Sen. Patrick Diegnan

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes certain military compensation from New Jersey's gross income tax for state residents who serve outside New Jersey for at least six months during a taxable year. It directly affects New Jersey residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces while stationed or deployed outside the state. The key provision amends the tax code to exclude military pay received for out-of-state service, separate from standard military benefits like housing allowances. The exclusion applies immediately to taxable years beginning after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to receive regular cancer and cardiovascular screenings starting three years after employment and every three years thereafter, covering 11 specific cancer types including colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. It establishes a dedicated fund to cover these screening costs by appropriating $20 million from the State General Fund and adding a $10 surcharge to motor vehicle fines. Public employers not participating in the State Health Benefits Program can be reimbursed up to $2,500 per officer every three years for these screenings. The fund is designed to carry over unused funds year to year, ensuring consistent funding for these screenings. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) of the Office of Administrative Law within the Department of State to enroll in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) instead of the current Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). It mandates that ALJs currently enrolled in the DCRP be transferred to the Workers Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days of the bill's effective date, while those already in PERS will be moved into this specific part of the system. The bill also specifies that the unfunded liability for benefits provided by this transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. This change makes PERS enrollment a condition of employment for ALJs, aligning their retirement system with that of Workers' Compensation Judges.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Veterans' Organization Building Grant Program, providing financial assistance to nonprofit veterans' organizations for acquiring, constructing, or improving facilities. Administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), the program offers grants covering costs like building construction, repairs, equipment, and site development. It directly affects qualified veterans' organizations seeking to establish or upgrade physical spaces for their operations. The program is funded through state appropriations, with eligibility determined by the NJEDA based on defined criteria in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2295) amends New Jersey law on reckless vehicular homicide to strengthen penalties for drivers causing death while operating vehicles under the influence (DUI), with a suspended license, or near schools. It mandates a license suspension of 5 years to life for these offenses, requires courts to consider pretrial detention for certain DUI-related cases, and allows vehicle forfeiture unless hardship is proven. The law also increases penalties to a first-degree crime for driving under the influence near schools (within 1,000 feet or through designated crossings), with no defense for ignorance of school zones. These changes directly affect drivers convicted of vehicular homicide involving DUI, license violations, or school zone offenses.

Maddy summaryS 3611 allocates $1 million to the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to study and map mental health care access for children. The bill requires creating a visual journey map of the steps families take to access services, identifying eligibility rules, financial barriers, and disparities by race/ethnicity. It mandates stakeholder input from providers, administrators, and families across northern, central, and southern NJ regions. The institute must submit two reports within 13 months: one mapping the care journey and another summarizing barriers, disparities, and policy recommendations for improving pediatric mental health services. This study directly affects children and families seeking mental health care in New Jersey.

Maddy summarySJR 103 is a symbolic resolution declaring New Jersey a "Purple Heart State" to honor veterans and active-duty service members from New Jersey who have received the Purple Heart Medal. The Purple Heart Medal is awarded by the President to those wounded or killed in combat, and this resolution recognizes their sacrifices without creating new benefits or programs. It builds on New Jersey's existing connections to the national "Purple Heart Trail" (a network of roads and monuments honoring recipients), which includes locations in the state and stems from a 1992 convention held in Cherry Hill. The resolution takes effect immediately and serves as a formal state acknowledgment of these veterans' service.

Maddy summarySJR 29 designates August each year as "Professional Engineers Month" in New Jersey and the first Wednesday in August as "Professional Engineering Day." The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of these designations. It directly affects professional engineers in New Jersey, recognizing their contributions to public safety, infrastructure, and the state's economic growth. The resolution has no binding requirements beyond the annual proclamation request and took effect immediately upon approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey optometrists' scope of practice to include prescribing pharmaceutical agents (including controlled substances for eye conditions), administering immunizations for coronavirus, flu, and shingles (for patients 18+), and performing minor procedures like removing superficial foreign bodies, treating chalazions, and simple ophthalmologic treatments (e.g., trabeculoplasty) using topical anesthesia. It explicitly prohibits invasive eye surgery, orbital procedures, or general anesthesia. The law requires optometrists to report administered immunizations to the state's immunization registry and mandates they follow CDC guidelines for vaccine administration. This directly affects optometrists by broadening their clinical capabilities and patients by increasing access to certain eye care services within defined limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's bereavement leave provisions under the Family Leave Act (P.L.1989, c.261) and Temporary Disability Benefits Law (P.L.1948, c.110) to include leave for the death of a child, miscarriage, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, unsuccessful adoption, and failed fertility treatments. Employees who meet eligibility requirements can take up to 21 days of leave for circumstances where they wouldn't otherwise qualify for leave, or up to 7 days for circumstances where they would otherwise qualify. The leave applies to employees who are biological parents, adoptive parents, or parents through a gestational carrier agreement, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, or civil union partners. This legislation specifically addresses bereavement needs not previously covered under existing leave provisions for these specific personal losses.