Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey program that allows certified first-time home buyers to open special savings accounts at participating banks or credit unions. Account holders can contribute up to $15,000 per year (with a lifetime limit of $75,000) and earn tax-free growth on those funds, with the account balance capped at $150,000 annually. Funds can only be withdrawn to cover down payments and closing costs for a primary residence purchase, and withdrawals for other purposes require tax reporting. The program is administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to encourage home ownership through tax-advantaged savings.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes counties, municipalities, and local agencies (including economic development entities and public-private groups) to form regional partnerships for joint economic planning. These partnerships can attract businesses, retain existing ones, redevelop areas, and share project costs, while using resources from New Jersey's Economic Development Authority. Partnerships may issue bonds under state law, access matching grants, and provide direct financing to local governments for development projects. The bill does not create new taxes or mandates but establishes a framework for collaborative regional economic strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide tuition waivers for classroom courses within registered apprenticeship programs at New Jersey public colleges and vocational schools. It applies to individuals with household income below the state median (as defined by U.S. Census data), who have exhausted all other financial aid and maintain active apprenticeship employment. The state would reimburse institutions for waived tuition costs, covering only the classroom training portion of approved apprenticeships. Eligibility requires completing a FAFSA annually and meeting academic progress standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2333) requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to install and maintain highway exit signs that direct motorists to electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. It directly affects EV drivers traveling on designated highways, including Interstates and limited-access roads. The signs must follow federal design standards for traffic control devices, ensuring clear, consistent placement and sizing. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires limited liability companies (LLCs) and foreign LLCs to disclose specific ownership details when recording deeds for residential rental properties (including single-family homes, duplexes, or multi-unit buildings). The disclosure must include the registered agent's name and address, plus the beneficial owner's full name, date of birth, current address, and a unique ID number - all submitted as an affidavit with the property deed. This applies only to transfers of rental properties with one to two dwelling units or multiple dwellings to LLCs. The requirement amends New Jersey law to increase transparency in real estate transactions involving LLC ownership.

Maddy summaryS 1379 (New Jersey) creates a presumption that illnesses or injuries suffered by public safety workers (firefighters, police, EMTs) who responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks are compensable under workers' compensation law, regardless of when a claim is filed. It requires workers to participate in the federal World Trade Center Health Program to qualify for benefits. The bill also specifies that benefits paid through federal programs (like the WTC Health Program) will be credited against future state benefits, preventing double payment. This directly affects New Jersey public safety workers exposed to 9/11 hazards who later developed related illnesses or injuries.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1807 requires municipalities to share certain payments made by businesses (instead of property taxes) with local school districts. The bill also mandates that municipalities provide counties, school districts, and the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) with specific details about property tax exemptions and abatements. Key mechanisms include requiring municipalities to share revenue from tax abatement agreements and report exemption information annually. This directly affects municipalities (who must share funds and report), school districts (who receive shared funds), and county/DCA offices (who receive data). The bill focuses on transparency and revenue sharing related to property tax exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires investor-owned electric utilities in New Jersey to submit annual emergency response plans to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) by May 15 each year. The plans must detail procedures for restoring power during widespread outages (e.g., from storms), including staff responsibilities, customer communication, medical electricity needs, safety protocols, and resource deployment. Utilities failing to file by the deadline face $1,000 daily fines, and the BPU can impose additional penalties if outages exceed standards due to poor plan implementation. Fines collected fund grants for municipalities to maintain public rights-of-way near utility infrastructure through tree trimming and hazard removal.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey municipalities to charge development impact fees on new construction projects to fund infrastructure improvements. It requires these fees to follow state-established guidelines and directs the funds toward upgrading roads, water systems, sewer facilities, and school infrastructure strained by new development. Developers of new projects will pay these fees, while municipalities will use the revenue to address specific infrastructure needs identified by the state. The bill also includes a funding appropriation to support this fee program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state and local agencies to follow strict procedures before outsourcing public services to private contractors. It mandates competitive bidding with public documentation, ensures contractor services meet or exceed current quality and quantity standards, and requires comparable wages/benefits for contractor workers. The law applies to contracts worth $500,000+ for local agencies or $1 million+ for state agencies, excluding certain service types like legal work or disability rehabilitation contracts. Agencies must also publish quarterly reports on service quality, fees, and contractor compliance to maintain public transparency.