Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis bill would replace current voting systems with ranked-choice voting for New Jersey's state and federal elections. It directly affects voters in races for Governor, State Senate, General Assembly, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and presidential primaries/elections, requiring them to rank candidates in order of preference. The process counts votes in rounds: if no candidate reaches 50%+1 (for governor/senate/US House) or 33%+1 (for Assembly) in the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated each round until one meets the threshold. Ballots are redistributed based on voters' ranked choices until a winner achieves the required majority.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1188) amends New Jersey's "Extended Employment Act" to modernize support for people with significant disabilities. It revises key definitions - such as replacing "sheltered workshop" with "extended employment" to describe nonprofit-run programs providing work opportunities for individuals with disabilities who cannot compete in the open labor market. The bill updates funding mechanisms to tie annual increases to the CPI-W index (not fixed amounts) and requires contracted providers to submit detailed annual reports on participant outcomes. It directly affects nonprofit service providers administering these programs and people with significant disabilities who qualify for extended employment services. The changes aim to better align program structure with current vocational rehabilitation standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds $500,000 in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Huntington's Disease Grant Program within the Department of Health. The funds will support grants to institutions of higher education, non-profits, and New Jersey-based research organizations for services including pre-symptomatic testing, neurology care, counseling, and disease management. It directly benefits approximately 900-1,200 New Jersey residents living with Huntington's disease and an estimated 7,000 at-risk individuals. The supplemental appropriation increases the program's total FY2023 funding from $200,437 to $700,437. The bill does not change eligibility but expands existing support for medical care and counseling.

Maddy summaryS 1676 requires all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools participating in federal school lunch programs to offer at least one plant-based meal daily during regular lunch service. This applies to schools operating under the National School Lunch Program or similar federal programs, directly affecting students enrolled in those schools. The bill defines a "plant-based meal" as one containing no animal products (meat, dairy, eggs, fish, or poultry) but including plant-based alternatives like vegetables, grains, legumes, or nuts. Schools must ensure this meal meets quality and preparation standards comparable to other lunch options. The requirement applies to daily service throughout the regular school year, not emergency or special meal programs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1667) provides tax credits to businesses that hire and retain neurodiverse employees in qualifying STEM/AI roles. Businesses receive credits of $7,000-$9,000 per full-time employee (increasing with consecutive years of employment) or $4,500 for part-time employees, subject to a $10 million annual cap. To qualify, employees must work in approved STEM/AI fields at minimum wage and be certified as neurodiverse under state guidelines. The credits reduce corporate business tax liability, with unused credits potentially carried forward for up to seven years.

Maddy summaryS 1627 establishes a Veterans State Government Fellowship program at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics. It creates eight annual fellowships for New Jersey veterans who were discharged honorably within the past decade (with pay grade limits), providing them with paid opportunities to learn government processes. Four fellows will work in legislative offices (Senate/Assembly majority and minority offices), while four will be placed in state departments or agencies. The program requires a $600,000 annual state appropriation to Rutgers for administration and stipends, with eligibility and placements managed by the Eagleton Institute director.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey mortgage lenders to provide a disclosure form with each loan application, informing veterans seeking housing loans under the G.I. Bill (Servicemen's Readjustment Act) that counseling services are available. It mandates the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to refer eligible veterans to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) for free mortgage counseling. The counseling must review loan terms, provide G.I. Bill-specific guidance, and include any federally required information. It directly affects veterans in New Jersey applying for G.I. Bill-backed home loans and applies to all residential mortgage lenders originating such loans in the state.

Maddy summarySR 27 is a symbolic Senate resolution recognizing loneliness as a public health crisis in New Jersey. It formally declares that loneliness adversely affects New Jerseyans' health, citing evidence linking it to increased risks of heart disease, stroke, dementia, depression, and premature death (up to 60% higher risk). The resolution directs copies to the Commissioner of Health to prompt action on this issue. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness and encourage community-based solutions to improve social connection.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an existing exception in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, the law permits smoking in areas of casinos with at least 150 slot machines or 10 table games, and in simulcasting facilities with dedicated seating for 50+ patrons. The bill deletes this exception from the statute, meaning smoking would be prohibited in all indoor public areas of these facilities under the general smoke-free law. It directly affects casinos and simulcasting venues that currently operate under the smoking exemption.

Maddy summaryS 1663 requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to appoint an independent audit team each year to oversee post-election audits of voter-verifiable paper records for federal, state, and certain local elections. The bill mandates that audits use statistically rigorous methods (ensuring 99% confidence for statewide races, 90% for others) to verify election results without altering outcomes, covering at least 2% of election districts per county for qualifying races. It prohibits audit team members from having ties to political campaigns, the Secretary's office, or voting system vendors. The bill was withdrawn after being enacted as P.L.2025, c.258, meaning it is no longer active legislation.