Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all scrap metal businesses in New Jersey to implement specific safety measures. Businesses must conduct quarterly audits to ensure prohibited items are not stored on-site and must reduce fire risks by hiring trained fire suppression personnel or contracting with trained individuals. Additionally, businesses must install and maintain remotely operable on-site fire suppression systems, with a 5-year implementation deadline (starting 6 months after enactment). The law updates existing scrap metal regulations under P.L.2009, c.8, focusing on preventing fires and ensuring proper recordkeeping.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $0.40 monthly fee per mobile line on New Jersey residents using commercial mobile or IP-enabled voice services, excluding Lifeline program users. Telecom companies collect the fee from customers and remit it quarterly to a new "9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account" in the state treasury. Funds in this account will be used to support the 9-8-8 crisis system, including routing calls/texts, providing mobile crisis response teams and stabilization services, and funding public awareness campaigns. The fee applies to all standard mobile subscribers but does not affect federal Lifeline participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the FY2026 state budget for New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) by $16.7 million to raise the monthly reimbursement rate paid to care management organizations (CMOs). The rate will increase from $1,032 to $1,200 per client in FY2026, with annual $100 increases until reaching $1,500 per client. CMOs, which coordinate care for youth with complex behavioral health needs, substance use disorders, or developmental disabilities, directly benefit from this funding change. The adjustment is implemented through a specific line item in the state's annual appropriations act.

Maddy summaryS 4702 establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey for testing fully autonomous vehicles, requiring authorized testers (including manufacturers, fleet providers, and institutions) to operate these vehicles under strict safety conditions. The program mandates vehicles have redundant safety systems, data recording for collisions, pedestrian alerts, and visible markers, while operators must be trained, licensed, and capable of manual control. Testers must carry $5 million in insurance, report collisions within 48 hours, and comply with cybersecurity and speed standards, with oversight from a task force including safety officials and consumer advocates. After the pilot, a report will evaluate the program and recommend future integration of autonomous vehicles on state roads.

Maddy summaryS 4743 permits jointure commissions to provide school transportation services using buses they own or lease to local school districts without requiring public bidding. Currently, such services to non-member school districts must follow public bidding rules, but this bill removes that requirement. The change applies to all school districts served by a jointure commission when using their own or leased buses. This aims to streamline transportation contracting and improve cost-effectiveness for these public entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum number of children a registered family day care provider can care for from five to ten at one time. It directly affects family day care providers operating from their homes, allowing them to serve more children without relocating to a licensed center. The bill requires providers caring for more than five children to meet all health and safety standards and have at least one additional trained person present during care. It also directs the use of federal child care funds to provide required training for these providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects 50% of revenue from two specific taxes on high-value real estate transactions to New Jersey's Affordable Housing Trust Fund. It affects sellers of residential, commercial, or farm property (or controlling interests in commercial entities) transferring property valued over $1 million, who currently pay additional fees and taxes. Under the bill, 50% of the revenue from these taxes - currently deposited into the General Fund - would instead fund affordable housing programs through the Trust Fund, as specified in existing law. The policy change requires the state to annually allocate this portion to housing initiatives without altering the tax rates or thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to offer at least one plant-based meal during regular lunch service each school day. Students (or their parents/guardians) must submit written notice to elect plant-based meals, and schools have 30 days to adjust meal quantities to accommodate all electing students. The plant-based meals must meet USDA nutritional standards, and schools must annually report to the State Department of Agriculture and Education about implementation, including meal types offered and challenges encountered. The bill takes effect at the start of the first full school year after enactment, with schools allowed to prepare in advance.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers authority for inspecting on-farm dairy processing operations from the Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture. It requires the Department of Agriculture to collaborate with the Department of Health and local health boards when conducting these inspections. The bill mandates the Agriculture Secretary to create necessary rules to implement this change, with no new requirements for dairy processors beyond the existing inspection framework. The transfer takes effect immediately upon enactment.

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.