Sen. Owen Henry

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's process for calculating gas taxes through Fiscal Year 2032 and imposes new fees on electric vehicles, including a $300 annual registration fee for passenger EVs and $450 for commercial EVs. It repeals the sales tax exemption for electric vehicles, directing those revenues to transportation projects, and appropriates $2.5 billion total - $1 billion to NJ Transit for capital projects and operations, and $1.5 billion to the Transportation Trust Fund. These changes are intended to support New Jersey's transportation infrastructure funding needs through 2032.

Maddy summarySCR 96 proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate specific tax revenues from electric vehicle sales and registration fees exclusively to New Jersey's transportation system. If the state imposes a sales tax on electric vehicles, the amendment requires up to $100 million annually from that tax to fund transportation projects. Similarly, any additional registration fee on electric vehicles would require all revenue from that fee to be dedicated to transportation. The amendment does not create new taxes or fees but ensures that if such revenues exist, they must be used solely for transportation planning, construction, and repairs - barring other constitutional exceptions.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Transit Accountability Act (S 2957) requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to hire an independent auditor within 90 days to examine its financial management and budget reporting practices since 2018. The audit must assess pandemic impacts on service demand and finances, evaluate current funding adequacy, and recommend improvements to governance, staffing, and customer service. NJT must submit the auditor’s findings to the Governor and Legislature, then adopt recommended policies within six months - though it may opt out with a detailed justification. The report must cover how NJT manages money, pandemic effects, funding gaps, and specific operational fixes, without overriding existing audit obligations.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution recognizes the International 22q11.2 Foundation and designates November 22 of each year as "22q Awareness Day" in New Jersey. It aims to increase public awareness of genetic conditions related to chromosome 22q11.2 variations (such as DiGeorge Syndrome and velocardiofacial syndrome), encourage early diagnosis, and support families affected by these conditions. The resolution requests the governor issue an annual proclamation to observe the day, highlighting the Foundation's work in connecting families and consolidating information about these conditions. It does not create new laws or funding but serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the Foundation's efforts.

Maddy summaryS 1649 creates a new crime called "fiscal victimization" targeting financial exploitation of senior citizens (60+) or people with disabilities. It makes it illegal to commit theft or specific financial crimes against these groups, with strict liability - perpetrators cannot claim they didn’t know the victim was vulnerable. Penalties are increased: the offense is graded one level higher than the underlying theft (e.g., a disorderly persons offense becomes a fourth-degree crime), and courts must impose separate sentences for both the theft and fiscal victimization. The bill directly affects vulnerable adults and those who exploit them financially, with definitions including people disabled under Social Security criteria or age 60+.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prioritize energy security, diversity, and affordability when updating the state's Energy Master Plan. It mandates the BPU to conduct detailed cost and impact analyses for all energy generation projects and the Master Plan itself, including breakdowns of financial effects on ratepayers, state/local governments, and infrastructure costs. The plan must limit intermittent energy sources (like wind/solar) to no more than 50% of the state's energy portfolio and prioritize in-state energy generation to reduce subsidies for out-of-state sources. These changes directly affect the BPU, ratepayers (through potential cost impacts), and energy developers (requiring pre-approval analyses), while ensuring public transparency via online analysis publications and annual committee testimony.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows nurses with a multistate nursing license to qualify for school nurse certification in New Jersey. It amends current law to include multistate licenses (under the enhanced multistate Nurse Licensure Compact) as a valid license type for obtaining school nurse endorsements, substitute credentials, and non-instructional roles. The change specifically updates requirements in P.L.1999, c.153 and P.L.2017, c.70 to replace "New Jersey registered nurse license" with "multistate license" where applicable. Nurses must still meet all other certification standards, including a bachelor's degree, required coursework, and clinical experience.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 2632 creates multiple support programs to recruit and retain volunteer firefighters. It appropriates $2 million to fund a new paid service program offering first-year volunteers a $750 monthly stipend for 15+ hours of service monthly, and establishes a tuition remission program covering up to 16 undergraduate or eight graduate credits per semester for firefighters committing to four years of service. The bill also requires school districts to incorporate fire service education into health curricula, mandates fire departments to use new recruitment training materials, and provides a $1,000 annual tax credit for firefighters completing 100+ service hours yearly. These provisions directly affect volunteer fire departments, firefighters, school districts, and higher education institutions across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey businesses that employ members of the New Jersey National Guard or military reserve components (like Army Reserve). Employers receive a $1,500 credit per qualified service member not yet returned from deployment, or $2,500 for those who have completed or returned from deployment. The credit applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, directly reducing tax liability for qualifying employers. It affects businesses hiring military reservists in New Jersey, with credits calculated based on deployment status.

Maddy summaryS 2500 establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsman for Children within New Jersey's Attorney General's office, directly affecting children in state care, foster families, and child welfare agencies. The ombudsman investigates agency responses to child abuse/neglect cases, inspects facilities like group homes and shelters, reviews policies, and maintains a 24-hour hotline for public concerns. The bill requires the ombudsman to report annually to the Governor and Legislature on service gaps and make recommendations for improvement. Agencies must develop corrective action plans for systemic issues identified by the ombudsman and provide quarterly updates for one year. The office operates with authority to access records, issue subpoenas, and intervene in proceedings to protect children's welfare, while safeguarding confidential information.