Rep. Chris Tully

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 3379) requires data center owners and operators to submit semi-annual reports to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) detailing water and energy usage. Existing data centers must begin reporting within three months of the law's enactment, while newer centers have six months. Reports must include basic facility information, usage data, and for centers receiving state funding, specific efficiency metrics like power usage effectiveness. The BPU will publish anonymized, aggregated data online but keep individual reports confidential.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, and distribution of apparel containing intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) starting two years after it takes effect. It defines "apparel" broadly to include most clothing for regular wear - such as athletic wear, swimwear, school uniforms, and work uniforms - but excludes personal protective equipment, military clothing, and motorcycle safety gear. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under state law, resulting in fines up to $20,000 per offense and potential additional penalties like cease-and-desist orders. The law directly affects retailers, manufacturers, and distributors of apparel within New Jersey that use PFAS in their products.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2260 strengthens legal protections for patients and providers accessing or delivering reproductive and gender-affirming health care services within the state. The bill explicitly defines "legally protected health care activities" to include seeking, providing, or assisting with these services (such as abortion, contraception, or gender-affirming care), regardless of a patient's location. It prohibits obstruction, intimidation, or physical barriers at facilities offering these services and grants licensing boards authority to impose civil penalties for violations. This directly affects patients traveling to New Jersey for care (not available in their home states) and healthcare providers operating in these fields. The law codifies existing protections to prevent harassment or violence against these services, following increased threats and protests nationwide after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey to join the Athletic Trainer Compact, a national agreement that lets licensed athletic trainers practice in other member states without needing separate licenses for each location. Under the new rules, qualified trainers from other states can provide services in New Jersey through a streamlined "compact privilege" as long as they meet uniform standards and agree to be regulated by the state where the patient is located. The legislation also includes provisions to support military families, facilitate telehealth services, and improve the sharing of disciplinary information among member states to protect public safety.

Maddy summaryS 3463 requires businesses that place or refer providers of companion, health care, or personal care services in a person’s home (to individuals with disabilities or age 60+) to register as "Health Care Service Firms" and comply with new regulations, excluding existing home health care and hospice agencies. Key provisions include mandatory accreditation within 12 months of registration, annual financial statements, and tiered audit or reporting requirements based on revenue: firms receiving over $500,000 in Medicaid Personal Care Assistance revenue must submit audits every three years, while those with $10 million+ in annual gross income must audit annually. Smaller firms (under $500,000 in Medicaid revenue and $1-10 million in gross income) must submit third-party reports detailing insurance, litigation, and regulatory actions. The Division of Consumer Affairs will enforce these rules to ensure transparency and quality in the care sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows doctors in New Jersey to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, such as certain pain medications, through telemedicine and telehealth without requiring an in-person visit. It permits providers to use digital tools like video calls or asynchronous messaging to evaluate patients, provided they have already reviewed the patient's medical records and determined that remote care meets the same standard of care as an in-person appointment. The legislation also mandates that patients be informed if their provider is not a physician and must be given the option to request a consultation with a doctor, while ensuring all telehealth interactions are properly documented and referrals for in-person care are made when necessary.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A796 requires electric utilities to create special rate structures for large data centers (defined as facilities with at least 100 megawatts of monthly demand) to prevent these centers from raising costs for regular residential and business customers. Utilities must file these rate plans with the Board of Public Utilities within 180 days, ensuring non-data-center customers are protected from cost increases caused by data centers' high energy use while also encouraging energy efficiency through incentives like heat-capture technology. The Board of Public Utilities will review and approve these plans, and utilities must apply them to qualifying data centers one year after the law takes effect. The bill also mandates financial safeguards, such as requiring new data centers to commit to using at least 85% of their requested service for 10 years, to further shield ratepayers from unexpected cost spikes.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey," is a commemorative resolution naming a state initiative after civil rights leader John Lewis. It appropriates $2.5 million but does not establish new voting procedures or protections. The bill primarily includes recognition language affirming New Jersey’s commitment to voting rights for protected classes and defines terms like "covered entity" for future reference, though no specific implementation mechanisms are detailed. As it is pending technical review and lacks concrete policy changes, it functions as a symbolic gesture rather than a substantive legislative action.