Sen. Patrick Diegnan

Maddy summaryS 689 expands eligibility for disability parking permits in New Jersey to include individuals diagnosed with Irritable Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or Crohn's Disease. The bill amends existing law to add these conditions to the definition of "person with a disability" for parking purposes, requiring certification by a physician, podiatrist, or other approved medical professional. People with these diagnoses would then qualify for the same disability parking placards, license plates, and identification cards currently available to others with certified mobility limitations. The bill is pending in the Senate Transportation Committee after introduction on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryBill S 327 allows New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to contract with private vendors for marketing and selling personalized, courtesy, and special license plates. The MVC must select the most cost-effective vendor through competitive bidding, with contracts lasting at least five years (renewable twice for five-year terms). Vendors must reimburse the MVC for implementation costs (up to half in advance) and fees for these plates must cover the MVC's expenses while remaining separate from standard vehicle registration fees. Any excess revenue from these fees is deposited into the state's General Fund.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 795) revises the state's marriage license application form to give couples more flexibility when changing names after marriage. It allows applicants to choose from five specific surname options: taking their spouse's last name, using a former name, combining parts of premarital names, using a hyphenated name (with both parts being premarital names), or placing their premarital name as a middle name followed by their spouse's surname. The form will also include clear instructions that name changes are optional and guide applicants on updating Social Security and other state records. The bill requires the state health commissioner to coordinate with other agencies to streamline name change processing, so couples don't need to take additional steps to update licenses or IDs.

Maddy summaryS 319 establishes a new Office of Alcohol and Drug Use Disorders Policy within New Jersey's Executive Branch, reporting directly to the Governor. The office coordinates state efforts across departments to improve prevention, treatment, and research for substance use disorders, requiring an annual statewide master plan and distributing grants to counties for local programs. It mandates creation of a centralized treatment resource database to track services, allocate funding, and evaluate provider performance. This bill directly affects state agencies, county governments, and residents seeking substance use disorder treatment by standardizing coordination and resource allocation.

Maddy summaryThis bill retroactively makes eligible for incentives New Jersey residents who purchased or leased eligible plug-in electric vehicles between June 1 and July 25, 2022 - when funding shortages prevented them from receiving the benefit under the existing program. It appropriates $30 million from the General Fund to the Plug-In Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund to cover these retroactive payments. The program provides one-time incentives for new light-duty plug-in electric vehicles priced under $55,000 registered in New Jersey, directly affecting buyers who missed the original funding window.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers with state contracts to pay employees their usual wages for each day of jury service, minus the per diem fee the court provides. It directly affects employers who hold state contracts and employ at least 50 people for 20+ weeks annually, and employees with at least 12 months of service and 1,000 base hours in the prior year. Employers must cover the wage gap during jury duty (paying full wages minus the court's per diem), preventing income loss. Violations can result in fines or lawsuits, allowing employees to seek damages or reinstatement within 90 days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners or operators of high-hazard trains (those carrying 200,000+ gallons of petroleum or 20,000+ gallons of hazardous substances) to activate emergency response protocols within one hour of a spill. Specifically, they must identify an emergency coordinator to inform local emergency services within one hour and deploy trained personnel to assess the spill within three hours. The bill defines key terms like "high-hazard train," "discharge," and "emergency response coordinator" to clarify these requirements. It directly affects railroad companies transporting large volumes of hazardous materials or petroleum through New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to authorize licensed drivers' schools to conduct road tests required for obtaining a driver's license. It requires examiners from these schools to provide applicants with written documentation of test results (pass/fail), and mandates a 14-day waiting period for applicants who fail. Successful applicants must submit this documentation, along with other required materials, to receive a probationary license. The MVC must establish specific standards for these tests within 30 days, with temporary rules lasting up to one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's plastic bag regulations to allow grocery stores to provide single-use paper bags for delivery orders (with a fee), reversing a previous prohibition. It requires retailers to repurpose cardboard delivery boxes for reuse (e.g., for groceries or other purposes) "to the maximum extent feasible." The policy directly affects grocery stores, food retailers, and delivery services by modifying existing plastic bag bans. It does not change the ban on single-use plastic bags for in-store purchases or food bank deliveries. The change aligns with New Jersey's broader efforts to reduce single-use plastics while addressing delivery-specific packaging needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual amount credited to New Jersey's Shore Protection Fund from $25 million to $50 million. The funding comes from the State portion of realty transfer fees collected when property deeds are recorded - specifically, the $1.25 per $500 of property value paid to the State. The change directly affects the Shore Protection Fund, which uses these funds for coastal protection projects. The bill amends existing law to adjust the credit amount without altering the fee structure or creating new taxes.