Maddy summaryS 994 establishes the "New Jersey Small Business Indoor Air Quality Management Support Program," which provides loans to eligible small businesses (those with 100 or fewer full-time employees operating primarily in New Jersey) to improve indoor air quality. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) will administer the program, offering loans covering capital purchases, employee training, and salaries for new positions related to air quality improvements. Businesses receiving loans must use certified organizations (e.g., Testing, Adjusting and Balancing Bureau) for work and can later apply for a state certification requiring annual EPA-based indoor air quality inspections. The program aims to support small businesses in meeting air quality standards through accessible financing and standardized certification.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1389, would require businesses in New Jersey to notify consumers when collecting or disclosing their personal data, particularly for sensitive categories like biometric information, health details, precise location data, or financial information. It defines "personal data" broadly but excludes de-identified or publicly available information, and clarifies that "consent" must be clear, affirmative, and not obtained through deceptive practices ("dark patterns"). Businesses would need to provide clear disclosure about data use and allow consumers to opt out of certain disclosures, including data "sales" to third parties. The bill was introduced in January 2024 but was withdrawn the same day.
Maddy summaryS 236 requires New Jersey's electric public utilities (companies that distribute electricity to homes and businesses) to create and submit detailed "integrated distribution plans" to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). These plans must outline investments needed to modernize aging infrastructure, improve system safety and reliability, and integrate renewable energy sources like rooftop solar. The BPU must first develop specific criteria for these plans within six months, and utilities must submit their plans within a year after those criteria are set. The BPU then has 90 days to approve, conditionally approve, or disapprove the plans, with utilities required to implement approved plans. This bill directly affects all electricity providers operating in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1064) would create a faster path for paraprofessionals currently working in New Jersey school districts to become certified teachers. It requires the State Board of Education to establish an alternate certification program that counts their existing classroom experience (like tutoring) toward student teaching requirements, allows them to keep their current job while completing training, and permits GPA waivers for qualified candidates. The program must be developed with input from education stakeholders, including teacher unions and school administrators. Note: The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, but was immediately withdrawn.
Maddy summaryS 1631 would require New Jersey to use ranked-choice voting for presidential primaries and general elections for electors of U.S. President and Vice-President. Under this system, voters would rank candidates in order of preference on ballots, and votes would be redistributed in rounds until one candidate reaches 50% plus one of the valid votes. The bill mandates ballot design allowing voters to rank at least six candidates, includes rules for handling exhausted ballots, and directs the Secretary of State to create implementation guidelines. The law would take effect immediately but would not be implemented until voting machines are certified for ranked-choice voting, 12 months after that certification. This change applies only to presidential elections, not to state or local offices.
Maddy summaryS 1010 requires all new State government buildings over 15,000 square feet to include on-site power systems (like solar or battery storage) that provide electricity during outages, excluding diesel. It also mandates that State entities consider adding these systems when renovating or repairing existing State buildings of the same size. The bill defines "distributed energy resources" as non-diesel power generation/storage located near where energy is used. All building plans must specify these systems, and the State Treasury’s Property Management Division will enforce the rules. This complements existing green building standards under P.L.2007, c.269.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1491) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, without requiring new legislative action each time. The key mechanism is restoring a provision that had been removed, so benefits rise automatically based on the Consumer Price Index rather than relying on annual budget decisions. This change provides predictable income stability for retirees as living costs change. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to fund mental health services for New Jersey veterans through grants awarded to eligible veterans' organizations. It requires these organizations to contract with licensed mental health professionals (such as psychologists or social workers) to provide services directly to veterans. The bill appropriates $2 million from the state's General Fund to support this initiative. Eligible recipients include tax-exempt veterans' groups (501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) organizations) and specific entities like the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group.
Maddy summaryS 1345 creates a permanent "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force" within the Department of State. The task force, composed of 18 members including legislative leaders, community representatives (like Hadassah and ADL), and experts, will research anti-Semitism and develop recommendations to address its harms. Its work directly affects Jewish communities in New Jersey, aiming to improve safety at synagogues, schools, and institutions amid rising hate incidents. The bill requires the task force to produce actionable plans based on its research, without specifying new funding or enforcement measures.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a proportional property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities (25% to 100% disability rating). It directly affects honorably discharged veterans with qualifying disabilities and their surviving spouses, allowing exemptions based on their disability percentage (capped at $15,000) or 100% if deemed unemployable. The law requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax revenue lost due to these exemptions, with annual reporting by tax assessors and county boards. This amends existing law to expand veterans' property tax relief while ensuring local governments are financially compensated.