Asm. Sean Kean

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1184) is formally titled about revising employment status tests but actually amends definitions in New Jersey's unemployment benefits law (R.S.43:21-19). It revises terms like "annual payroll," "base year," and "benefit year" to clarify how unemployment benefits are calculated, including rules for alternative base years when wage data is unavailable. The changes affect individuals filing for unemployment benefits and employers reporting wages, specifically impacting how eligibility and benefit amounts are determined under existing state law. The bill does not alter the test for classifying workers as employees versus independent contractors, despite its title.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's Public Employees' Occupational Safety and Health Act to cover employees of specific interstate authorities. It amends compacts with New York and Pennsylvania to require the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Delaware River Joint Commission, Delaware River and Bay Authority, and Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to be treated as "employers" under NJ's safety law. The bill mandates that the Governor negotiate supplemental agreements with these states to implement this coverage, ensuring employees of these agencies fall under NJ's (or a substantially similar PA/NY) safety standards. It directly affects public safety workers employed by these multi-state authorities, including police and firefighters. The legislation does not create new safety standards but applies existing protections to these specific entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey hospitals with maternity wards and licensed birthing centers to offer new parents a chance to watch an approved video about infant drowning risks. The video must be approved by the state Health Commissioner, and the Department of Health will post a list of approved videos with links online. It applies directly to hospitals and birthing centers serving new mothers and their newborns. The law takes effect 120 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts serving kindergarten through sixth grade to create and include a fitness and nutrition wellness program within their Comprehensive Health and Physical Education curriculum. The program must teach students about healthy food groups, the benefits of balanced diets and exercise for physical/mental health, and include workshops for parents/guardians. It directly affects K-6 public school districts across the state. The law takes effect immediately, with implementation required in the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryACR 69 is a concurrent resolution declaring that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) 2021 rules implementing the "Advanced Clean Trucks" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. The resolution states the DEP adopted these rules - requiring 55-75% zero-emission truck sales by 2035 - without following a legal requirement to notify environmental committees, as mandated by 2003 law authorizing only California's "phase 2" low-emission vehicle program. The resolution gives the DEP 30 days to amend or withdraw the rules, or the legislature may later pass another resolution to invalidate them. This procedural action directly affects the DEP's rulemaking authority and the timeline for truck manufacturers to comply with the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1586) allows any county currently participating in New Jersey's "Real Property Assessment Demonstration Program" to end its involvement. It directly affects counties that have joined the program to test a county-administered property assessment system as an alternative to the existing municipal system. The key change adds a provision to the existing law, permitting counties to formally terminate participation without needing prior approval, while maintaining the program's other requirements. This does not alter how counties join the program or the program's structure - only the exit process.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the retirement eligibility for Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in New Jersey. Currently excluded from the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), ALJs will now qualify for PERS membership under this amendment. Specifically, it removes the exclusion of "Administrative Law Judges of the Office of Administrative Law" from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP), placing them directly into PERS instead. This means ALJs will participate in the state's main retirement system for public employees rather than remaining outside it, affecting their future retirement benefits and contributions. The change applies to current and future ALJs upon the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey joint resolution (AJR 53) urges Congress to pass the "Securing Local Communities Input in Broadband Development Act," which would prevent the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from overriding local government input on broadband infrastructure projects, including 5G tower deployments. It specifically targets FCC rules that preempt state and local regulations affecting broadband permitting and aesthetics. The resolution highlights concerns about rapid 5G construction in communities like Belmar, NJ, where local input on such projects is currently limited by federal rules. This is a procedural request, not a new law, seeking to restore local decision-making authority in infrastructure development.

Maddy summaryACR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,000 annually, effective for tax year 2021. It would also tie future adjustments to annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases, ensuring the deduction grows with inflation while never decreasing. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans, their surviving spouses, and veterans living in continuing care retirement communities. The amendment requires voter approval after legislative passage, as it modifies the state constitution. If approved, the deduction would automatically adjust yearly based on inflation without legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey electric utilities from raising rates specifically to cover smart meter installation costs. It requires utilities to publicly disclose rate increase details (amount, date, reasons, and impact) 30 days before and after any increase, with fines up to $10,000 for noncompliance. For rate hikes causing a 5%+ average bill increase, utilities must report to the federal Department of Energy 60 days in advance and provide annual reports on service interruptions and overdue bills. The bill also bans disconnecting service or charging late fees for affected ratepayers for six months following such significant increases. These provisions directly protect residential and business electricity customers from unexpected costs while increasing utility transparency.