Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded counseling program to provide mental health services for family members of New Jersey's active-duty military personnel and disabled veterans. Eligible family members (spouses, domestic partners, civil union partners, or children of active-duty service members or disabled veterans who live in New Jersey) can receive up to 10 annual counseling sessions - either in-person or via telehealth - reimbursed by the state. The program requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to create a statewide provider list, set reimbursement rates, track session usage, and run outreach campaigns. Mental health professionals must agree to provide all 10 sessions per family member to qualify for reimbursement. The bill defines "disabled veteran" as a New Jersey resident honorably discharged with a VA-recognized service-connected disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Medical Examiners to create a certification process for non-physicians (like licensed estheticians or technicians) to legally perform laser tattoo removal. It mandates that non-physicians must meet specific qualifications, pass approved testing, and complete continuing education to obtain certification. Certification is required before offering these services and must be renewed every two years. The law directly affects non-physician service providers seeking to enter the tattoo removal field, establishing standardized safety and competency requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit (NJT) to study and report on transportation infrastructure needs in Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem counties. The study must cover repair/maintenance of existing roads, bridges, and rail lines; potential new construction; environmental impacts; emergency evacuation planning (including routes and alternatives); traffic congestion; estimated costs; and federal funding availability. The report, due within six months, will inform decisions on coastal transportation improvements. This directly affects residents and emergency planning in these six coastal counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 11-member task force within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to study challenges faced by returning members of the U.S. Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard who deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The task force, including agency commissioners and public members with expertise in military transition, mental health, and veteran support, will hold public hearings and review current programs. It must identify issues affecting veterans' physical, mental, and social well-being, develop recommendations for state action, and issue a final report with legislative proposals within six months. The task force expires 30 days after submitting its report.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to create a "dredging control reserve fund" using unspent annual dredging budget funds. The fund can be used for dredging-related activities like maintaining navigation channels, managing dredged material (e.g., cleaning or reusing sediment), and supporting maritime or tourism industries. Municipalities must pass a resolution to access the fund, and any reimbursed costs must return to the reserve. The bill creates no new taxes or spending but provides a mechanism to reallocate existing dredging funds for broader waterway management needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public utilities to charge volunteer emergency service organizations (like fire departments, ambulance squads, and rescue teams) the lower residential electricity or gas rate for their main facility, instead of the higher commercial rate, if the residential rate is cheaper. It defines these organizations as those relying on volunteers to provide emergency services. Utilities must create a simple certification process with the Board of Public Utilities for organizations to qualify for the residential rate. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 32) creates a temporary, bipartisan committee to study New Jersey's historical claims to Staten Island. The 12-member committee - six appointed by the Assembly Speaker and six by the Minority Leader - will investigate colonial land grants, the 1834 boundary compact, and relevant legal history to explore potential annexation pathways. It will examine lawful options for New Jersey to pursue annexation, but only with consent from Staten Island residents, New York State, and the U.S. Congress. The committee will produce a final report and expire upon completion of its work. This is purely an investigative measure with no immediate policy impact.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 3788 establishes a sexual assault prevention and response program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, featuring an independent coordinator who operates outside the military chain of command. The program allows service members (including National Guard members) to file confidential complaints about sexual assault regardless of when the incident occurred - on or off duty - and provides victim advocacy, referrals to prosecutors, and assistance obtaining protective orders. Annual reports to the legislature will track assault statistics, investigation outcomes, and program effectiveness, with data limited to aggregated statistics to protect victim privacy. This applies to current and former service members, covering incidents involving New Jersey National Guard personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps New Jersey's annual use of energy tax revenues at $740 million, ensuring the remaining funds are paid directly to municipalities as aid. It amends existing law to establish a dedicated fund from energy-related taxes (including sales/use taxes on utilities and corporate taxes from public utilities), deducting $403 million before applying the $740 million cap. Municipalities receive annual payments based on historical aid levels from 1994-1996, with additional funds distributed to maintain previous support levels. The bill directly affects all New Jersey municipalities by guaranteeing predictable annual state aid tied to energy tax collections.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2850) requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to restart the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation program using leftover funds, to help homeowners still needing financial assistance after Superstorm Sandy. It directly affects Sandy-impacted homeowners who have unmet recovery and rebuilding needs, as defined by prior law. The key mechanism is the DCA accepting new grant applications to provide funding for these unmet needs, using only uncommitted state appropriations. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.