Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts in New Jersey to count the value of SREC-IIs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) as part of the financial calculations when deciding whether energy-saving projects are cost-effective. It directly affects school boards and energy service companies that implement energy conservation programs in public schools. The key change permits these renewable energy credits to be included in cost-benefit analyses, potentially making it easier for districts to justify and fund energy efficiency improvements. The bill does not alter existing requirements for public bidding, prevailing wages, or contractor qualifications under current energy savings improvement programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Nonprofit Security Grant Program to include funding for security-related training, planning, and intelligence gathering, in addition to existing support for security personnel and target-hardening equipment. It increases the maximum grant amounts to $50,000 for personnel/training and $150,000 for equipment/intelligence. The program, administered by the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, directly assists eligible nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attacks, domestic extremism, or violent acts. The bill also requires the program to request a minimum of $10 million annually in state funding (up from $2 million), with 5% of funds allocated for program administration.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey municipalities to provide basic life support (BLS) emergency medical services as an essential public service. It directly affects every local government in the state, mandating they arrange for BLS care through five specific options: contracting with private or nonprofit entities, entering mutual aid agreements with other towns, partnering with hospitals, or using existing fire/emergency services. The law defines BLS as covering critical emergency care like CPR, wound treatment, and stabilization during transport. Municipalities must ensure these services meet community needs, with no specific funding details provided. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "Sexual Violence Restorative Justice Pilot Program" in New Jersey, administered by the Attorney General through the Division of Violence and Victim Assistance. The program offers voluntary, trauma-informed restorative justice services to survivors of sexual violence (including those who haven’t reported to police), allowing them to participate in healing-focused processes like facilitated conferences or sharing circles. Key provisions include strict confidentiality protections for all communications (preventing use in court proceedings unless waived), removal of requirements to serve only specific counties (expanding statewide access), and a requirement for the Attorney General to evaluate the program and recommend next steps after completion. It directly affects survivors and accused individuals who choose to participate, with no mandatory involvement for either party.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's "Daniel's Law" to protect victim support advocates and victim support care providers by prohibiting the online disclosure of their home addresses and unpublished phone numbers. It creates a process where authorized representatives (like family members or legal agents) can request removal of this personal information from the internet. Violating this prohibition could result in criminal charges, ranging from a fourth-degree crime for reckless disclosure to a third-degree crime for intentional violations. The law directly affects professionals working with crime victims who face safety risks from public exposure of their personal contact details.

Maddy summaryS 1757 establishes the Office of Clean Energy Equity within New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities to ensure equitable access to clean energy benefits for overburdened communities. The bill requires the BPU to create programs targeting 250,000 low-income households by 2030 (reducing their energy burden to under 6% of income) and deploy 1,600 megawatt-hours of energy storage in these communities by 2030, prioritizing community resilience hubs and microgrids. It mandates workforce development training, community outreach grants for local organizations, and requires at least 10% of annual clean energy funds ($50 million+ annually) to support these initiatives. The bill directly affects low-income households and overburdened communities by structuring new clean energy access, efficiency, and storage programs with measurable targets.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a four-year grant program to provide funding to New Jersey school districts for improving performing arts education. To qualify, districts must demonstrate that a majority of their schools serve high concentrations of multilingual learners, students in resource family care, rural students, or at-risk pupils. Selected districts can use the funds to purchase arts materials, train teachers, and develop programs that help students transition between school levels or pursue careers in the arts. The program requires recipients to submit annual reports on their progress and includes a final review to determine if the initiative should be continued or expanded.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent fund within the New Jersey Department of Education to help public schools support students affected by domestic violence. The fund will be financed through annual state appropriations, federal grants, and other available money, which can be used to provide therapy and trauma-informed mental health services in schools. Additionally, the money may help districts identify resources for unmet student needs and fund the hiring and training of mental health staff. Schools that receive these funds must report to the Department of Education on how the money is spent, while the department determines how to distribute the money among districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires corporations in New Jersey to calculate their combined group tax liability based on worldwide income rather than just domestic earnings. It directly affects businesses that operate as combined groups, including those with foreign subsidiaries or partnerships, by mandating how their global profits are reported and taxed. The legislation updates existing tax laws to ensure that income from foreign branches is converted to U.S. dollars and adjusted for federal tax differences, while also clarifying how partnership income is included in the group's total. Additionally, it establishes specific rules for excluding certain treaty-based income and defines how limited partners in investment partnerships are treated within the combined group structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Civil Rights Act to clarify protections for individuals whose constitutional rights are violated by private persons or government officials. It allows the Attorney General to sue on behalf of victims to recover damages and obtain relief, while also enabling those individuals to file their own civil lawsuits in Superior Court with the option of a jury trial. The legislation establishes specific aggravating factors that courts may consider when deciding whether to award punitive damages in cases involving these rights violations. By updating the state's legal framework, the bill aims to strengthen remedies available to citizens without relying solely on federal law limitations.