Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3114, the "Law Enforcement Officer Protection Act," requires police officers and other law enforcement personnel to reveal their faces and show official identification before detaining or arresting someone during public interactions. Officers must wear non-concealing uniforms, display a photo ID card, show a numbered badge, or verbally state their name and agency. Exceptions include undercover work, medical masks (with physician approval), smoke protection during emergencies, or when safety or an investigation is at risk. The law applies to all state, county, and municipal officers and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new New Jersey program to improve lung cancer screening awareness and access for first responders and veterans. The Department of Health will coordinate outreach and referrals to help these high-risk groups learn about and access low-dose computed tomography screening, which is recommended for adults aged 50 to 80 with significant smoking histories. The program will work with existing public and private coverage options to remove barriers to screening for these populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the New Jersey Division of Taxation to share specific tax data with the New Jersey Innovation Authority and the New Jersey Secure Choice Savings Board. It modifies existing tax confidentiality laws to create an exception that permits these two agencies to receive taxpayer information for their respective administrative purposes. The legislation directly affects state tax officials, the Innovation Authority, and the Secure Choice Savings Board by expanding who can access certain tax records. The bill does not change how tax data is generally protected but adds authorized recipients to the list of entities that may receive it under official duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3521) codifies New Jersey's Attorney General's "Strengthening Trust Between Law Enforcement and Immigrant Communities" directive into law. It prohibits state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers from stopping, questioning, arresting, or detaining individuals based solely on immigration status or federal immigration violations. The law also bans officers from asking about immigration status (except when directly relevant to investigating a specific crime) or sharing personal data like Social Security numbers, license details, or addresses with federal immigration authorities for enforcement purposes. The bill explicitly affirms that law enforcement must focus on state criminal law enforcement, not federal immigration enforcement, to maintain community trust and public safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey government entities and healthcare facilities from collecting or sharing certain personal information, including immigration status, citizenship, birthplace, Social Security numbers, and tax IDs, except when necessary to provide public services or benefits. It prevents these entities from disclosing such information publicly, except under specific legal circumstances like court orders, subpoenas, or when required for election eligibility. The bill also specifically restricts the sale or sharing of automated license plate recognition data collected by government agencies. These provisions aim to limit unnecessary data collection and protect individuals seeking public services or healthcare.

Maddy summaryS 593 requires New Jersey county clerks to automatically mail a mail-in ballot application to every registered voter who is 17 years old upon their 18th birthday. This directly affects 17-year-old registered voters who will turn 18 before the next general election. The bill mandates that counties send these applications without voter action, and the state will reimburse counties for mailing costs up to the standard rate for a two-ounce first-class letter. The policy aims to simplify mail-in ballot access for newly eligible voters at age 18.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1583 requires free cancer screenings every three years for volunteer firefighters through the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) network. The screenings cover 11 specific cancers (including colon, lung, prostate, and breast) with no out-of-pocket costs for firefighters. Physicians providing these screenings can be reimbursed up to $1,250 per three-year period by the state, and fire districts must maintain records to facilitate payment. This extends an existing benefit for paid firefighters to volunteer firefighters, who previously did not have guaranteed access to such screenings.

Maddy summaryS 585, "The Voter Convenience Act," allows voters in New Jersey municipalities to cast ballots at any polling place within their town or city on election day, rather than being restricted to their assigned polling location. The bill requires county election officials to create uniform guidelines enabling this system, using existing electronic poll books to verify voter eligibility and provide the correct ballot for their district. It amends election statutes to update sample ballots with websites listing all available polling places in the municipality. This change directly affects all registered voters in New Jersey municipalities by increasing voting location flexibility on election day.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Jersey Legislature to annually appropriate $9.6 million from the State General Fund to the Trust Fund for the Support of Public Broadcasting, beginning in Fiscal Year 2026. The funding is intended to support public broadcasting operations in New Jersey, which are currently managed by Public Media NJ, Inc. The appropriation replaces interest income that would have been generated if earlier asset sale proceeds had been deposited in the trust fund as originally planned. This measure ensures continued financial support for public television and radio programming without altering the operational structure of the public broadcasting system.

Maddy summaryS 680 requires new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities in New Jersey to use electricity exclusively from new renewable energy sources or newly constructed nuclear power. Applicants must submit an energy usage plan to the Board of Public Utilities detailing how they will minimize energy use for cooling, optimize water sourcing, and improve building efficiency. The bill aims to prevent these facilities from increasing strain on the state's power grid and raising electricity costs for ratepayers. All electricity must be derived from new clean sources as measured hourly, with no net decrease in verifiable clean energy on the grid.