Sen. Vince Polistina

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies eligibility rules for New Jersey's state small business set-aside program, which helps direct state contracts to qualifying small businesses. It changes how gross revenue is calculated for eligibility: businesses must now use a five-year average (instead of three years) of revenue, with specific formulas for newer businesses or those with short fiscal years. The bill also clarifies that employee count requirements apply only to businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard. These changes directly affect businesses seeking state contracts under the set-aside program.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey Medicaid and the Plan First program to cover fertility preservation services when medically necessary treatments (such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy) could cause iatrogenic infertility. It defines "iatrogenic infertility" as fertility impairment from medical treatments affecting reproductive organs, and specifies coverage for standard procedures like sperm, egg, embryo, and ovarian tissue storage. The bill prohibits denying coverage based on age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. It would provide low-income individuals with access to fertility preservation services that are often cost-prohibitive. The bill applies to Medicaid beneficiaries and Plan First participants facing potential iatrogenic infertility from medically necessary treatments.

Maddy summaryS 1518 establishes requirements for public agencies considering contracting out services previously provided by public employees. The bill mandates competitive bidding for contracts over $500,000 (for local agencies) or $1 million (for state agencies), requiring contractors to maintain current service quality, not increase public fees, and pay wages/benefits at least equal to those of displaced public employees. Agencies must demonstrate cost savings compared to public provision, provide quarterly reports on contractor compliance, and prepare transition plans for displaced workers. The Office of the State Comptroller reviews contracts for compliance, and the State Auditor conducts annual post-audits to verify actual cost savings and service quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how revenue from casino hotel parking fees in Atlantic City is allocated. Currently, $2.50 of the $3.00 daily parking fee goes to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) for corridor-region projects, while $0.50 goes to the Casino Revenue Fund (which supports senior citizens' tax relief). Starting in fiscal year 2026, the full $3.00 would be deposited into the CRDA's special fund, eliminating the split and redirecting all parking fee revenue to the CRDA. The CRDA would then be allowed to use these funds for any projects within Atlantic City's city limits - not just the corridor region - as approved by the authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5049) removes a current restriction that allows the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members if they are involved in pending civil lawsuits related to their employment. It specifically prohibits the PFRS Board from delaying benefits due to such civil litigation, though it maintains the ability to withhold benefits for members facing criminal charges or administrative dismissal. The bill requires the Board to adjust benefits after any legal case concludes, rather than holding payments indefinitely during litigation. This change directly affects current and future PFRS members who are involved in employment-related civil disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) rules to include pay for extracurricular activities in teachers' pension calculations. Currently, additional compensation for duties like coaching sports teams, directing school plays, or supervising clubs is not counted toward pension benefits. The bill changes the definition of "compensation" to include remuneration for extracurricular activities beyond the regular school day or year. This change would affect teachers who receive extra pay for these activities, potentially increasing their future pension benefits. The bill applies to all teachers whose extracurricular duties qualify under the new definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey mortgage assistance program to help low- and moderate-income homeowners facing mortgage payment difficulties due to qualifying economic hardships (like job loss, illness, or family changes). It provides zero-interest, forgivable loans in four subsidy tiers: "deep" (covers all arrears + 6 months ahead), "moderate" (arrears + 2 months), "shallow" (2 months), or "single" (1 month). Homeowners must commit to living in the home as their primary residence for three years and complete a counseling course before receiving aid. The program is funded with $200 million annually from the state general fund, requiring 25% of funds to target low-income homeowners and 25% to those at imminent risk of homelessness, with annual reports on program effectiveness.

Maddy summaryS 4764 amends New Jersey law to lower the minimum age for municipal police officer appointments from 21 to 18 years, correcting a legal inconsistency with a 1974 New Jersey Supreme Court ruling. The court determined that the age of majority (18) applies to public employment eligibility, including police roles, making the prior 21-year minimum invalid. This change allows 18-year-olds to apply for police positions in New Jersey municipalities while maintaining the existing maximum age limit of 35. The bill ensures state law aligns with judicial precedent without altering other hiring requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all revenue from the $3 daily casino hotel room occupancy fee to be directed exclusively to the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority (CRDA) starting in fiscal year 2026. Currently, $1 of the fee funds the CRDA while $2 supports the Casino Revenue Fund, which provides tax and utility reductions for eligible seniors and disabled residents. The bill eliminates the split by redirecting the full $3 fee to the CRDA, meaning the Casino Revenue Fund will no longer receive these funds. This change updates the allocation to ensure all casino hotel occupancy fee revenue supports the CRDA's projects, as approved by the authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the duration of annual funding grants for developers building entertainment-retail districts in Atlantic City under the CRDA Urban Revitalization Program. It changes the maximum grant period from 20 to 40 years per project and increases the total grant cap from three to five times a project's approved cost. Developers of completed projects that previously exhausted their 20-year grant eligibility will also gain an additional 20 years of funding access. The bill directly affects developers who have built or are building district projects within designated entertainment-retail zones approved by the CRDA.