Sen. Vince Polistina

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2035) would change how New Jersey sentences people convicted of heroin-related offenses. It requires courts to consider both the *weight* of heroin and the *number of dosage units* (like individual pills or packets) when determining sentencing severity. This affects anyone convicted of manufacturing, distributing, or dispensing heroin under current state law. The key change adds dosage units as a factor alongside weight, making sentencing more precise based on how the drug was packaged for sale. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryS 2599 requires companies, research facilities, and institutions using cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing, research, or educational purposes in New Jersey to assess each animal for adoption suitability after testing ends and offer it to rescue organizations or private individuals if suitable. These entities must register with the state health department, report animal details (like type, number, and adoption status), and document efforts to place animals for adoption. Noncompliance results in civil penalties of up to $50,000 for repeated violations, with a third offense potentially leading to a court-ordered ban on animal testing. The bill establishes clear reporting procedures and enforcement mechanisms to ensure animals used in testing have adoption opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill suspends the state sales and use tax, plus the societal benefits charge, on electric and gas utility bills for all customers in New Jersey during 2026 (January 1-December 31). It directly affects residential and commercial utility ratepayers by removing these specific charges from their monthly bills. The key mechanism is a temporary exemption from two fees: the standard sales tax on utility services and the societal benefits charge (which funds clean energy programs and energy assistance). The suspension ends January 1, 2027, and does not alter the underlying utility rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in New Jersey's Office of Administrative Law to enroll in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), removing them from an existing exclusion. Currently, ALJs are excluded from this retirement system under state law, but the bill amends Section 2(a)(2) of P.L. 2007, c.92 to include them. The change directly affects ALJs who serve in the Office of Administrative Law within the Department of State. It does not alter retirement benefits or create new provisions - only updates their mandatory enrollment status in the existing PERS framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes penalties for underage gambling in New Jersey from criminal charges to civil fines. It directly affects underage gamblers (under 21), casino licensees/employees who allow underage gambling, and caregivers who permit it. Key provisions set tiered civil penalties: up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for subsequent offenses. All collected fines must fund gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment programs through the Department of Human Services. The bill removes criminal penalties while redirecting fines to support treatment services.

Maddy summaryS 803 creates a program for New Jersey to acquire development easements on privately-owned woodlands, permanently restricting future development to protect land for farming, forestry, and conservation. Woodlands must be at least 20 acres, used for agriculture or forestry production, and managed under approved stewardship plans to qualify. The program will use existing farmland preservation funds and coordinate with federal agencies to access additional support, such as the federal Forest Legacy Program. Landowners who sell these easements retain ownership but lose development rights, with restrictions recorded to last indefinitely.

Maddy summaryThe "Energy Security and Affordability Act" (S 1900) requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prioritize energy security, diversity, and affordability when updating the state's Energy Master Plan. It mandates the BPU to conduct detailed economic and ratepayer impact analyses for all energy generation projects and the Master Plan itself, including cost breakdowns, infrastructure expenses, and public comment periods. These analyses must be published online for 10 years using open-source modeling tools. The bill directly affects ratepayers (utility customers) and energy developers by ensuring decisions consider financial impacts and public input before project approvals.

Maddy summaryS 2623 allows surviving spouses of retired police and fire personnel (PFRS members) who died while receiving accidental disability retirement benefits to enroll in New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) with all premiums paid by the state. It also permits these surviving spouses to continue receiving their pension benefits after remarriage - normally a reason for termination - without losing this benefit. To qualify, the surviving spouse must provide documentation proving the retired member's disability or related complications were a significant factor in their death. This applies to spouses of members who died before, on, or after the bill's effective date, and allows previously terminated pensions due to remarriage to be reinstated upon application.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2011) creates criminal penalties for threatening or intimidating election officials and workers, and allows election workers to remove their personal information from public online records. It makes it a crime to intimidate, coerce, or interfere with election workers in their duties (like voting or ballot handling), and prohibits sharing their home addresses, phone numbers, or photos online if it poses a safety threat. Election workers can request the Division of Elections to remove their personal details from public records if they face imminent safety risks. The bill directly affects county/municipal election staff and aims to protect them from harassment while maintaining election integrity.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a four-year pilot program to address teacher shortages and diversify school staff in New Jersey. It creates "Grow Your Own Partnerships" between school districts (prioritizing high-need SDA districts), charter schools, and colleges, which would recruit minority students who graduated from those schools. The program covers tuition, fees, and room/board for participating students at partner colleges, in exchange for a three-year teaching commitment in their home district upon graduation. The state would fund three selected partnerships annually, with the Department of Education overseeing implementation and reporting on progress. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Education Committee.