Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary 12-member Commission on Oversight of Public Institutions of Higher Education to study and recommend improvements to financial transparency, accountability, and oversight of New Jersey's public colleges and universities. The commission includes the Secretary of Higher Education (ex officio), college presidents, faculty, student representatives, and a fiscal management expert, appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders. It must complete its work within 180 days of organizing and submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature, after which the commission expires. The bill directly affects all public higher education institutions in New Jersey by requiring them to be evaluated for improvements in how they disclose costs, manage finances, and ensure student protections.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies (like Uber and Lyft) to provide paratransit services for a two-year period. Currently, paratransit services - transportation for people with disabilities that are not fixed-route bus services - are legally excluded from being provided by these companies, but the bill removes that exclusion. The change modifies the definition of "paratransit service" in state law to include these providers, expanding potential service options. This directly affects transportation companies and people with disabilities who rely on paratransit services, without altering the core requirements for such services.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new burglary offenses in New Jersey: "home invasion burglary" (a second-degree crime) and "residential burglary" (a third-degree crime). Home invasion burglary occurs when someone enters a residence without permission and either inflicts bodily injury, threatens injury, or is armed with a weapon or explosives, while residential burglary simply involves entering or remaining in a residence without permission. Offenders convicted of home invasion burglary would face mandatory 85% sentence terms without parole (subject to the No Early Release Act), while residential burglary carries a lesser penalty of 3-5 years imprisonment. The bill also allows juveniles to be waived to adult court for burglary offenses involving firearms and clarifies definitions related to residential dwellings and burglary. These changes would directly affect individuals committing burglaries in residential properties and the criminal justice system's handling of such cases.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies to catalog pandemic-era actions taken during the COVID-19 emergency - including regulations, policies, and emergency directives - and evaluate how effectively they could be used in future crises. It mandates that agencies assess these measures' relevance for future emergencies and update or adopt them for rapid response. Agencies must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature (starting one year after the bill takes effect), detailing these assessments and recommendations, with all reports made publicly available online. The law directly affects state agencies responsible for emergency management, public health, and related functions.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric utilities to submit new tariffs for commercial customers to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for approval within 180 days of enactment. It specifically targets fees charged to operators of direct current (DC) fast charging stations (50kW+), prohibiting demand charges, subscription fees, or other non-volumetric rates until BPU approves the new tariff. The required tariffs must use alternatives to traditional demand-based pricing, ensure cost fairness between commercial and residential EV rates, remain neutral across charging technologies, and encourage investment in EV infrastructure for all vehicle types. The BPU must review and approve these tariffs expeditiously under existing law.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the interchange between State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Route 295 as the "Ensign John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange" to honor Ensign John R. Elliott, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate killed in a 2000 drunk driving accident. The bill requires that private funding - not public funds - be used for producing, erecting, and maintaining signs bearing this designation, with the New Jersey Department of Transportation authorized to accept gifts or grants from private entities for this purpose.
Maddy summaryThis bill imposes civil penalties on New Jersey employers who threaten or disclose an employee's immigration status to prevent them from reporting violations of state labor, wage, or tax laws. Employers face escalating fines: up to $1,000 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for subsequent violations, with each affected employee counted as a separate violation. It directly affects employers who use immigration status as coercion - such as threatening to report an undocumented worker to hide unpaid wages or benefits - to avoid accountability under laws like the State Wage and Hour Law or Gross Income Tax Act. The penalties apply in addition to any existing penalties for the underlying labor violation.
Maddy summaryThis bill designates the interchange between State Highway Route 42 and Interstate Highway Route 295 in New Jersey as the "Ensign John R. Elliott Memorial Interchange" to honor a U.S. Naval Academy graduate killed in a 2000 traffic accident. It requires the state transportation commissioner to install signs bearing this name but explicitly prohibits using public funds for the signage. Instead, the state must secure private donations or grants from nonprofits, charities, or other private entities to cover all costs related to the signs. The bill takes immediate effect and affects only the specific highway junction, with no broader policy changes.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4081) imposes civil penalties on employers who threaten or disclose an employee's immigration status to prevent them from reporting violations of state labor laws. It directly affects employers and immigrant workers, particularly in cases where employers withhold wages, benefits, or comply with tax laws and then pressure workers about their immigration status. The bill adds tiered penalties: $1,000 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second, and $10,000 for subsequent violations per affected employee. These penalties apply in addition to existing penalties under laws like the New Jersey State Wage and Hour Law, targeting employers who misuse immigration status to conceal other violations.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Mobility and Transportation Innovation Pilot Program from a Mercer County-only initiative to cover the entire state, allowing local governments and transit agencies statewide to apply for grants. It adds specific requirements for projects, including ensuring access for low-income residents without smartphones or credit cards and requiring wheelchair-accessible vehicles and accessible mobile apps. The bill appropriates $20 million in new state funding (beyond an existing $2 million) to support these grants. The program funds transportation projects using innovative technologies to improve mobility, accessibility, and sustainability in disadvantaged communities.