Rep. Heather Simmons

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $111.6 million in natural resource damages revenues to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for habitat restoration, land acquisition, and oversight projects. The funds come from legal settlements with various corporations and are allocated across different water regions and specific sites like the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site. The Department of Environmental Protection may distribute these funds through grants or loans to local governments and nonprofit organizations, with the ability to reallocate money among projects subject to budget approval and legislative notification.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2100) expands the authority of educational research and services corporations in New Jersey. It allows these corporations - formed by public universities, colleges, and state-aided institutions - to act as lead agencies for procuring *any* goods, services, or public works, not just educational technology systems as previously permitted. This change applies to all member institutions (including schools, counties, municipalities, and local authorities) that join these corporations. The bill modifies existing law to remove the prior restriction on procurement scope, while requiring compliance with all state and local procurement rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies protections for patients and providers accessing or offering legally permitted reproductive and gender-affirming health care in New Jersey. It prohibits obstructing or intimidating individuals at facilities providing these services - including blocking entrances, causing reasonable fear of harm, or threatening violence. The law defines "legally protected health care activity" to cover all such services lawful in New Jersey, regardless of a patient’s location, and applies to both in-state residents and out-of-state patients seeking care here. It expands existing safeguards by explicitly banning physical obstructions and threats at facilities offering these services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A-2159 requires parties in civil lawsuits to disclose third-party litigation funding agreements to the court and all parties at the time of filing or when the agreement is made. It defines "litigation funders" (excluding family, attorneys, banks, and nonprofits) and imposes fiduciary duties on them, banning funders from influencing case decisions or charging fees exceeding 25% of settlement/judgment amounts. The bill also prohibits funders from offering legal advice, securing waived damages, or assigning funding agreements, and makes violations unenforceable. This applies to all civil actions (excluding workers' compensation) and aims to increase transparency in funding arrangements for lawsuits. The bill is pending before the Assembly Financial Institutions Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's community solar program to allow "dual-use" solar facilities - those combining solar panels with ongoing agricultural production on farmland - to participate. It sets a 5-megawatt maximum per project, requires at least two participating customers, and mandates access for low- and moderate-income residents. The law also establishes phased registration goals (225 MW by 2024, then 3,000 MW total by 2029) and requires monthly reporting on energy generation and bill credits. This directly affects electric utility customers in New Jersey who can now access community solar projects on farmland, with specific protections for low-income participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3434) requires New Jersey dialysis centers to allow patients receiving treatment to be accompanied by a designated support person who can assist with communication, mobility, and care decisions. It directly affects dialysis patients and the centers providing their treatment. Centers must create and display clear written policies for support person access, implement reasonable health/safety rules (without unnecessary restrictions), and train staff on these policies. The New Jersey Department of Health will enforce the law, investigate complaints about denied access, and impose penalties for non-compliance. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a ceremonial resolution that honors the 40th anniversary of the Jersey Fresh program, which was established in 1984 to promote locally grown New Jersey produce. The text acknowledges the program's role in supporting family-owned farms and increasing consumer awareness through a distinct labeling system and quality grading standards. It does not enact any new laws or change existing policies, but rather serves to recognize the program's historical success and economic impact on the state's agriculture industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to offer mortgage loan counseling to veterans applying for home loans guaranteed by the federal G.I. Bill. Under the new rules, lenders must provide a specific form confirming that eligible applicants have been offered these counseling services, which include a review of loan terms and other relevant information. The program is designed to assist veterans in understanding the conditions of their housing loans, and it applies to all residents of New Jersey who have been honorably discharged from the armed forces.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Information and Referral Services helpline within New Jersey's Division of Disability Services to assist individuals with disabilities in planning visits to state and county public facilities. The new service will help callers find information on facility accessibility features like ramps and assistive technology, provide guidance on service animal policies, and coordinate necessary accommodations for appointments. To support this expansion, the legislation appropriates $100,000 for the Division of Disability Services to implement the program and consult with relevant agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed businesses in New Jersey to manufacture and sell ice cream and other frozen desserts containing up to 5% alcohol by volume without needing a separate liquor license. The products must be sold in sealed packages that display specific warnings about age restrictions, pregnancy risks, and impaired driving. Selling these desserts to anyone under the legal drinking age is classified as a disorderly persons offense.