Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis resolution formally commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. It directs that copies be sent to the laboratory, the American Physical Society, and the U.S. Library of Congress. As a ceremonial resolution, it does not create new laws or affect any policies or individuals. The resolution serves only to recognize the laboratory's historical contributions to fusion research and plasma physics.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans casino and sports betting companies in New Jersey from sending promotional push notifications or text messages to customers' phones to encourage betting. It specifically prohibits unsolicited alerts that appear when a user isn't actively using the app (like pop-up messages on a phone screen). The law applies to all casino licensees, their online affiliates, and sports wagering operators, with violations carrying fines of at least $500 per offense. The bill amends existing gambling regulations to implement this restriction.

Maddy summaryS 3399 directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a virtual power plant program aimed at reducing peak electricity demand by 500 megawatts by 2030. The program will coordinate distributed energy resources - such as home batteries, electric vehicle chargers, and controllable loads - through third-party aggregators to shift energy use away from peak times. This approach is intended to lower electricity costs for ratepayers, reduce reliance on fossil fuel peaker plants, and avoid costly grid infrastructure upgrades, as outlined in the bill's findings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Energy Independence Bank as an independent subsidiary of the Economic Development Authority (EDA), renaming the existing New Jersey Green Bank (created in 2024). It directs the bank to provide financing, loan guarantees, and other financial support for eligible environmental projects - including renewable energy facilities, energy efficiency upgrades, and electric vehicle infrastructure - primarily targeting municipalities, small businesses, and commercial entities (not direct residential lending). The bank must operate with a separate board of directors (with majority independence from the EDA) and maintain distinct financial records to ensure operational independence. The measure aims to leverage public funds to attract private investment in clean energy projects across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3013 imposes a $0.40 monthly fee per mobile line on residents using commercial mobile or IP-enabled voice services (excluding Lifeline program participants). Telecom companies collect this fee from customers and remit it quarterly to a new "9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account" in the state Treasury. Funds in the account will finance specific crisis services including 9-8-8 call center operations, mobile crisis response teams, crisis stabilization centers, and public awareness campaigns. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund usage and requires the Legislature to review fee adjustments based on service needs.

Maddy summaryBill S 3189 establishes a new Division of Energy Resource and Development within the Department of the Treasury to centralize energy policy work. It transfers specific responsibilities from the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), including energy efficiency programs, clean energy initiatives, electric vehicle incentives, and energy generation planning, to this new division. The division will be led by a Governor-appointed Director tasked with managing the transition and overseeing operations. Its key duties include advancing New Jersey's clean energy goals, supporting state emissions reduction targets, and developing energy crisis response strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission, a 15-member body composed of student representatives from all types of New Jersey colleges and universities (including public, independent, county, and proprietary institutions). The commission advises the state education secretary on student concerns and annually reports to the legislature on student perspectives, experiences, and potential policy recommendations. It creates a formal channel for student input into higher education decisions, with members appointed based on institutional representation and geographic balance. The commission does not create new policies but provides structured student feedback to state education officials and lawmakers.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1228) requires public schools to create emergency policies for students with seizure disorders. It mandates schools to train at least two non-nurse staff members (in addition to the school nurse) to administer nasal seizure rescue medication and use a manual vagus nerve stimulator during emergencies, with parental consent and written documentation. Schools must also develop individualized emergency plans in collaboration with parents and healthcare providers, and ensure students receive hospital evaluation after treatment. The bill protects school staff from liability for good-faith actions under these protocols, provided they follow training and consent requirements. The bill was introduced to the Senate Education Committee in January 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2182) would have permitted wineries holding specific licenses to sell their products by the glass for on-premise consumption in licensed salesrooms, expanding their direct-to-consumer sales options. It directly affected wineries operating under certain Class A or similar licenses that previously could not sell wine by the glass in their salesroom locations. The key provision amended existing license rules (R.S.33:1-10) to allow this type of sale, aligning winery sales rules more closely with those for breweries. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was superseded by the already-enacted P.L.2025, c.376.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Bear Smart Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to finance the distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. The fund will be supported by civil penalties from existing bear-feeding violations, state/federal appropriations, and investment earnings. The DEP will prioritize distributing these cans in counties with high bear populations - Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Passaic - to reduce human-bear conflicts, potentially charging residents a small fee or partnering with local governments for cost efficiency. The bill also updates the state's bear-feeding law to clarify prohibited actions (like leaving food accessible to bears) and directs penalty collections into the new fund.