Asm. Cody Miller

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-1331) requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to conduct a full rate review before approving any electric rate increase requested by an electric public utility. It directly affects electric utilities seeking rate hikes and the ratepayers who pay those rates. The key provision mandates that the BPU cannot approve any increase to an electric rate component without completing this comprehensive review process. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 1341) requires children in home education programs and their parents or guardians to meet annually with a designated school district staff member (a counselor, nurse, or social worker). The meeting serves two specific purposes: allowing parents to request school district support for their home education, and enabling the staff member to conduct a general health and wellness check on the child. The bill applies to all home-educated children in New Jersey and takes effect in the first full school year after enactment. It does not change how home education is structured but adds an annual check-in with the local school district.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps annual rate increases for residential electric and gas utility customers at 5% per year, preventing frequent or large hikes. Utilities may exceed this limit only during defined "extraordinary circumstances," such as major natural disasters (e.g., hurricanes, earthquakes) or state/federal emergencies. It directly affects households receiving residential utility service by limiting how much providers can raise bills annually. The law establishes a clear, enforceable rate limit with specific exceptions for unforeseen crises.

Maddy summaryBill A 2338 required public transportation employees, motorbus operators, hotel/motel staff, healthcare facility workers, and judicial personnel to complete one-time training on recognizing human trafficking signs and responding appropriately. The training, mandated as a condition for license renewals or employment, must include specific content about victim signals observed in public spaces and be reviewed biennially. It applied directly to licensed entities like hotels, healthcare facilities, and transit operators, with enforcement handled by the Department of Community Affairs and Department of Health. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, after being approved as P.L.2025, c.343.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education to create a multimedia advertising campaign promoting teaching and education support careers as engaging and rewarding opportunities. The campaign must highlight available scholarships, student loan programs, and financial support for prospective educators, using digital, TV, radio, and print media. It also requires targeted outreach to recruit teachers from underrepresented racial groups and into high-demand fields like STEM education, special education, and bilingual programs. The bill appropriates $1 million from federal ARP Act funds to implement these efforts, effective immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large supermarkets (over 16,000 sq ft), grocery stores, and food suppliers to make a reasonable effort to donate surplus food that is safe for human consumption but would otherwise be discarded. The donation must cover food fit for consumption (including perishable items like produce, dairy, and prepared foods), but not spoiled or unsafe items. Covered businesses must donate to food banks, nonprofits, or directly to people, with donations limited to covering only handling costs. The law would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 1308) requires landlords to provide tenants with a written explanation when increasing rent. It directly affects all residential tenants receiving rent increase notices, mandating that the notice must explain why the increase isn't "unconscionable," confirm compliance with local rent laws, and list relevant property expenses. Landlords who fail to provide this explanation face a $500 penalty per violation or potential tenant lawsuits for $500 plus legal fees. The law aims to give tenants clearer information to challenge rent hikes before disputes escalate to court.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain public school teachers from New Jersey's requirement to live in the state by allowing school districts to hire teachers who don't reside in New Jersey for up to two years. School districts must prove they advertised the position for six months, made good-faith efforts to hire a New Jersey-resident teacher, and that the candidate is properly certified. A five-member committee reviews exemption requests, and teachers hired under this exemption must establish New Jersey residency within two years or face termination. Failure to meet residency requires the district to re-advertise the position and hire a New Jersey-resident teacher.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A3871 requires public and nonpublic schools with lunch programs to gradually expand free lunch eligibility over five years, ultimately providing free meals to all students regardless of income or federal eligibility. It uses existing federal reimbursement mechanisms like the Community Eligibility Provision to allow schools to serve universal free meals without individual income applications. The bill directly affects all participating schools in the state’s National School Lunch Program, eliminating income verification for students. This policy change shifts school meal funding toward universal provision, building on federal program structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's major transportation and economic authorities - including the NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA - to actively consider and prioritize hiring minority and women employees, as well as awarding contracts to minority-owned and women-owned businesses. Authorities must publish quarterly reports online detailing employee demographics (by gender, race, and ethnicity) and contractor diversity, including average salaries and contract values. The law defines "minority" broadly to include Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian/Alaska Native individuals, and specifies that businesses owned by these groups must meet a 51% ownership threshold to qualify. If passed, these measures would directly affect hiring and contracting decisions across these agencies' operations.