Maddy summaryS 1685 allows restaurants, bars, distilleries, and breweries in New Jersey to use tents, canopies, and other fixtures for outdoor dining on their own business property (including parking lots and adjacent land) and on public sidewalks. Business owners must submit a detailed plan to their local zoning officer showing the layout and waste management strategy, and cannot cover more than 75% of a parking lot (except for lots with fewer than eight spaces) while maintaining at least one accessible parking spot. Municipalities can require insurance, written consent, or indemnification agreements and may deny or revoke permits for violations of health, safety, or zoning rules. The bill clarifies that outdoor dining extensions do not count as zoning variances and does not override existing liquor regulations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a minimum uptime requirement for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations that receive state incentives under New Jersey's EV infrastructure programs. It requires operators of "incentivized EVSE" (charging stations funded through state programs) to maintain a specified operational availability standard, defining "downtime" as periods when hardware or software is offline and unusable. Exceptions ("exempted downtime") cover outages caused by factors outside the operator's control, such as utility failures or internet disruptions. The policy directly affects EV charging station operators participating in state incentive programs, ensuring funded stations remain reliably accessible to the public. This requirement applies to both new and existing incentive-funded charging locations across the state.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows teaching candidates awaiting certification to secure teaching positions while completing their certification process. It requires the State Board of Education to permit candidates to submit a signed affidavit to school districts, affirming they've met all certification requirements, along with proof of their application to the Department of Education. Candidates must provide written confirmation within 90 days that they've received their certificate, or the school must terminate their teaching role (though they may stay in non-teaching positions). The bill protects candidates who submit affidavits in good faith from having to repay salaries if their certification application later proves incomplete.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program to integrate 24-hour behavioral health services into hospital urgent care facilities across New Jersey. It requires participating urgent care centers to employ at least one licensed behavioral clinician and social worker, partner with psychiatrists via telehealth, and use "warm hand-offs" and rapid referrals to connect patients with ongoing care. The program targets individuals experiencing behavioral health crises, aiming to reduce unnecessary emergency department visits and inpatient admissions by providing immediate, integrated care. Funding will come through Medicaid using a value-based payment system that reimburses managed care organizations quarterly for behavioral health services provided under the pilot. The pilot will operate in six hospitals (two per geographic region), prioritizing pediatric care facilities where feasible.
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.
Maddy summaryS 495, the "New Jersey COVID-19 related Business Immunity Act," grants businesses immunity from lawsuits claiming injury or damage due to COVID-19 exposure on their premises or during business activities they manage. This immunity applies to employers (including corporations, partnerships, and business groups) and covers both employees and patrons, but excludes cases involving willful misconduct, reckless conduct, or intentional harm. The bill explicitly states this immunity operates alongside existing state and federal protections. It aims to reduce legal risks for businesses during the pandemic, though it does not affect claims based on gross negligence or intentional acts.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for New Jersey businesses that hire employees with developmental disabilities certified by the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Businesses can claim a 10% credit on wages paid to eligible employees, capped at $3,000 per employee and $60,000 total per tax year for both corporation business tax and gross income tax. The credit cannot be claimed for the same employee if the business already uses a separate credit for employment at occupational training centers or sheltered workshops. It directly affects New Jersey employers who hire certified individuals with developmental disabilities.
Maddy summaryS 933 requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT), New Jersey Transit (NJT), and Department of Human Services (DHS) to improve transportation accessibility for people with autism and developmental disabilities. The bill mandates a review of current infrastructure design practices for highways and transit projects, followed by adopting new standards to help these individuals travel independently. It also directs the agencies to study nationwide best practices for making public transportation and mobility programs more accessible. The DOT must then encourage local governments receiving state funding to adopt similar accessibility measures. This bill directly affects individuals with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities by aiming to make public transportation systems more usable for them.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents with E-ZPass accounts to deduct up to $1,000 annually from their state gross income tax for tolls paid on eligible toll roads, bridges, or tunnels in New Jersey or connecting to other states (like the Delaware River bridges). To qualify, the total E-ZPass tolls paid must exceed $1,000 in a year, and the deduction excludes fines, administrative fees, employer reimbursements, or tolls already deductible as business expenses. It applies to individuals and household members using vehicles on toll routes operated by entities like the Port Authority or Delaware River Joint Tollbridge Commission. The deduction takes effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2020, and is available for all filing statuses.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans sold in New Jersey to cover annual physical examinations for student athletes before they can participate in school sports or camp activities. It applies to every type of health insurance plan (including individual, group, HMO, and state-purchased plans) issued or renewed after the effective date. The coverage must be provided at the same level as other preventive health services, such as routine check-ups. This policy change directly affects student athletes and their families by ensuring these required physicals are covered without extra out-of-pocket costs.