Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to set the maximum hourly rate for self-directed employees equal to the rate paid to contracted service providers for identical services, duration, and care level. It directly affects individuals receiving developmental disability services who hire their own direct support workers (self-directed employees) and the workers themselves. Currently, self-directed employees typically earn $20-$25/hour for high-acuity community support, while service providers receive $51/hour; this bill would raise the self-directed maximum to $51/hour. The change ensures parity without altering how individuals budget for their services.

Maddy summaryS 1584 reforms New Jersey Transit (NJT) governance to increase transparency and accountability. It establishes an Office of Customer Advocate to represent riders, requires NJT's 13-member board to include specific public member qualifications (e.g., transit riders or transportation experts), and mandates detailed reporting on capital projects. The bill also ensures board independence from the Department of Transportation and adds non-voting labor representatives to the board. These changes directly affect NJT's operations, board composition, and how it engages with riders and employees.

Maddy summaryS 1055 establishes a grant program administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to provide financial support for advertising and marketing expenses. It directly affects New Jersey emerging businesses - defined as companies with fewer than 225 employees (75% based in New Jersey) that operate, employ, or maintain property in the state. The program requires businesses to apply through the NJEDA, with grants limited to advertising/marketing costs only, and mandates annual financial reports to ensure proper use. If funds are misused, the grant converts to a repayable loan. The bill is pending in the Senate Economic Growth Committee after introduction on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the required deposit for specific buyers at sheriff's property sales from 20% to 3.5% for: - Homeowners facing foreclosure, - Their next of kin, - Tenants in the property, - Nonprofit community development corporations, or - Buyers who will occupy the property as their primary residence for at least 84 months. It directly affects low-income homeowners and community organizations seeking to retain homes during foreclosure. The key mechanism lowers financial barriers to purchasing properties at sheriff's sales, while prohibiting pre-sale contact between lenders and potential buyers to protect vulnerable parties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1601) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to consider potential impacts on natural resources - including wildlife, fish, habitats, plants, and historic sites - when classifying dams by hazard potential. Currently, dam classifications focus only on potential loss of life and property damage; this bill adds natural resource impacts as a mandatory factor. The DEP must update its classification system under the Safe Dam Act to include these environmental considerations. This change directly affects dam owners who must comply with updated inspection reporting requirements tied to the new classification criteria.

Maddy summaryS 1593, the "New Jersey Town Center Microgrid Pilot Program Act," creates a program allowing eligible municipalities (called "pilot agencies") to partner with developers to build microgrids that power critical facilities like hospitals or emergency centers during outages. It establishes a 20-year framework for power purchase agreements between pilot agencies and developers, with approvals required from the Board of Public Utilities and the Division of Local Government Services. The bill authorizes a special "microgrid tariff" to streamline project development and permits limited waivers of certain local laws if public need is demonstrated. This pilot program directly affects communities participating in the Board's feasibility study, aiming to boost energy resilience at essential local facilities.

Maddy summaryS 2213 establishes a Broadband Assistance Office within New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) to address inequitable broadband access. The office will review and approve projects deploying high-speed wired internet (fiber optic or similar) to rural areas and disadvantaged households, while providing financing for these initiatives. It sets specific speed goals: 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload by 2025, and 100 Mbps/100 Mbps by 2029. The bill directly affects low-income residents, rural communities, and small businesses lacking reliable internet access, aiming to reduce the digital divide exposed during the pandemic. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and referred to the Economic Growth Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows healthcare professionals located outside New Jersey to provide telemedicine services to patients in New Jersey, updating existing telemedicine law. It directly affects out-of-state healthcare providers seeking to serve NJ patients and NJ patients accessing remote care. Key provisions require out-of-state providers to hold valid NJ licenses, follow NJ's standard of care, use real-time communication for most services (with limited exceptions for store-and-forward technology), and maintain records. The bill also specifies that prescriptions for Schedule II controlled substances generally require initial in-person exams, with a specific exception for minors when using video and parental consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1578) raises the income limit for New Jersey's Medicare Savings Programs to 133 1/3% of the state's payment level for families with dependent children and removes the asset test entirely. It directly affects low-income seniors (65+), disabled residents, pregnant women, and children under 21 who qualify as "medically needy" but previously faced asset restrictions. The key change eliminates the requirement that applicants must meet specific resource limits (like savings or property value) to receive help covering Medicare costs. The bill also includes funding to support these expanded eligibility changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agency forms used for public services to include optional questions about sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, similar to how other demographic data like race is collected. Forms must clearly state that providing this information is voluntary and won't affect service access, pose questions in a sensitive manner that allows non-binary options, and follow best practices recognized by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Individuals (or their parents/guardians for minors) retain full control over disclosing this information, and state agencies must document federal requirements before complying with any federal mandates that require such data collection.