Asm. Lisa Swain

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 establishes a pilot program allowing eligible voters in New Jersey to register to vote on election day during the 2021-2023 general elections at designated county locations (at least one per county). It directly affects residents who meet standard voter eligibility requirements (U.S. citizenship, age 18, 30-day residency) but have not yet registered. Under the program, voters would complete a registration form at designated sites, receive directions to their polling place, and cast a provisional ballot. The program requires annual reports on its effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature, with recommendations for permanent same-day registration if it successfully increases participation with low fraud risk.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3037) requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to adjust routes and hours for its motorbus, paratransit, and rail services - including light rail - within one year to better meet the mobility needs of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. NJT must first seek input from individuals with autism and their advocates before making any changes. The bill also mandates that NJT annually gather this input to assess whether current service adjustments are sufficient or if further changes are needed. It directly affects individuals with autism spectrum disorder by aiming to improve their access to public transportation. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-2262) increases tuition credit amounts for volunteer firefighters and first responders in New Jersey. It raises the annual credit from $600 to $1,250 per year of service, with a total maximum of $5,000 over four years (up from $2,400), for active members of volunteer fire companies or first aid/rescue squads, their spouses, and dependent children. The existing requirement that volunteers must agree to serve four years in exchange for the credit remains unchanged. The credit applies to tuition at county colleges, vocational schools, or technical institutes, subject to course availability.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3031) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a program encouraging owners or operators of closed landfills to transform these sites into habitats supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats using native plants. The DEP must develop guidelines for establishing and maintaining these habitats within six months of the bill taking effect, and actively seek corporate or nonprofit partnerships to fund and support the program. It directly affects owners of legacy or closed sanitary landfills statewide, with the goal of repurposing underutilized landfill sites for ecological benefit. The bill focuses on concrete policy changes for habitat creation, not on outcomes or political arguments.

Maddy summaryThis bill, now enacted as P.L.2025, c.202, prohibits the intentional addition of PFAS (forever chemicals) to most cosmetics sold in New Jersey starting two years after its effective date. It requires cookware manufacturers containing PFAS to notify consumers about their presence. The law directly affects cosmetics and cookware manufacturers, while protecting residents by reducing exposure to PFAS linked to health risks. Key mechanisms include specific product bans, disclosure requirements, and funding for PFAS research and remediation programs. The bill does not apply to trace PFAS from manufacturing impurities or products with PFAS only in internal components.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2311) modifies New Jersey's pretrial release procedures for defendants charged with firearm offenses. It allows courts to take up to seven additional days beyond the standard 48-hour deadline to consider release decisions when a prosecutor requests extra time for a firearms ballistic analysis. The provision directly affects individuals facing pretrial detention who are accused of crimes involving firearms, requiring courts to wait for this analysis before finalizing release conditions. The change ensures courts can review firearm evidence before deciding whether to release a defendant or detain them pending trial.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public colleges to provide student-athletes with an equivalent scholarship if their athletic scholarship isn't renewed due to a serious injury or illness directly related to their sport. It applies specifically to student-athletes who become medically ineligible to compete because of such an injury. The new scholarship must cover the same value as the lost athletic scholarship, and combined with any prior athletic scholarships, it must last for up to five academic years or until the student earns their degree - whichever comes first. Public institutions may choose to offer additional years beyond the five-year limit at their discretion.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Caregiver's Assistance Act creates a tax credit for residents who pay for care of elderly relatives. Caregivers with income under $100,000 (or $50,000 for certain filers) can get 22.5% back on up to $3,000 annually in qualified care costs. Eligible expenses include home health services, adult day care, home modifications, and personal care assistance for qualifying seniors aged 60+ (or 50+ with disability) who meet income requirements. The credit does not apply to costs covered by insurance or government programs, and it's in addition to existing dependent deductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program enabling gas public utilities to invest in renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure and procure RNG. It directly affects gas utilities (like gas companies) and their ratepayers (customers who pay gas bills). Key provisions require the BPU to establish a ratemaking mechanism allowing utilities to recover all prudently incurred costs - such as capital investments in RNG infrastructure, operating expenses, and RNG procurement costs - from customers through regular rate adjustments. The BPU must approve both the program and cost recovery mechanism, ensuring rates reflect actual costs while protecting ratepayers.