Asm. Lisa Swain

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1481) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish standardized testing methods and reporting requirements for microplastics in drinking water by public water systems within one year. It mandates a two-year study by the DEP and Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to evaluate microplastics removal technologies, including costs, effectiveness, and stakeholder input from scientists, industry, and the public. The study must result in a strategic plan and public report within three months of completion, recommending how to promote these technologies. The bill directly affects public water systems, which must test and disclose microplastic levels, and aims to inform future policy through evidence-based recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to expand or modify routes and hours for its motorbus, paratransit, and rail services - including light rail - within one year of the bill's effective date to better serve people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. NJT must first seek input from autistic individuals and their advocates before making any changes. The bill also mandates annual consultations with these stakeholders to assess whether current service hours and routes adequately meet mobility needs and whether further adjustments are needed. It directly affects NJT’s service planning and autistic riders in New Jersey. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey electric utilities to reimburse residential customers for spoiled food or prescription medicine and business customers for spoiled perishable goods resulting from power outages lasting more than 72 hours after a major storm or natural disaster. Customers must submit claims with proof like receipts or photos of spoiled items. Utilities must create online claim systems within 90 days of the law taking effect. The reimbursement covers actual costs directly tied to the outage, as defined by the Board of Public Utilities. (Bill A2339)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey hospitals treating breast cancer patients to provide written notice about their rights to consult with and receive reconstructive surgery from a board-certified plastic surgeon of their choice, regardless of the surgeon's hospital or insurance network affiliation. The notice must be given when the patient is diagnosed with breast cancer and before they consent to surgery, including information about coverage under state and federal laws. It also prohibits insurance plans from including contract terms that block doctors from recommending outside-network plastic surgeons based on patient needs or deny coverage solely because the surgeon isn't in-network. The law applies to surgeries following treatments like mastectomy, lumpectomy, or radiation for breast cancer, the breast cancer gene, or other breast abnormalities.

Maddy summaryACR 72 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey to create a $200 property tax credit for the primary residence of volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members. This credit would apply to residents who are active members of qualifying volunteer fire companies, first aid/rescue squads, or part-paid fire departments incorporated under New Jersey law. The amendment mandates that the state, not municipalities, would reimburse local governments for the full cost of these credits. If approved by voters, this would become a constitutional requirement for the Legislature to enact the credit.

Maddy summaryAJR 88 adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) non-binding working definition of antisemitism for New Jersey, stating it as "a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews." This resolution serves as an educational tool for public officials, law enforcement, educators, and employees to recognize and address antisemitism, without creating new legal obligations. It explicitly clarifies that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of other nations does not constitute antisemitism, and emphasizes the definition is not intended to infringe on free speech protections under the First Amendment or New Jersey's Constitution. The bill references data showing 298 and 347 antisemitic bias incidents in New Jersey during 2020-2021, aiming to improve awareness and response to such incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in seven New Jersey counties (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, and Union) and major cities to prevent school violence. It trains school staff, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and students to identify and report concerning behaviors using a new threat assessment tool and a science-based training curriculum. The program requires immediate threat reporting mechanisms and annual evaluations by the Attorney General, who must recommend to the legislature whether to expand it statewide. Funding for the initiative will come from the state general fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's state and county hazard mitigation plans (used to qualify for federal disaster aid) to include climate change impacts. Any new or revised plan must analyze climate-related threats to infrastructure (like roads and utilities), assess risks to vulnerable communities, and detail prevention strategies based on current science. It directly affects state and county emergency management offices responsible for creating these plans. The law also mandates that other related plans (like floodplain or recovery plans) align with the updated hazard mitigation strategies.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges public and nonpublic schools to annually invite parents to observe a school security drill. It addresses parental concerns about anxiety caused by unannounced monthly drills, which are required by current law (N.J.S.18A:41-1). By allowing parents to witness a drill, schools can help them understand procedures and the purpose of these exercises in preparing students and staff for emergencies. The resolution does not mandate this practice but encourages schools to offer this transparency to build trust and alleviate worries, particularly for younger students.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to stop interest from accruing on New Jersey College Loans to Assist State Students (NJCLASS) loans for borrowers approved for deferment or forbearance due to temporary disability, unemployment, or financial hardship between March 9 and September 9, 2020. It directly affects NJCLASS borrowers who qualify for these hardship-based payment pauses during that specific 6-month period. The key provision suspends interest accrual during approved deferment or forbearance periods, which currently continues under existing rules. This change applies only to loans processed within that defined timeframe.