Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis bill allows current or future members of New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to purchase up to one year of service credit for time spent as an Eagleton Science and Politics Fellow at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics. Members must pay contributions calculated using their salary at the time or the highest prior compensation, either as a lump sum or monthly payments. To qualify, members must submit a signed statement from the Eagleton Institute Director verifying their fellowship service and cannot have already earned retirement benefits from another system based on that service. The bill does not require employers to pay these contributions, which are the member's sole responsibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance after Hurricane Ida damaged their primary residence in September 2021. It requires mortgage servicers to grant a one-year payment pause (forbearance) without fees, penalties, or credit reporting, retroactive to payments missed since September 1, 2021. Homeowners must meet income limits (≤150% of area median income) and asset thresholds (less than six months of income in bank accounts), and submit a written request. The relief ends either after one year or July 1, 2024, whichever comes first, and does not apply to federally-backed loans like FHA or VA mortgages.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises financing rules for school facilities projects in New Jersey's non-SDA school districts (regular operating districts). It modifies two key provisions: for projects built via county improvement authorities, it removes requirements for nominal leases to districts and mandates lease payments to cover all debt service after state aid is applied; for bonds issued without voter approval, it ensures municipal payments (in lieu of taxes) cover only the debt portion not supported by state aid, while confirming such bonds remain eligible for state debt service aid. These changes provide more flexibility in financing while maintaining state aid's role in covering costs. The bill directly affects school districts and municipalities managing school facility funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training Fund reimbursement rules. It allows private agencies training volunteer EMTs (including for EMT-A, EMT-D, and epinephrine auto-injector certification) to be reimbursed directly, prioritizing EMT-A certification first. Volunteer EMTs must work at least one service call monthly for three years to maintain "good standing," or their ambulance squad may have to repay the fund if they stop volunteering. The bill clarifies that reimbursement eligibility doesn't depend on whether the volunteer's squad receives payment for services.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of refined precious metal bullion (like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars) and high-value numismatic coins ($1,000 or more) from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects buyers purchasing these specific investment-grade items, not jewelry or art made from them. The law defines "investment bullion" as unprocessed metals where value depends on metal content, excluding fabricated items like jewelry. It also excludes commemorative medallions and coins used in artistic works from the exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school districts to enter into lease and purchase agreements for electric school buses with terms extending to the vehicles' service life (rather than the current 10-year maximum for fossil fuel buses). It authorizes the New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as a government aggregator to help school districts obtain electric school buses, charging infrastructure, and related maintenance services through competitive contracting. The bill specifically permits competitive contracting for electric school buses, on-site charging infrastructure, and related services, which were not previously explicitly included in the list of allowable specialized procurement. School districts can now use this approach for electric buses while maintaining the existing 10-year limit for fossil fuel buses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover abortion services without cost-sharing (such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance) for all individuals in the state. It applies to all health insurance carriers, state health benefit programs, and Medicaid, with limited exceptions for religious employers who request exclusions based on religious beliefs. The bill also prohibits medical malpractice insurers from taking adverse actions against providers who offer legally protected reproductive health care services, even if the patient is from a state where those services are illegal. It defines "abortion" as medical treatment to terminate a pregnancy (including medication and aspiration methods) and aims to remove financial barriers to access, particularly benefiting low-income individuals and other groups facing disproportionate access challenges.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3421) changes how New Jersey school districts (other than those designated for state aid, or SDA districts) can finance school building projects. It revises rules for districts to partner with county improvement authorities: allowing districts to pay more than nominal rent for facilities built by counties, removing restrictions on counties requiring districts to cover some debt costs, and requiring lease payments to fully cover bond debt after state aid. Districts can also issue bonds without voter approval if municipalities agree to pay a portion of property tax-like payments (in lieu of taxes) to cover bond costs, with these bonds now clearly eligible for state debt aid. The changes aim to streamline financing options for school construction while clarifying payment obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school districts to enter into longer-term contracts for electric school buses, extending lease and purchase terms to match the service life of the vehicles (instead of the current 10-year limit for fossil fuel buses). It specifically authorizes the New Jersey School Boards Association to serve as a government aggregator to help school districts obtain electric school buses and related charging infrastructure through competitive contracting. The bill amends existing school contracting laws to explicitly include electric school buses in the list of specialized equipment where competitive contracting can be used instead of public bidding. This change aims to support school districts in transitioning to electric fleets by making it easier to secure long-term contracts for these vehicles and infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a fellowship program at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics for scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals with PhDs. It requires selecting at least four fellows annually to work one year with New Jersey's Legislature (two positions) or Executive Branch (two positions), providing stipends and benefits. The bill appropriates $360,000 for initial funding and $520,000 yearly starting in 2025 to cover stipends and program administration. It codifies an existing program into law with specific funding and placement requirements.