Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis bill increases tax credits for New Jersey investors who fund emerging technology businesses. It raises the standard credit rate from 20% to 30% of qualified investments, and boosts the higher rate from 25% to 35% for investments in businesses located in opportunity zones, low-income communities, or certified minority/women-owned businesses, or in venture funds committing 50% of funds to diverse entrepreneurs. The bill also sets a $500,000 annual cap per investment and a $35 million yearly limit for all credits combined. These changes directly affect individual and corporate taxpayers making qualifying investments in New Jersey's tech sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a comprehensive study within 30 days of enactment on the feasibility of wave and tidal energy. The study must evaluate environmental, economic, and grid impacts, explore credit programs like WRECs (similar to solar credits), and identify project approval criteria. Within three months, the BPU and DEP must submit a report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to advance ocean energy development. The bill directly affects New Jersey's clean energy planning, aiming to position the state as a national leader in ocean energy while supporting its 2050 clean energy goals. It does not mandate immediate implementation but sets the foundation for future policy.

Maddy summaryS 154 creates the New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission, composed of 15 student members representing all higher education sectors in the state - including public colleges, research universities, county colleges, independent institutions, and proprietary schools. Students apply through the Secretary of Higher Education, with appointments requiring leadership experience and institutional recommendations. The commission advises the Secretary on student concerns and annually reports to the legislative Higher Education Committees, including recommendations for potential policy changes. It directly affects students across New Jersey’s higher education system by providing a formal channel for their input on education policies.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2249) prohibits disqualifying citizens from jury service based on gender identity or sexual orientation, adding these to existing protections against discrimination for race, sex, or other factors. It also creates a process for challenging when a lawyer uses a peremptory challenge (a removal without stating a reason) to exclude a juror based on these protected characteristics. If a party alleges discrimination, the court must evaluate whether the challenge was based on a valid, neutral reason or was a pretext. Violations could result in civil penalties or criminal charges (treated as a fourth-degree crime with fines up to $10,000). The law directly affects potential jurors, court staff, and attorneys during jury selection.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates and permanently preserves the 21.5-acre Caven Point Peninsula within Liberty State Park in Jersey City as natural habitat. It specifically protects the peninsula’s estuarine ecosystem, critical bird breeding grounds, and urban environmental education resource. The legislation overrides conflicting laws to ensure the area - identified on Hudson County tax maps - remains preserved for wildlife and public education. The bill directly affects this specific coastal habitat by prohibiting development or alteration that would disrupt its ecological function.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to promote manufacturing career pathways for students through higher education. It creates a $10 million annual grant program for colleges, universities, and vocational schools to establish or expand manufacturing programs (with 50% of funds going to county colleges, 25% to four-year schools/private colleges, and 25% to vocational districts). The bill also directs a state liaison to assist manufacturing businesses with marketing, referrals to support services, and workforce reskilling initiatives. These provisions directly affect students seeking manufacturing careers, educational institutions developing relevant programs, and manufacturing businesses statewide.

Maddy summaryS 1588 (New Jersey) regulates hiring algorithms to prevent employment discrimination. It requires employers and vendors to conduct annual bias audits of automated hiring tools (like AI screening systems) before sale or use, and to include the audit results at no extra cost. Employers must also notify job applicants within 30 days if such a tool was used to evaluate their application. Violations carry civil penalties up to $1,500 per incident, and the law explicitly states it supplements existing anti-discrimination protections without reducing applicants' rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies and research facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption suitability after testing ends. If deemed suitable, they must offer the animals to animal rescue organizations or private individuals for adoption, following specific procedures. Facilities must report details like animal numbers, assessment results, and adoption outcomes to the Department of Health, with penalties of up to $50,000 for noncompliance. The law directly affects testing facilities, research institutions, and animal rescue organizations, aiming to provide a pathway for animals used in testing to find new homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Work First New Jersey program, which provides cash assistance to low-income residents. It directly affects individuals receiving public assistance by clarifying that enrollment in higher education no longer makes someone ineligible for benefits. Key changes include adding exemptions for people with physical/mental impairments, caretaker responsibilities, or other barriers to work, and specifying that community work assignments cannot be with for-profit employers. The bill also updates definitions of terms like "dependent child" and "income" to align with program requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to track and publicly report all natural disaster-related spending by state and local governments. It mandates that DCA categorize spending into four clear types: preparedness (pre-event planning), mitigation (reducing future damage), response (immediate emergency actions), and recovery (restoring communities). Local governments, school districts, and counties must include this spending data in their annual budget summaries, which DCA will compile into an annual plain-language report on the state website for public access. The bill ensures transparency by requiring clear categorization, funding source details, and annual updates, without adding new spending or changing existing disaster funding rules.