Asm. Lou Greenwald

Maddy summaryThis bill expands protections under "Daniel's Law" to include members of the New Jersey Legislature and municipal court administrators, who can now request privacy for their home addresses and unpublished telephone numbers. It requires the Office of Information Privacy to establish a secure portal where authorized persons can submit requests to prevent private entities from disclosing covered persons' personal information. Private entities (businesses or associations that disclose personal information online) must access the portal at least once every 45 days to check for approved redaction requests and face a $200 civil penalty per 45-day period for failure to comply. The bill defines "covered information" as home addresses or unpublished telephone numbers of covered persons and establishes procedures for verification, security, and enforcement of these privacy protections. These changes aim to enhance safety for public officials by limiting public access to their personal information.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Department of Energy as a principal department within New Jersey's Executive Branch, replacing the previous energy functions housed in the Board of Public Utilities. The new Department of Energy will be led by a Commissioner of Energy appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, responsible for unified energy policy direction, supporting clean energy and electric vehicle programs, and developing energy crisis response plans. The bill transfers specific responsibilities from the Board of Public Utilities, including the Office of the Business Ombudsman, Division of Energy Planning and Conservation, and electric vehicle incentive programs, to the new Department. It also amends existing statutes to reflect the Department's new duties and organizational structure, ensuring continuity for energy-related programs and services. The Department will coordinate with State agencies to help meet New Jersey's energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Human Services (DHS) specifically for transportation costs for the Larc Norcross School Special Needs Adult Program. The program serves adults over 21 with disabilities who have transitioned out of traditional education, providing daily life support, therapy, and social activities. The funding addresses inadequate Medicaid coverage for transportation, ensuring consistent access to program services. This is a supplemental budget measure that directly supports participants' ability to attend the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from shutting down existing electricity generation facilities (called "covered facilities") unless the BPU first identifies replacement renewable energy facilities that can produce enough power to meet the same demand and become operational before the old facility closes. It specifically requires replacement facilities to be renewable sources like wind, solar, hydropower, or nuclear, connected to New Jersey's grid. The ban does not apply to facilities that are unsafe, non-functional, or threaten public health. The law directly affects the BPU's authority over power plant retirements and requires renewable energy projects to be ready before existing plants are closed.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6121) updates New Jersey's law governing how corporations require shareholder votes for decisions other than electing board members. It allows corporations to specify in their bylaws that certain actions must be approved by a majority of shareholders present at the meeting or voting by proxy (not just a majority of votes cast). This directly affects New Jersey corporations holding shareholder meetings, giving them flexibility to set clearer voting thresholds for non-director matters. The change applies immediately to votes occurring on or after the law's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners or operators of public electric vehicle charging stations (located at places like parking garages, rest stops, or public transportation facilities) to clearly display the price per kilowatt-hour at the point of use. The price must be visible day and night in a legible format, updated in real-time, and any additional fees must be itemized separately. Violations could result in a civil penalty of up to $250 per day. The law aims to provide clear, upfront pricing information for EV drivers using public charging stations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A6123, the "Public Utility Rate Stabilization Act," allows gas and electric utilities to use alternative rate-setting methods instead of traditional base rate cases. These alternatives include performance-based rates, multi-year rate plans, and earnings-sharing mechanisms, which utilities must petition the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to approve. The BPU must review petitions within nine months, hold public hearings, and ensure plans meet criteria like fair rates, grid reliability, and alignment with state energy goals. The bill also permits utilities to use future cost projections (fully-projected test years) in rate filings and requires the BPU to adopt rules within 180 days of enactment. This directly affects utilities, customers, and the BPU's oversight process.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5049) removes a current restriction that allows the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members if they are involved in pending civil lawsuits related to their employment. It specifically prohibits the PFRS Board from delaying benefits due to such civil litigation, though it maintains the ability to withhold benefits for members facing criminal charges or administrative dismissal. The bill requires the Board to adjust benefits after any legal case concludes, rather than holding payments indefinitely during litigation. This change directly affects current and future PFRS members who are involved in employment-related civil disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey counties and municipalities to use funds from their existing open space trust funds to remediate collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on public property. Currently, these funds are used for open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland, and historic preservation purposes. The bill expands the authorized uses to include mine shaft and sinkhole remediation, requiring local governments to adopt an ordinance and hold a public hearing before using funds for this purpose. There's a $100,000 limit per project, and funds would be moved to a new "Mine Remediation Trust Fund" for this specific purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's nursing home assessment rate from a fixed 6% to the lower of 6% or the maximum percentage permitted under federal law. It directly affects nursing homes in New Jersey that pay this assessment, which is calculated based on their annual revenues excluding Medicare patient days. The assessment cannot be collected until the federal government approves both the rate and the plan for distributing the funds. Nursing homes must report their data to the Division of Taxation and pay the assessment quarterly after federal approval.