Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) and Economic Development Authority (EDA) to give priority consideration to municipalities that meet their state-mandated affordable housing requirements when awarding competitive grants through programs like Main Street New Jersey and Neighborhood Preservation. It specifies that compliance is determined by factors such as past housing obligation fulfillment, settlement agreements, or builder's remedy use in the prior housing obligation round (for the first five years), shifting to current-round fulfillment after that. The priority does not apply to grants specifically intended to help municipalities meet their housing obligations. Exempt municipalities (those not subject to housing requirements) automatically qualify for priority consideration.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for school counselors in New Jersey. It mandates that school counseling programs at colleges must incorporate the American School Counselor Association's model and include training in social-emotional learning and career planning. School counselors (defined as those with a NJ certification and endorsement) must provide services addressing students' academic, career, social, and emotional needs, and complete required professional development in areas like mental health awareness, trauma-informed practices, and cultural competency. The bill also creates a new State School Counselor Liaison position within the Department of Education to support school districts and advance comprehensive counseling services. These changes directly affect school counselors, school districts, and higher education institutions offering counseling certification programs.
Maddy summarySJR 154 directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate PJM Interconnection's capacity market pricing model to determine if it ensures reliable electricity at the lowest cost, requiring a report within 12 months. It also mandates the state to collaborate with neighboring PJM states to promote affordable energy practices, urge PJM to implement market reforms protecting ratepayers from rising prices, and accelerate reviews of new power generation projects. The resolution addresses concerns about increasing electricity costs for New Jersey customers, linked to PJM's current pricing structure and delays in new energy resources entering the grid. This action aims to align PJM's operations with New Jersey's energy affordability goals under the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $2.4 billion in loans for environmental infrastructure projects during FY2026. It directly affects local governments and public water utilities (referred to as "project sponsors") seeking funding for clean water and drinking water system improvements. The bill specifies 151 clean water projects totaling $1.7 billion and 59 drinking water projects totaling $651.7 million that qualify for these loans, with repayment terms up to 45 years. The loans cover a portion of construction costs, and the bank can adjust loan amounts based on actual project expenses. The bill also includes provisions for transferring funds between state trust funds to support these projects.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the "sweepstakes model of wagering" in New Jersey, which typically involves people paying to enter contests where they might win prizes. It establishes civil penalties of up to $100,000 for the first offense and $250,000 for subsequent offenses against operators of unlawful gambling operations. The bill creates limited exceptions for sweepstakes that offer free entry options, tie non-free entries to purchasing low-value merchandise under $20, disclose rules and odds clearly, and don't base winners on sports events (unless all entries are free). It also updates gambling definitions to cover online wagering, expands prohibitions against rigging sports events, and assigns enforcement to the Division of Consumer Affairs (for sweepstakes) and Division of Gaming Enforcement (for other gambling violations).
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $6.8 million in low-interest loans to local governments for specific hazard mitigation and resilience projects in fiscal year 2026. It directly affects three municipalities - Jersey City (McGovern Park Resilience), Highlands Borough (flood mitigation), and Brick Township (reservoir improvements) - by financing portions of their eligible projects. The loans, repayable within 30 years, are funded through the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP) Revolving Loan Fund, with repayment proceeds reinvested to support future projects. The bill ensures projects align with state hazard mitigation requirements and the federal STORM Act framework.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's Cultural Arts Incentives Program by expanding eligibility to include organizations with at least some cultural enrichment mission, and by allowing National Park Service and partner developers to operate facilities without requiring the institution to own or operate them. It removes a provision allowing tax credits for operating reserves, permits limited pre-application construction (for maintenance, repairs, and environmental work), and changes the application process from competitive to rolling basis. The bill also repeals the Community-Anchored Development Program that was scheduled to begin in 2026 with a $1.2 billion funding cap.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric public utilities (and their affiliates) to submit an annual report by February 1st to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The report must list every recorded vote cast by the utility or its affiliates at PJM Interconnection meetings (including votes not publicly disclosed by PJM), describe the meeting context, and explain how each vote supports New Jersey's energy goals of affordability, reliability, and sustainability. The BPU must then summarize these reports for the Governor and Legislature. This aims to increase transparency about how utilities influence regional electricity decisions using ratepayer funds.
Maddy summaryS 3887 requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide public boat access to state-owned lakes where boats are permitted, within two years of the law's enactment. The DEP must build access points, contract with private marinas (via public bidding), or use existing infrastructure to enable public boating. The bill allocates $2 million from the General Fund to fund these access improvements. This directly affects the public seeking boating access, the DEP as the implementing agency, and private marina owners who may enter into contracts with the state.