Asm. Heather Simmons

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Urban Gardening Pilot Program" to fund three urban gardens in low-income neighborhoods. It appropriates $100,000 to provide grants of up to $35,000 each to qualified municipalities or nonprofit groups. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate a garden location in a designated low-income area (based on census poverty or income data), partner with an agronomist for gardening instruction, and work with a social worker to foster community integration. The three-year program requires grantees to use funds solely for urban gardening projects and mandates a final report evaluating neighborhood benefits and effectiveness before the program expires. The initiative directly affects residents in qualifying neighborhoods by supporting food production and community cohesion.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create and distribute educational materials about cardiomyopathy and related heart conditions to school staff, coaches, families, and health professionals within 18 months. The materials will cover symptoms, risk factors, AED placement guidelines, CPR training, and cardiac emergency response plans for schools. The DOH must also develop a public cardiomyopathy risk assessment tool, submit annual reports on prevalence and emergency visits, and coordinate with schools to implement AED/CPR programs through a $300,000 state appropriation. The grant program allows schools to apply for funds to purchase AEDs, train staff, and develop emergency response plans, prioritizing existing federal funding before state funds.

Maddy summaryAJR 170 designates April each year as "Donate Life Month" in New Jersey to promote organ, eye, and tissue donor registration. It does not create new laws or change registration processes but encourages residents to register as donors through the Motor Vehicle Agency or National Donate Life Registry. The resolution references that over 4,000 New Jersey residents await transplants and 17 people die daily in the U.S. waiting for organs. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to encourage public awareness and participation in donation efforts. This symbolic resolution aims to honor donors and address the critical organ shortage affecting thousands of residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey electric and gas utilities using smart meters to create an "Energy Bill Watch" program for customers. It mandates utilities to notify smart meter customers on the 10th and 20th days of each billing cycle if their usage exceeds their previous cycle's average, allow customers to set dollar-based usage alerts, and provide monthly cost and consumption data in notifications. Utilities must automatically enroll smart meter customers (with opt-out options), advertise the program via email, social media, websites, and bills, and include specific billing details - previous cycle cost, current cycle cost, and the difference - on all customer bills. The program applies only to utilities using smart meters and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5372 permits individuals to collect wild fruits, fungi, nuts, and plants from state parks and forests for personal consumption by themselves, family, or friends - banning any sale or barter. The bill prohibits foraging protected species (listed by the Department of Environmental Protection as threatened, endangered, rare, or vulnerable) and requires foragers to act responsibly without endangering wildlife or ecosystems. Foragers assume all risks, with the state explicitly disclaiming liability for safety, consumption, or sharing of foraged items. The Department of Environmental Protection may restrict foraging in specific areas for environmental safety (e.g., protecting nesting birds or preventing erosion) and can impose fines up to $500 for negligent foraging of protected species.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retail theft offenses based on the value of stolen goods, with shoplifting over $500 becoming a third-degree crime. It creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales) and upgrades penalties for "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime. The bill establishes a retail theft unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, and includes new requirements for gift card retailers to prevent fraud through packaging standards and third-party reseller record-keeping. It also creates extended prison terms for repeat retail theft offenders and increases penalties for tax evasion related to retail theft.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5332 bill ensures state funding covers all property tax credits and rebates for eligible homeowners and renters under the ANCHOR program and similar initiatives, preventing shortfalls in payments. It mandates annual public reporting by the state tax authority detailing program participation, including the number of recipients, total funds distributed, and breakdowns by age, income, and program type. The bill also creates a Property Tax Relief Program Oversight Committee - appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker - to monitor program effectiveness and recommend improvements. The committee must issue public reports on program outcomes and administration, aiming to enhance how property tax relief is delivered statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to fully fund two property tax relief programs - Stay NJ (which provides credits for homeowners and renters) and homestead property tax reimbursements - by appropriating additional state funds from the Property Tax Relief Fund if current funding falls short. It establishes a five-member Property Tax Relief Program Oversight Committee within the Department of the Treasury to monitor these programs, issue annual reports on their effectiveness, and recommend improvements. The bill mandates annual public reporting on program participation, including data by age, income, and eligibility status, and requires the state to include Stay NJ benefit distribution data in publicly accessible property tax summaries. These changes directly affect homeowners and renters eligible for tax relief under these programs, ensuring consistent funding and transparency in how relief is distributed.

Maddy summaryThis bill freezes state spending for Fiscal Year 2026 by limiting total appropriations from the State General Fund, Property Tax Relief Fund, Casino Control Fund, Casino Revenue Fund, and Gubernatorial Elections Fund to the same levels spent in Fiscal Year 2025. Any revenue collected in FY2026 exceeding FY2025 totals must be deposited into the Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund in FY2027. The rule does not apply to federal revenue or constitutionally dedicated state funds. The bill takes effect immediately and expires July 1, 2027.