Asm. Heather Simmons

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a virtual power plant program by 2027. It directs the BPU to create a system where third-party aggregators coordinate customer-owned energy resources - like home batteries, smart thermostats, and electric vehicle chargers - to reduce peak electricity demand. The program must achieve a 500-megawatt reduction in peak demand by 2030, prioritize participation from low-income households and overburdened communities, and prohibit utilities from directly controlling customer devices. This directly affects electric utilities, customers with eligible energy resources, and grid operators by shifting energy use away from peak times to lower costs and improve grid reliability.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects a portion of wine tax revenue to support New Jersey's agricultural branding program. Specifically, it requires the State Treasurer to deposit $0.21875 per gallon from taxes on wine, vermouth, and sparkling wine sales (paid by wineries) into the "Jersey Fresh Program Fund." The fund, established in 2017, will be fully appropriated annually to the Department of Agriculture to fund advertising, promotions, and quality grading for "Jersey Fresh" and related programs promoting locally grown food and products. This expands the fund beyond voluntary tax contributions to include dedicated wine tax revenue, directly supporting New Jersey farmers and consumers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's bill A 3425 would permit individuals to collect wild fruits, fungi, nuts, and plants from state parks and forests for personal consumption (not for sale), provided they avoid protected species. It defines "personal use" as consumption by the collector, family, or friends, and requires foragers to assume all risks with no state liability. The Department of Environmental Protection may restrict foraging in sensitive areas (e.g., to protect wildlife, prevent erosion, or ensure public safety) and can impose $500 fines for negligent harvesting of endangered species. The bill is pending before the Assembly Children, Families and Food Security Committee.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2303) clarifies that consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded in an intimate or sexual context does not automatically allow the disclosure of those images. It requires separate, explicit consent for image disclosure - meaning a person’s permission to take a photo isn’t considered consent to share it. The law directly affects individuals in private settings (like dressing rooms) and anyone who might share such images without clear, separate permission. The key change prevents implied consent for disclosure, making it a distinct offense to share images without fresh, specific authorization.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large warehouse operators (over 100,000 sq ft with >50,000 sq ft of operations) to implement air pollution reduction plans starting 36 months after enactment. Operators must earn points during a 12-month compliance period through specific actions like purchasing zero-emission trucks, installing solar power, or funding air filtration near schools. The standard plan uses a traffic-based point system, while a custom plan allows tailored approaches with detailed emission reduction targets. The Department of Environmental Protection will develop the program and approved plans, with a phased point requirement increasing over time.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey commercial farm operators who experience price losses on their products. It allows eligible farms to claim credits against corporation business tax or gross income tax based on a certification of price loss from the State Agriculture Secretary. Credits are limited to 50% of tax liability and can be carried forward for up to seven years if unused. The bill also permits taxpayers to transfer unused credits to other businesses, subject to specific rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Jersey Vines Program" within New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to promote wines made using ingredients (grapes, fruits, etc.) grown in the state. It directly affects licensed plenary wineries and farm wineries that produce wine from locally cultivated materials. Key provisions include running advertising campaigns, sharing information about local wineries and wine varieties, and establishing a "Jersey Vines" label similar to the existing "Jersey Fresh" program. The program aims to increase consumer awareness and sales of New Jersey-grown wine through marketing and labeling.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to disclose pricing methodologies in contracts, including whether they use different pricing lists for retail versus mail-order drugs, and to provide a toll-free line for consumers to speak with a New Jersey-licensed pharmacist about drug pricing issues within 24 hours. It establishes a Prescription Drug Review Commission to identify critical prescription drugs (based on factors like cost to public health programs and treatment effectiveness) and monitor their pricing. These measures aim to increase transparency in drug pricing and reduce costs for essential medications, directly affecting PBMs and the state's Division of Consumer Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures that New Jersey residents who have previously designated themselves as organ donors on their driver's license or state ID card will automatically retain that donor status when renewing their license or ID - without needing to re-register. It clarifies that the designation remains active unless the individual proactively removes it through a formal process. The law applies directly to current organ donors whose licenses or IDs include the donor designation. This change simplifies the process by preventing donor status from being lost during routine license renewals.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3975) requires school districts to conduct background checks on construction and public works contractors (including subcontractors and third-party workers) before they perform any work on school property during school hours. It directly affects school districts, contractors, and workers in these roles, clarifying that these checks must verify no disqualifying criminal history exists. Key provisions mandate that schools must update visitor policies to include background checks for all individuals with regular contact with students, while listing specific offenses that trigger disqualification (such as violent crimes, drug offenses, or certain felonies). The bill amends existing New Jersey law to standardize these requirements across school districts.