Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1443 provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for homeowners directly impacted by Hurricane Ida's 2021 remnants. It requires mortgage servicers to grant a one-year forbearance (temporary payment pause) to eligible homeowners who received federal disaster assistance for Ida-related home damage, meet income limits (under 150% of area median income), and have limited savings. During this period, servicers cannot charge fees, penalties, or report missed payments to credit agencies, and must halt foreclosure actions. The law aims to prevent displacement for thousands of affected homeowners while ensuring temporary financial relief.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's Reproductive Health Care Professional Loan Redemption Program, appropriating $5 million to reduce student debt for licensed providers. It directly affects New Jersey residents who are reproductive health care professionals (including abortion providers) working at approved sites like clinics or hospitals. Under the program, participants can have up to 18%-28% of their qualifying student loans redeemed per year of service (capping at $200,000 total), with preference given to those working in counties lacking abortion providers. The program requires a 1-4 year service commitment at an approved site in exchange for loan repayment, excluding those already in federal or state loan repayment programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies the authority of physician assistants, certified nurse midwives, certified midwives, and advanced practice nurses to provide both aspiration and medication abortions within their scope of practice. It clarifies that abortion facilities performing procedures not requiring general anesthesia or operating rooms (such as early aspiration abortions) are not required to be licensed as ambulatory surgical facilities. The bill ensures these facilities won't be subject to certain licensing restrictions that apply to ambulatory care facilities, as long as they follow standard care regulations. This aims to increase access to abortion services by expanding the pool of qualified providers and reducing unnecessary facility requirements.

Maddy summaryS 3491 establishes legal protections for patients and healthcare providers accessing or providing reproductive health care (including abortion) and gender-affirming health care services in New Jersey. The bill defines "legally protected health care activity" as services lawful in New Jersey, regardless of where the patient resides, and creates criminal penalties for interfering with access to these services (such as obstructing facilities, intimidating patients, or recording individuals without consent). It also prohibits New Jersey from extraditing people for providing or seeking these services, protects patient privacy regarding these services, and specifies that fertilized eggs, embryos, or fetuses cannot have independent legal rights under New Jersey law. The bill applies to all individuals seeking or providing these services within New Jersey, including those traveling from states with restrictions on reproductive or gender-affirming care.

Maddy summaryS 3480 permits New Jersey municipalities to adopt storm water management standards for residential developments that exceed the statewide minimum requirements. The bill amends current law to clarify that local governments can set stricter rules - such as enhanced drainage or pollution controls - for new home construction without conflicting with state regulations. This change does not alter the baseline statewide standards but gives communities the authority to implement higher requirements for residential projects. It directly affects developers and property owners in municipalities that choose to adopt these more rigorous storm water management rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program for building electrification and decarbonization. It mandates electric utilities to develop and implement multi-year plans converting fossil fuel systems (like gas heating and cooking) to efficient electric alternatives, such as heat pumps and induction stoves, while meeting specific greenhouse gas reduction targets. Plans must be cost-effective from a societal perspective, considering environmental benefits like reduced methane emissions. The program aims to lower emissions and energy costs through utility-led initiatives, with the BPU setting targets and performance incentives.

Maddy summarySCR 81 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. The deduction would rise to $1,000 in 2025, $1,500 in 2026, $2,000 in 2027, and $2,500 starting in 2028, remaining at that level annually thereafter. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses (who qualify after the veteran's death). The amendment would adjust the existing tax benefit without altering other eligibility rules or requiring new administrative processes.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3397 provides a tax credit to employers who hire qualified workers with disabilities. Employers can claim a 15% credit on wages paid to these employees (capped at $2,000 per employee annually), provided the worker has a disability recognized under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, works at least 35 hours weekly, and earns $15+ per hour. To qualify, employers must submit an application to the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services for certification, which must be approved within 90 days or deemed automatic. The credit excludes independent contractors and cannot reduce tax liability below zero, with unused credits potentially carried forward for up to seven years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appropriate at least $10 million annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding, starting July after the bill takes effect. It directly affects local health departments across the state, which lost this dedicated, unrestricted funding when it was eliminated in 2011 (previously accounting for about 15% of their budget). The funding must be spent as outlined in the existing "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977," restoring a flexible resource for local health needs. Currently, local health departments rely on fragmented funding sources like property taxes and purpose-limited grants, which this bill aims to supplement.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 1032 requires the Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Children’s Services (DCS) to study workforce conditions for service providers in mental health, substance use disorder, and developmental disability programs, as well as child welfare services. It mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for these providers based on the Consumer Price Index, effective October 1 each year. The studies must examine workforce vacancy rates, demographics, geographic distribution, care needs, and future supply-demand gaps. DHS and DCS must report findings and COLA evaluations to the Governor and Legislature annually, with public access to reports online. The bill directly affects contracted service providers delivering Medicaid-funded care in these sectors.