Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryS 1636 requires every New Jersey county to provide at least one drive-up ballot drop box (designed with accessible features like turning radius and curb cuts) available 24/7. County election boards must establish a minimum of 10 ballot drop boxes total, including locations at county government buildings, municipalities over 5,000 residents, and college campuses with over 5,000 students. The bill mandates ADA-compliant sites with security cameras, prohibits political displays within 100 feet, and requires all locations to be accessible. This directly affects county election boards’ operations and expands voter access to secure ballot drop options.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" with "noncitizen" and "undocumented noncitizen" throughout New Jersey state statutes and prohibits executive branch agencies from using the outdated terms. It directly affects all state laws and agency communications that currently reference these terms, including inheritance, estate, and lottery prize assignment provisions. The key mechanism is a straightforward language update to modernize terminology in existing statutes without creating new policies or requirements. The bill focuses solely on terminology, not on changing rights or responsibilities for noncitizens.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1296 amends the state's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" to explicitly include fusion energy as a qualifying Class I renewable energy source. This change directly affects electric utilities and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, as it allows fusion power generation to count toward renewable energy requirements under existing law. The bill updates the legal definition of "Class I renewable energies" without altering other provisions or creating new programs. It does not change current incentives but ensures fusion projects can be recognized under the state's renewable energy framework. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2531) prohibits employment contracts from including non-disclosure or non-disparagement clauses that prevent employees from discussing claims of discrimination, retaliation, or harassment. It makes such clauses unenforceable and requires settlement agreements resolving these claims to include a clear notice stating employees can publicly share details identifying the employer. The law applies broadly to all employees but allows collective bargaining agreements to include mediation or arbitration for these claims if they comply with existing rules. It codifies a 2024 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling that such clauses violate public policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for certain elderly inmates to seek early release based on long-term incarceration and rehabilitation. It allows individuals who have served at least 20 years (or 30 years for murder convictions) and are age 60 (or 62 for murder) to receive a Certificate of Eligibility for Rehabilitative Release. Courts must then consider factors like public safety, demonstrated rehabilitation, victim input, and reentry planning before potentially modifying sentences. If approved, inmates face a 5-year parole supervision term and must address victim notification requirements during the process.

Maddy summaryS 171 adds two student representatives to Rutgers University's board of governors. These representatives must be full-time, enrolled students in good academic standing, aged 18+ and U.S. citizens, elected by Rutgers students to serve two-year terms. The bill requires the board to hold a public hearing within 90 days of enactment to decide whether students elect representatives directly or through student government, with the first election featuring one voting member (1-year term) and one alternate (2-year term). Subsequent elections will follow the same two-year structure, with students serving as alternates in the first year and voting members in the second.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to create a website connecting eligible innovation-focused businesses and organizations with suppliers and funding. The website will let eligible entities - such as tech companies, research facilities, medical institutions, and nonprofits in industries like biotechnology, renewable energy, and advanced computing - post needs (e.g., equipment, labor, or physical space) and find matching suppliers or services. It also mandates the EDA to include a searchable list of public and private funding sources, including state/federal grants, directly on the platform. The website must be developed with input from these eligible entities and become operational immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in New Jersey to obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) before starting new transmission lines or modifying existing ones. It directly affects electric public utilities that transmit electricity within the state, excluding projects already approved by PJM Interconnection. Utilities must submit applications with required information and pay a fee, and the BPU must review them within 150 days (extendable by 75 days) to ensure projects are necessary, cost-effective, and financially feasible for customers. The BPU will then issue an order authorizing construction and setting completion timelines.

Maddy summaryS 2063, the "Political Donation Transparency Act," prohibits candidates, political committees, and related entities from automatically enrolling donors in recurring political contributions without explicit consent. It requires that any recurring contribution must: (1) not be the default option, (2) require the donor’s explicit agreement, and (3) clearly disclose the contribution’s frequency, amount, and nature. Violations are classified as a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The bill directly affects all political fundraising operations in New Jersey and empowers the Election Law Enforcement Commission to create implementing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county prosecutors to collect and report specific data about firearm-related incidents where no one suffered bodily injury. Prosecutors must provide details like incident location, date, charges filed, and whether the firearm use was lawful, regardless of case outcome. They must submit this data quarterly for three years to the Attorney General, who will compile and publish a public report online after the reporting period ends. The bill directly affects county prosecutors and the Attorney General’s office, focusing on gathering standardized data on non-injury firearm incidents.