Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank for Fiscal Year 2025. It adjusts which projects qualify, changes their priority order, and modifies the allowable loan amounts for specific projects. The bill authorizes the bank to expend up to $61.4 million (an increase from $53.8 million) for these projects, which include bridge repairs, road improvements, pedestrian bridges, and trail projects across various municipalities. Local government units, including cities, counties, and townships, would be directly affected as they apply for these loans to finance transportation infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryS 3308 requires New Jersey electric utilities to accept and process interconnection applications for grid supply solar facilities up to 20 megawatts. Utilities must approve applications unless incomplete (with specific feedback provided) or unsafe (with modification suggestions), and must compensate approved facilities for electricity supplied in real time. Facilities must pay interconnection costs and comply with utility tariffs. This applies to commercial solar projects selling power to the grid, excluding net metered, on-site, or community solar installations. The bill streamlines grid access for mid-sized solar developers seeking to connect to the state’s electric system.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for licensed audiologists in New Jersey, allowing them to select, prescribe, and order hearing aids in addition to their current ability to dispense and fit them. To qualify, audiologists must complete an accredited program of coursework and clinical training covering these specific services. The change aligns New Jersey law with new federal regulations that created a distinct category for prescription hearing aids. It directly affects licensed audiologists who meet the training requirements and their patients seeking prescription hearing aids.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Community Health Worker Program within the Department of Health to standardize training and certification for community health workers. The program requires integration of these workers into Medicaid reimbursement, connecting people in medically underserved communities to healthcare resources and improving access. It mandates implementation starting in Newark within one year, expanding statewide within five years, and creates an advisory board with diverse community and healthcare representation. The program also requires a standardized curriculum for substance use disorder support services, developed with input from experts and shared as best practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurance companies to offer electronic fund transfers (EFT) as a reimbursement option for covered persons (policyholders) who pay for health care out of pocket. Insurance carriers must inform policyholders about any fees for using EFT and provide website instructions for setting it up. Violations can result in fines from the Department of Banking and Insurance, plus reimbursement of any fees the policyholder paid due to the violation. The law applies to most health insurance plans but excludes Medicare Supplement, Medicaid, and other specific coverage types like workers' compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the Department of Human Services' authority to regulate sober living homes and halfway houses as residential substance abuse aftercare facilities. It requires background checks for facility administrators, representative payees, and property owners, with disqualification for certain criminal convictions related to violence, family offenses, theft, or drug offenses. Facilities must provide a one-week written notice before removing a resident (except when a resident poses an immediate threat), and the Department must conduct biweekly inspections during investigations. The bill also creates a public registry tracking facility openings, with daily updates from facilities, to help people find available housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $3 million from the General Fund to provide one-time bonus awards to specific state workers. It directly affects members of Local 195 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFTPE) who worked frontline, essential roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds will be distributed by the Division of Budget and Accounting in consultation with the union president to eligible employees across state agencies. The appropriation is supplemental to the 2025 budget and requires no new policy changes, focusing solely on compensating pandemic-era frontline staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3998) standardizes benefits for New Jersey teachers' pension members by removing tiered eligibility. It requires all current non-retired members of the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to receive the same benefits as those enrolled before July 1, 2007, effectively moving everyone to "Tier 1" benefits. Public employees meeting salary minimums but not hour requirements will be enrolled in TPAF, and current Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) members can transfer service credit to TPAF (without transferring contributions) to qualify for retirement benefits. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to study indoor air quality in public schools statewide. Within one year, the department must conduct a representative study of schools across diverse regions, age levels (from preschool to high school), and building ages to identify common air pollutants like carbon dioxide, VOCs, and fine particles. The study will compile a list of the most frequent indoor air contaminants and develop practical guidance for schools on reducing or mitigating these pollutants. The final list and guidance documents will be published on the Department of Health and Education websites for public access.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies the list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible for loans from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank for Fiscal Year 2025. It adds new projects, removes some existing ones, and adjusts the priority and estimated loan amounts for various transportation projects across New Jersey municipalities, including bridge replacements, road improvements, and pedestrian trail projects. The bill increases the total funding authorization for these projects from $53,883,706 to $61,400,000. Local government units seeking loans for transportation infrastructure construction will be affected by these changes to the eligibility list and funding amounts. The New Jersey Infrastructure Bank will now have updated parameters for issuing loans under the Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program.