Maddy summaryS 1456 establishes the New Jersey Higher Education Student Advisory Commission to directly advise the state's Secretary of Higher Education on student concerns. The 14-member commission includes student representatives from all major higher education sectors (state colleges, public research universities, county colleges, independent colleges, and private career colleges), appointed by the Secretary based on applications detailing campus leadership experience. The commission must address system-wide student issues like college affordability, mental health, and campus safety, and annually report its findings and recommendations to the state's Higher Education Committees. This bill creates a formal, student-driven advisory body to inform state education policy decisions.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric and gas utilities to reset their rates to levels from 2020 for a five-year period. Utilities must submit rate filings reflecting 2020 rates to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which must approve them within 30 days. The approved rates would then remain in effect until 2029, directly affecting all residential and business customers of these utilities. The policy change prevents new rate increases above 2020 levels during this period.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program for gas utilities to gradually increase renewable natural gas (RNG) in their supply, starting at 5% by 2024 and reaching 30% by 2050. Gas utilities can make qualifying investments in RNG infrastructure and purchase RNG from third parties to meet these targets, with costs recoverable through regulated customer rate increases. The bill establishes a rate recovery mechanism allowing utilities to pass on approved costs to customers, while capping annual incremental costs at 5% of the utility's total revenue to protect ratepayers. It directly affects gas utilities and their customers by structuring a transition toward lower-carbon energy use through a regulated cost-recovery system.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance and certain professional licensing boards to retain fees they collect instead of sending them to the state treasury. It specifically allows these entities to keep all license, renewal, and assessment fees for their own operational costs - such as examinations, enforcement, and staff expenses - rather than transferring them to the state fund. The law amends existing statutes to clarify that boards may retain all remaining funds in their treasuries as of June 30 each year for these purposes. This directly affects regulated professionals (e.g., insurance agents, real estate licensees) whose fees support the boards overseeing their licensing. The policy change shifts financial responsibility from the state to the regulatory bodies themselves.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires public service employers (such as state/local governments, schools, libraries, and non-profits) to certify qualifying employees' employment for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. It mandates employers to complete necessary forms for employees, including a specific adjustment for educators (3.35 hours worked per lecture hour), and to provide annual materials about the program. The Secretary of Higher Education must develop and distribute clear resources - like fact sheets and FAQs - to help employees understand and access the federal loan forgiveness program. These requirements apply to all public service employers and directly affect employees seeking to reduce student loan debt through the federal program.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program to include eligible workforce training programs alongside traditional degree-granting institutions. It requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to designate programs meeting specific criteria: minimum 150 hours of classroom instruction, offering industry-valued credentials, and maintaining at least 70% completion and job placement rates. The change directly affects students in non-degree workforce training programs and the institutions offering them, allowing these programs to access state tuition aid. The authority will determine eligibility based on these standards, while maintaining existing requirements for degree programs.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1442) allows current elected public officials who are members of the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) to retire and receive their pension benefits while continuing to serve in their elected office and earn the full salary for that position. It specifically applies to officials whose pension is not based solely on service in the elected office they currently hold, and requires no additional contributions for that elected-service period. The bill does not affect future elected officials or those whose pension calculations rely exclusively on their elected role. It reverses a 2011 repeal of similar provisions but is limited to current officeholders serving on the bill’s effective date.
Maddy summaryS 1512 removes public bidding requirements for jointure commissions (special school transportation entities) that provide school bus services using buses they own or lease to local school districts. Currently, these commissions must bid for services to districts not already members as of January 1, 2004. The bill allows them to provide such services directly without competitive bidding, aligning their process with other existing public transportation providers under the same ownership rules. This change applies specifically to commissions already operating bus-based transportation services for member districts.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to increase Hispanic and Latino representation in leadership roles. It mandates the Secretary of Higher Education to create leadership development programs for Hispanic/Latino faculty, expand pathways for students into academic careers, and develop institutional strategies to address barriers in recruitment and retention. Public institutions must adopt diversity-focused policies for leadership search committees and submit annual reports tracking leadership demographics and program effectiveness. These requirements apply to all 11 public institutions of higher education in New Jersey, with implementation deadlines within 180 days of guidance issuance.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state employees (including those in executive, judicial, and legislative branches), county and municipal workers, and state contractors with access to state computer systems or databases to complete annual cybersecurity awareness training. The training must be delivered online, approved by the state Chief Technology Officer, and verified by employees or contractors. It includes provisions for periodic audits to ensure compliance across all covered groups, with specific content adjustments possible for roles like procurement staff. The policy applies to public institutions of higher education and contractors during active contracts, effective 90 days after enactment.