Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving electric or gas utility rate increases that would cause an average residential customer's annual bill to rise more than 2%. It directly affects residential utility customers and the BPU, which must deny any proposed rate hike exceeding this 2% annual cap on the average customer bill. The key provision sets a strict limit on total annual rate increases, regardless of individual utility company proposals or cost factors. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2763) gives the Division of Rate Counsel the authority to block public utility rate increases when inflation exceeds 2% in any of the four preceding quarters. It directly affects utilities (like electricity, gas, and water companies) seeking rate hikes and protects consumers from price increases that outpace inflation. The key provision states that Rate Counsel can deny a rate request if the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (measuring overall inflation) was above 2% in any of the prior four quarters. The bill does not change how utilities calculate rates but adds a new inflation-based check on rate increases. This policy change aims to align utility rate adjustments with broader economic conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools participating in federal meal programs to provide free breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, regardless of household income or federal eligibility status. It eliminates the current requirement for schools to verify family income or collect household data to determine meal eligibility. The policy change applies directly to all students in participating schools and replaces the existing income-based system with universal provision. The bill amends existing statutes to remove income verification requirements for meal eligibility under the National School Lunch Program and federal School Breakfast Program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and State Parole Board to conduct a comprehensive study on Megan's Law implementation. The study will examine how sex offender registration, tier classification, community notification procedures, and the public Internet registry operate across the state, including whether geographic inconsistencies affect the registry's effectiveness. It must evaluate all sex offender dispositions since Megan's Law began and recommend standardizing risk assessments, tier assignments, and notification practices. The AOC and Parole Board must submit their findings within one year and then report biannually to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects a portion of wine tax revenue to support New Jersey's agricultural branding program. Specifically, it requires the State Treasurer to deposit $0.21875 per gallon from taxes on wine, vermouth, and sparkling wine sales (paid by wineries) into the "Jersey Fresh Program Fund." The fund, established in 2017, will be fully appropriated annually to the Department of Agriculture to fund advertising, promotions, and quality grading for "Jersey Fresh" and related programs promoting locally grown food and products. This expands the fund beyond voluntary tax contributions to include dedicated wine tax revenue, directly supporting New Jersey farmers and consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 7-member School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force to study New Jersey's current school funding system. The task force, composed of the Commissioner of Education and six appointed public members with education and finance expertise, will examine how state aid is distributed under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act and 2018 update (S2). It will specifically assess calculations for school budgets, weighting of at-risk students, special education funding, geographic cost adjustments, and other key aspects. The task force must issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of forming, which will be posted online. This study directly affects all public school districts in New Jersey by evaluating the formulas that determine their state funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers responsibility for providing developmental disability services to individuals aged 21-29 from the Department of Human Services' Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to the Department of Children and Families' Children's System of Care (CSOC). It extends the age limit for CSOC services from 21 to 30 years, delaying the current transition point where individuals typically move to DDD services. The bill requires inter-agency agreements between DCF and DHS to manage the transition and updates references to service administration in existing laws. It does not change eligibility criteria or create new funding but shifts administrative oversight. The change applies to individuals under 30 with developmental disabilities as defined by state law.

Maddy summaryBill A 2750 establishes New Jersey's Tuition Reimbursement Program for Special Education Teachers, directly affecting current or prospective special education teachers in New Jersey public schools. The program reimburses eligible tuition costs for approved master's programs or graduate coursework in special education (leading to NJ certification), up to 100% of expenses, in exchange for a four-year teaching commitment in a NJ public school after completing the program. To qualify, participants must be NJ residents, hold a valid teaching certificate, enroll in an approved program, and agree to teach special education for four years. Failure to complete the service term or meet performance standards (like maintaining certification or residency) requires full repayment of the reimbursement to the state.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A-2770 requires electric utilities to charge large data centers a surcharge during peak grid demand periods. This surcharge applies to facilities defined as "large load data centers" (those using at least 50 megawatts monthly for digital data storage and processing). All collected surcharge funds must be transferred to a new "Grid Modernization Fund" managed by the Board of Public Utilities. The fund can only be used to finance projects modernizing the state's electrical grid, with no other purposes permitted. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey commercial farm operators who experience price losses on their products. It allows eligible farms to claim credits against corporation business tax or gross income tax based on a certification of price loss from the State Agriculture Secretary. Credits are limited to 50% of tax liability and can be carried forward for up to seven years if unused. The bill also permits taxpayers to transfer unused credits to other businesses, subject to specific rules.