Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 205 directs the Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell, the Office of Information Technology, and the New Jersey Big Data Alliance to create a strategic plan for the state's digital infrastructure. The plan must assess current systems - including data centers, networks, and computing resources - and develop a roadmap featuring a shared data cloud for open data access, a high-speed network, and workforce training strategies. It aims to improve public and private digital infrastructure to support economic growth, public-private partnerships, and cybersecurity protections. The plan will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within one year of the bill's effective date, affecting state agencies, academic institutions like Rutgers and Princeton, and future tech-driven economic initiatives.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 256 requires electric utilities to submit new tariffs for commercial electric vehicle (EV) charging stations to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) within 180 days. The tariffs must avoid traditional demand charges, ensure cost fairness between commercial and residential EV rates, and encourage investment in charging infrastructure for all vehicle types. The bill prohibits utilities from charging demand fees on DC fast charging stations until the BPU approves these new tariffs, starting 60 days after enactment. This directly affects electric utilities and operators of commercial EV charging networks across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryS 998 establishes the New Jersey Water Infrastructure Center at a designated higher education institution, appropriating $5 million for its operation. The center will directly affect residents, water utilities, and local governments by researching and addressing challenges like aging infrastructure, lead service lines, affordability, and climate impacts on water systems. Key provisions include creating an online data dashboard for transparent water system performance metrics, funding applied research on affordability and infrastructure solutions, and facilitating stakeholder collaboration through workshops and grants. The bill aims to improve water system efficiency, affordability, and resilience for all New Jersey communities, with a focus on supporting vulnerable populations.
Maddy summaryS 259 directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a program allowing qualified individuals, local governments, nonprofits, or other entities to lease state-owned land for pollinator habitat. The bill requires the DEP, working with the Department of Agriculture, to establish rules identifying suitable land and setting criteria for selecting who can manage these areas. This habitat would specifically support bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds through feeding, nesting, and reproduction. The program would operate under standard state leasing procedures, with rules finalized through the Administrative Procedure Act. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryS 233 establishes the New Jersey Wind Institute for Innovation and Training to support the state's offshore wind industry. The institute, governed by a 9-member board (including agency heads and three gubernatorial appointees with expertise in clean energy and workforce development), will coordinate education, research, and workforce training programs focused on offshore wind. It directly affects New Jersey's clean energy workforce, aiming to help meet the state's goal of 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2035. The institute will prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in developing training pipelines for this emerging industry.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide grants from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to help farmers replace inefficient or polluting agricultural equipment with more efficient, less polluting alternatives. Farmers applying for these grants must demonstrate that their old equipment has been permanently decommissioned. The grants are funded through a specific allocation (60%) of the Global Warming Solutions Fund, which was established under prior law to support greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. The primary goal is to reduce emissions from agricultural operations by modernizing equipment.
Maddy summarySJR 11 designates the first week of May each year as "Composting Awareness Week" in New Jersey. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the week with activities promoting composting. It aims to raise awareness about composting's benefits, including reducing landfill waste (which makes up ~30% of landfill material), conserving water, minimizing chemical fertilizer use, and helping mitigate climate change by retaining carbon in soil. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new regulations or requirements but seeks to foster greater community engagement with composting practices.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires developers of new or reconstructed multi-unit buildings (5+ dwelling units) and certain parking lots/garages to install EV-ready parking spaces. Specifically, for buildings, developers must create 15% Make-Ready parking spaces (with EV charging equipment in 1/3 immediately, another 1/3 within 3 years, and the final 1/3 by 6 years), ensuring at least 5% are accessible for people with disabilities. Parking lots with 50+ spaces must install tiered Make-Ready spaces (e.g., 4 spaces for 101-150 spots, 4% for over 150), with 5% accessible. Exceptions apply to low-income housing developments and single-family homes. The bill was introduced but withdrawn on January 9, 2024.
Maddy summaryS 211 requires New Jersey's Division of Rate Counsel to consider environmental impacts when representing the public interest in utility rate and service proceedings. Specifically, it mandates that the Rate Counsel evaluate proposals based on their effects on climate change (including social cost of carbon), alignment with the state's decarbonization goals, and impacts on overburdened communities facing environmental health stressors. This applies to cases involving rate changes, service discontinuations, or utility charges, alongside traditional affordability and equity considerations. The bill directly affects how utility rate cases are reviewed by the state's consumer advocate office.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 250) creates a program for solar energy systems connected to "critical renewable microgrids" - microgrids using renewable energy to support essential services during power outages. It requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to designate qualifying solar systems as community solar projects, allowing them to earn solar energy credits (SREC-IIs) at discounted rates for low- or moderate-income customers. Key provisions include: solar systems must serve at least 75% of low-income customers at 20% below standard rates, may exceed typical 5MW size limits, and face annual capacity caps (100MW total). The Office of Homeland Security must also designate qualifying microgrids as "assets of importance" to exempt their solar incentives from cost caps. The program applies to new solar projects on critical microgrids, directly benefiting low-income communities and microgrid operators.