitive process. The appropriation aligns with the Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act (P.L.2018, c.119) and requires no additional legislative action for implementation. It directly affects Cumberland County's career education offerings and students enrolled there.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps annual electricity rate increases for low- and middle-income households at the rate of inflation (measured by the Consumer Price Index). It defines "low-income" as households earning up to 200% of the federal poverty level and "middle-income" as up to 400% of that level. Utilities must not raise rates for these households beyond the previous year's inflation rate, and violations trigger fines set by the Board of Public Utilities. Utilities must annually report program coverage, financial impact, and improvement suggestions to the Board, which then submits a summary to the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding under New Jersey's FY2025 environmental infrastructure funding program. It updates the specific clean water and drinking water projects that will receive funding, including detailed information about project sponsors, project numbers, and estimated loan amounts. The bill does not create new funding mechanisms but rather modifies the approved project lists for the existing program. This update ensures eligible municipalities and water systems can access funding for infrastructure improvements like stormwater management, combined sewer overflow abatement, and drinking water system upgrades.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5224) allows New Jersey school districts to appoint "school security specialists" to provide security services at schools, directly affecting school districts, security providers, and school safety operations. To qualify, specialists must have 20+ years of law enforcement experience (including supervisory roles), hold a valid security license, pass background checks, and complete mandatory training in active shooter response, de-escalation, and school safety protocols. The bill also permits districts to authorize these specialists to carry firearms in schools under specific conditions, while clarifying their role as staff members authorized to handle juvenile offense information. It aligns with existing school safety requirements and mandates ongoing training through the state’s School Safety Academy.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special "U.S. Navy Retired" license plates for veterans who were honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy, as verified by their DD-214 form. Applicants pay a $50 one-time fee and a $10 annual fee, with proceeds funding a dedicated "U.S. Navy Veteran License Plate Fund" that supports programs for Navy veterans. The plates require design approval from the Motor Vehicle Commission and the Adjutant General, and implementation depends on securing at least 500 applications and $25,000 in private funding to cover initial costs. The program remains inactive until these conditions are met, with a 12-month deadline for implementation after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create an internet-based tracking system for rape kits (also called sexual assault forensic evidence kits). The system will allow victims, law enforcement officers, healthcare providers, and labs to monitor a kit's journey from collection at a medical facility through testing and final disposal. It mandates the Attorney General to issue guidelines for this tracking system, ensuring transparency in the chain of custody. The law, which became effective in January 2025, directly affects victims of sexual assault, healthcare facilities, law enforcement, and forensic labs handling these kits.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 10% tax credit against New Jersey's corporation business tax and gross income tax for commercial farm operators who donate eligible fruits and vegetables (fit for human consumption) to qualifying charitable organizations in New Jersey. To claim the credit, farms must obtain written verification from the charity detailing the donation's value, quantity, and origin, and submit it with their tax return. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to five years, but the total credit cannot exceed 50% of a farm's tax liability for the period. The bill also requires the state tax division to publish annual reports tracking credit usage, donation volumes, and beneficiary organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to create a loan program helping beginning farmers purchase essential farming capital like land, farm buildings, and equipment. Beginning farmers are defined as New Jersey residents with low or moderate net worth who are actively farming or planning to start farming. To qualify, applicants must meet specific criteria including New Jersey residency, property location within the state, relevant farming experience, and plans for active farm operation. Loans would be issued by NJEDA with terms and interest rates set by the agency, and borrowers may need to provide financial statements to ensure business viability.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to provide current non-retired members and those applying for retirement after the bill's effective date with the same benefits as members enrolled before July 1, 2007. It eliminates tiered membership by moving all current TPAF members to Tier 1, requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) in TPAF, and allows Defined Contribution Retirement Program participants to transfer service credit to TPAF without transferring contributions. Participants in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program have six months to opt out of the transfer after receiving notice. These changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill becomes law.