Asm. Bill Moen

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $100,000 grant program administered by New Jersey's Division of Housing and Community Resources to fund street pole banners promoting local innovation achievements. It directly affects municipalities that apply, requiring them to submit plans highlighting specific regional accomplishments in fields like bioscience, clean energy, or telecommunications. Selected municipalities (nine total, with three per region and diverse urban/rural representation) must use funds to develop and install banners, then report on expenditures and banner impact within one year. The program includes mandatory reporting to the state on implementation and best practices, with the goal of evaluating potential statewide expansion.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates for the South Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Association. Vehicle owners who choose these plates pay a $50 application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, on top of standard registration costs. All collected fees go into a dedicated fund that splits the money equally each year between veterans' programs and local emergency management organizations. The program includes a cost-reimbursement process for the Motor Vehicle Commission and allows discontinuation if administrative costs exceed the $50 application fee for two consecutive years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to automatically enroll eligible full-time employees in the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). It directs the Department of Education to match state employment data with federal loan records to identify qualifying employees, then share that information with relevant agencies. Agencies must enroll employees at hire and transfer PSLF enrollment details when employees move between state agencies. The law applies specifically to state employees who meet federal PSLF criteria (like working full-time for a public employer while making qualifying loan payments).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to voluntarily contribute a portion of their state income tax refund or make an additional payment when filing their returns to support public humanities programs. The contributions would go into a special fund managed by the Department of the Treasury, with administrative costs deducted before funds are deposited. The Legislature must annually appropriate these funds to the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, which will distribute grants to individuals and organizations for humanities programming across the state. It directly affects taxpayers who choose to participate and benefits humanities groups receiving grant funding.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 68) urges the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to halt Class I freight railroads from using "precision-scheduled railroading" (PSR), a strategy they claim improves efficiency but critics link to safety concerns. It specifically cites reduced mechanical staff, longer trains (some nearly doubled in length), and decreased locomotives/railcars (down 32% since 2011) as factors potentially increasing derailment risks, referencing a 2022 GAO study. The resolution notes the FRA has studied PSR safety risks but lacks specific regulations governing it, and asks the FRA to pause PSR implementation while safety data is reviewed. As a non-binding resolution, it directs the FRA to stop PSR use but does not create new federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2186) requires ticket websites selling event tickets in New Jersey to publicly display three specific details about ticket availability: the total tickets available per venue, how many have been released so far, and how many have been sold. It directly affects online ticket sellers operating in New Jersey for events at venues like stadiums or theaters. The law mandates this information be shown on the website itself, not just in fine print. This aims to increase transparency for consumers purchasing tickets online.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time $100,000 grant for a New Jersey four-year public university to study and recommend effective methods for increasing youth involvement in government. The university must submit a proposal detailing its study plan and budget, then produce a report within one year identifying existing best practices and suggesting the most effective approaches. The report will be shared with the state education department and all school districts within 60 days, aiming to provide actionable guidance for schools and officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants a $1,000 deduction from gross income to licensed mental health care professionals (such as therapists or counselors) who provide services in New Jersey during the tax year. It directly affects these professionals by reducing their taxable income, lowering their overall state income tax liability. The deduction is added to existing personal exemptions under New Jersey tax law (N.J.S.54A:3-1), specifically listed as item (b)(8). This is a concrete policy change that modifies tax treatment for qualifying mental health care providers without altering other tax rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires data brokers (businesses that collect and sell personal details like names, addresses, or health information without a direct relationship with customers) to register annually with New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs for a $100 fee. Brokers must submit detailed information about their data practices, including opt-out options, data breach history, and policies for minors' data. Crucially, the bill prohibits brokers from selling, sharing, or transmitting any physical health records (e.g., doctor visits, treatments) or behavioral health records (e.g., mental health or substance use treatment details) to third parties. Violations carry penalties of $50 per day for registration failures or $1,000 per health record disclosed.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates for alumni of the state's four-year public colleges and universities (such as Rutgers or Rowan), featuring each school's emblem and slogan. Alumni would pay a one-time $50 application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, with funds (after covering costs) deposited into a dedicated fund for the school's alumni association to support its programs. The program requires the alumni association to cover initial costs (up to $25,000) and provide 500 applications before plates are issued, ensuring no public funds are used for startup expenses. The Motor Vehicle Commission would administer the program in consultation with each school's alumni association.