Sen. Bob Smith

Maddy summaryS 3559 clarifies that redevelopment projects approved under New Jersey's Aspire Program before July 6, 2023, will not have their tax credit awards prorated (reduced for partial years) during the project's eligibility period. This specifically affects projects previously subject to proration under the November 5, 2021 regulations but now aligns with current regulations that eliminate this requirement. The bill applies retroactively to all eligible projects already approved, ensuring they receive the full tax credit amount annually without reduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to specifically include Sikhism as a protected class, alongside existing categories like race, religion, and sexual orientation. It requires law enforcement to properly classify anti-Sikh hate crimes and provides $100,000 annually for three years to fund Sikh awareness education and outreach initiatives. The bill mandates training for law enforcement on Sikh identity features (such as turbans and beards) to prevent misclassification of hate incidents. It also requires public entities to incorporate anti-Sikh hate definitions into their bias policies and directs the Attorney General to develop educational programs about Sikhism for schools. These measures address the fact that Sikhs are the second-most targeted religious group for hate crimes in the U.S., with 198 anti-Sikh hate incidents reported by the FBI in 2023.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 99, introduced by Senators Bob Smith and Linda Greenstein, urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish drinking water standards for microplastics and nanoplastics. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests the EPA adopt standards similar to its recent PFAS chemical regulations, noting the agency has not addressed these plastic particles despite a 2019 petition by over 280 environmental groups. It highlights that microplastics (tiny plastic particles under 5mm) and nanoplastics (even smaller particles under 1 micrometer) are increasingly found in water, food, and air, with potential health impacts like inflammation and cellular damage. The resolution is transmitted to the EPA Administrator and New Jersey’s environmental agency as a legislative expression of concern.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 226 restricts shipping box sizes for large online retailers (annual sales ≥ $1 million) and major retailers (75,000+ sq ft, 50+ employees). It prohibits using boxes larger than twice the volume of the shipped product, with exceptions for consumer electronics (like computers or TVs) and minimum size requirements set by the USPS or carriers. Violations incur civil penalties of $250-$500 per offense, enforced through courts or the Department of Environmental Protection. The law aims to reduce excess packaging waste by targeting specific large-scale retailers, not all businesses.

Maddy summarySCR 110 is a legislative approval of the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank’s proposed Fiscal Year 2025 Financial Plan. The bill formally approves the bank’s plan to finance eligible environmental projects, including clean water systems, drinking water infrastructure, stormwater management, and pollution control initiatives. This approval is required by law (under statutes P.L.1985, c.334 and P.L.1997, c.224) after the bank submitted its plan by the May 15, 2024 deadline. The resolution does not create new policies or funding but authorizes the bank to implement its existing financing strategy for approved projects.

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.

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 summaryNew Jersey's S 217 bans the sale and use of gas-powered leaf blowers with two-stroke engines starting one year after enactment, and restricts four-stroke models in residential areas after four years (allowing limited non-residential use March-May and October-December). It directly affects homeowners, landscapers, and businesses using leaf blowers, while providing a 50% tax credit (up to 50% of purchase cost) for electric replacements over five years. Key provisions include phased bans, civil penalties for violations ($25-$1,000), and a tax credit requiring proof of replacing a gas model. The bill aims to reduce emissions and noise while incentivizing electric equipment adoption through financial support.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S3464 requires electric utilities to replace certain existing power line wires with "advanced conductors" that have at least 10% lower electrical resistance than current wires. Utilities must assess their systems within one year and propose upgrade locations to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), prioritizing cost-effective projects during routine maintenance or standalone replacements. Utilities may seek approval to include upgrade costs in customer rates, with the BPU establishing criteria to determine "reasonable costs" based on benefits like reduced energy loss. This bill directly affects electric utilities operating in New Jersey and their ratepayers, mandating specific infrastructure upgrades without altering environmental or consumer protections.

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.