Sen. Jim Holzapfel

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities in New Jersey to reimburse business customers for financial losses when a business must temporarily cease operations due to utility repairs or replacements on the business's property. It applies only to non-emergency service interruptions (excluding events like storms or declared disasters), and the Board of Public Utilities determines reimbursement amounts based on submitted documentation. Utilities cannot include these reimbursements in their rate base or recover the costs from other customers. The law aims to protect commercial businesses from financial harm during routine utility maintenance, excluding emergency situations.

Maddy summaryS 1306, the "Children's Vaccination Bill of Rights," establishes new protections for parents and children in New Jersey regarding vaccination decisions. It requires parents to receive detailed information about vaccine ingredients and risks before consent (provision e), gives parents final authority over vaccination choices based on independent scientific evidence (provision f), and holds the state liable for injuries caused by mandated vaccines (provision g). The bill also mandates equal application of vaccination policies regardless of race or religion (provision b), requires independent safety studies (provision d), and ensures religious liberty protections are considered. This bill directly affects all parents and children subject to New Jersey's vaccination requirements for schools or healthcare.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 136) raises the annual income limit for New Jersey residents to qualify for homestead property tax reimbursement. It increases the current $150,000 income cap (for 2022 and later) to a higher amount for future tax years, making the program accessible to more homeowners. The reimbursement helps eligible homeowners - aged 65+ or disabled persons who own or lease their primary residence - get back some property taxes paid above a base-year amount. This change directly affects low-to-moderate-income elderly and disabled homeowners who currently exceed the income threshold. The bill amends existing law to adjust this income limit annually, aligning it with inflation or other factors as specified in the original statute.

Maddy summaryS 1996 requires hospitals and clinical laboratories in New Jersey to implement standardized procedures for collecting and recording patient demographic data related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity. It mandates cultural competency training for staff who collect this information and prohibits hospitals from collecting sexual orientation or gender identity data for patients under 18 unless the minor or their parent/guardian voluntarily provides it - data may only be used for medical diagnosis or treatment. The bill specifies exact categories for recording these demographics (e.g., "transgender female-to-male" for gender identity) and requires electronic reporting compatible with state health systems. It applies directly to healthcare providers, hospitals, and clinical laboratories handling patient data under New Jersey law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a toll relief program for New Jersey drivers using E-ZPass. It requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide a 50% credit on tolls paid for 35 or more qualifying transactions (standard toll payments) per month on the Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, or Atlantic City Expressway. The program is funded by $250 million from the General Fund for each authority, with credits posted within one month of earning. Authorities must submit quarterly reports on credits issued and the program expires one year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents with an E-ZPass account to deduct up to $1,000 annually from their gross income tax for tolls paid on eligible toll roads and bridges (including Delaware River crossings and Port Authority routes), provided total E-ZPass tolls exceed $1,000 in a year. It excludes fines, administrative fees, employer reimbursements, and tolls already deductible as business expenses under federal or state tax rules. The deduction applies to tolls paid for personal vehicles operated by the taxpayer or household members on New Jersey toll roads or connecting interstate bridges/tunnels. The bill takes effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2020.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and private schools participating in athletic associations (like NJSIAA or NCAA) to designate sports teams based solely on biological sex. It prohibits male-identified students from joining female-designated teams unless they provide a physician's statement confirming biological sex through anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and genetic analysis. Schools maintaining separate female teams cannot face complaints or penalties for this policy, and students harmed by violations can seek legal remedies. The law directly affects all K-12 and college athletic programs in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities and school districts to annually report the amount paid to retiring employees for unused sick leave. The State Treasurer must then reduce the following year's state aid payments to these entities by that exact amount: for municipalities, this applies to Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid, Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid, Extraordinary Aid, or Transitional Aid to Localities; for school districts, it reduces state school aid based on annual audit data. The policy directly affects local governments that provide retirement payments for accrued sick leave, ensuring state aid does not cover these costs. It creates a straightforward mechanism where reported unused sick leave payments automatically lower subsequent state funding.

Maddy summaryBill S 103 creates new criminal offenses for the unlawful possession and use of credit card scanners in New Jersey. It makes possessing such a device without a lawful purpose a disorderly persons offense (misdemeanor punishable by up to $1,000 fine or 6 months in jail), and using it for unlawful purposes a second-degree crime (felony punishable by up to $150,000 fine or 5-10 years in prison). The bill directly affects individuals who handle credit card scanners without authorization, such as those attempting to steal card data. Key provisions define "credit card scanner" broadly as any device that reads, records, or transmits card information, and establish specific penalties for each violation. The law takes effect two months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 185) allows specific government-owned snow and ice removal vehicles operated by New Jersey state, local, or regional agencies to display both amber and green warning lights during hazardous operations. It amends existing law to permit green lights (in addition to required amber lights) only when these vehicles are actively removing ice/snow and creating traffic hazards requiring unusual care. The green lights must be used alongside standard amber warning lights and are restricted to authorized vehicles engaged in snow/ice removal work. The bill was withdrawn after being approved in P.L.2025, c.209.