Asm. Lou Greenwald

Maddy summaryThis bill revises the structure and responsibilities of New Jersey's Advisory Graduate Medical Education Council. It directs the Council to report directly to the Department of Health (instead of the Commission on Higher Education) and expands its duties to develop a five-year strategic plan, create an annual funding guide for stakeholders, coordinate with federal programs like rural residency initiatives, and establish metrics to measure workforce outcomes. The Council must now annually report to the Governor and Legislature on medical workforce needs, funding allocations across hospitals (by specialty and location), whether funding achieves health outcomes, and recommendations for addressing shortages in underserved areas. This affects hospitals receiving graduate medical education funding and state health policymakers who use the Council's reports to guide budget decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from shutting down any existing electric power plant ("covered facility") unless the BPU first identifies one or more replacement plants that meet two conditions: (1) produce enough renewable energy (including wind, solar, hydro, or nuclear) to cover the original plant's electricity demand, and (2) can start operating before the original plant closes to avoid power shortages. It directly affects the BPU's authority over power plant retirements and electric generation facilities connected to New Jersey's grid. The bill does not apply to plants that are unsafe, non-functional, or threaten public health, allowing the BPU to retire those without replacement. This policy aims to prevent gaps in electricity supply during transitions to renewable energy.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes a constitutional convention to reform New Jersey's property tax system, requiring two public votes: one in 2012 to approve the convention and another in 2013 to ratify its recommendations. The convention must propose revenue-neutral changes (keeping total state tax revenue the same) to reduce property tax inequities, especially for low- and moderate-income residents, while maintaining current school funding and affordable housing obligations. It mandates that the convention complete its proposals by August 2013 for voter approval in November 2013, with any statutory changes subject to future legislative review.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3585) makes it a crime to knowingly share manipulated videos or audio that falsely depict a candidate or election issue within 90 days of an election, with penalties including up to a fourth-degree offense (or third-degree for repeat violations). It directly affects voters (by aiming to prevent deception), candidates (who can seek legal relief for false depictions), and content creators (who face criminal or civil liability). Key provisions require clear disclaimers for minor edits or news/satire content, and exempt social media platforms, traditional media, and news outlets under federal law. The law does not apply to accidental edits, news reporting, or content with prominent disclaimers identifying manipulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's Municipal Land Use Law to streamline preliminary site plan reviews for development projects. It requires that preliminary reviews focus only on the layout of buildings, streets, parking, and basic zoning compliance (such as density and height), excluding detailed engineering elements like stormwater plans, grading, landscaping, or architectural designs. Developers will now submit only tentative site plans and supporting documents for this initial stage, reducing upfront documentation requirements. The change applies to all New Jersey municipalities using the Municipal Land Use Law and aims to speed up early-stage approvals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state and county correctional facilities to offer hepatitis B and C blood testing to every new inmate at the start of their sentence. Inmates cannot be forced to take the test, but facilities must provide the option. The Commissioner of Corrections must create implementing rules within six months of the bill's enactment. This directly affects all individuals entering state or county correctional facilities by expanding access to preventative health screenings during incarceration.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners or operators of public electric vehicle charging stations (located in places like parking garages, rest stops, or public transit facilities) to display the price per kilowatt-hour clearly at the point of use. The price must be visible, legible day and night, and updated in real-time or as soon as possible. It also mandates that any additional fees beyond the electricity cost must be itemized and displayed separately. Violations would result in civil penalties of up to $250 per day, enforceable through standard legal procedures. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's bill A 3535 would allow developers to convert vacant office parks (50,000+ sq ft) and retail centers (15,000+ sq ft) with at least 40% vacancy into mixed-use developments (combining homes, shops, and offices) by temporarily overriding local zoning rules that prohibit such projects. It applies only to properties near transit, within designated planning areas, and not adjacent to hazardous sites or industrial zones. Developers must submit applications within 25 months of the bill's effective date to qualify for this zoning exemption. The bill aims to repurpose underused "stranded assets" without requiring special variances, focusing on properties meeting specific eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to refund property tax overpayments caused by assessor errors or mistaken payments by taxpayers. It directly affects property owners who paid taxes on the wrong parcel, paid twice, or mistakenly paid another's taxes. Key provisions mandate refunds without interest for errors in assessment or payment, limit refunds to the year of notification plus three prior tax years, and require a hearing with five days' notice for disputed claims. The law makes existing optional refunds mandatory and adds a three-year statute of limitations for claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a two-year grant program using funds from the societal benefits charge. It provides grants to individuals, businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions to develop innovative technologies for pilot projects at publicly-owned drinking water and wastewater systems. These projects must implement new technology (not routine upgrades) to improve water quality, flow, purification, conservation, energy efficiency, or infrastructure - specifically prioritizing renewable energy solutions like in-pipe hydropower. The BPU must evaluate proposals, coordinate with systems, and report annually on funded projects and their statewide potential. The program expires 25 months after enactment.