Sen. Patrick Diegnan

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4126 prohibits all commercial uses of trichloroethylene (TCE) and bans both consumer and commercial uses of perchloroethylene (PCE), while requiring facilities using PCE to protect workers from exposure. The bill directly affects businesses in dry cleaning, industrial cleaning, adhesives, and manufacturing that currently use these chemicals. It mandates the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules matching federal EPA regulations from December 2024, which address health risks like cancer and organ damage linked to PCE and TCE exposure. The law takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for time spent in military service academies (such as West Point or the Naval Academy), in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or as a class two special law enforcement officer before joining the police force. It amends existing law to permit purchasing credit for these specific service periods by paying into the retirement system's annuity savings fund, with options for installment payments over up to 10 years. The bill specifies that credit purchased for military academy enrollment, police academy training, or special law enforcement officer employment will be treated the same as actual police service for retirement benefit calculations. This applies to current and future SPRS members who want to count these pre-service periods toward their retirement eligibility and benefits.

Maddy summaryBill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.

Maddy summaryS 2236 exempts nursing mothers of children one year old or younger from jury duty in New Jersey. This change adds to existing hardship exemptions under N.J.S.2B:20-10(c)(3)(b), allowing mothers who are nursing or expressing milk to claim exemption without needing to prove additional financial or medical hardship. The policy directly affects nursing mothers summoned for jury service during their infant's first year. The law took effect immediately upon approval (P.L.2025, c.43) and applies to all jury summonses issued after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the municipalities of Edison, Metuchen, and South Plainfield - each of which appoints members to the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission - to appoint one alternate member per municipality. The alternate serves a five-year term and may participate in commission meetings but can only vote when a regular member is absent or unable to serve. The bill does not alter the commission’s structure, duties, or membership size, but ensures continuity by mandating alternates for regular appointments. This applies specifically to the commission overseeing wildlife preservation in the designated area of Middlesex County.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects leftover funds from New Jersey's 1989 Bridge Rehabilitation Bond Act to the Department of Transportation for immediate bridge repairs. It specifically allocates unspent money for emergency repairs on bridges carrying state highways (Section 1) and county/municipal roads (Section 2), with funds for local roads redistributing to counties after two years if unspent. The bill does not create new funding but realigns existing resources to address urgent bridge maintenance needs across the state.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires each municipal appointing authority (Edison Township, Metuchen Borough, and South Plainfield Borough) to appoint one alternate member for the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission. The alternate serves a five-year term, may participate in commission discussions, but can only vote if a regular member is absent or disabled. The bill does not change the commission's structure or duties, only adding this procedural requirement for continuity. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as required.)

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the time teachers can return to service under New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) after leaving their positions. Specifically, it increases the window from 10 to 15 years for teachers who were laid off or had 10 or more years of continuous service when they voluntarily terminated. The change applies to those who haven't withdrawn their retirement contributions and wish to resume membership. This adjustment allows eligible teachers more time to return to teaching roles without losing pension eligibility. The policy directly affects public school teachers in New Jersey who leave employment under these specific circumstances.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for specific prior service. It permits purchasing credit for time enrolled in military service academies (like West Point or Annapolis), time in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or employment as a "class two special law enforcement officer" before joining the police force. Members can pay for this credit through installments (at least half the normal contribution) over up to 10 years, with the credit counting equally toward retirement benefits as actual police service. The bill specifically requires that the break between such prior service and joining SPRS must be less than 365 days for the credit purchase to be eligible.