Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4908 imposes a tax on large commercial data collectors (like big tech or data brokers) that gather consumer data on 1 million or more New Jersey residents each month. The tax rate increases based on the number of New Jersey consumers affected, ranging from $0.05 per consumer for 1-2 million users up to $0.50 per consumer for over 10 million users. The first $60 million in annual revenue from this tax is dedicated to the state's 9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hotline, funding crisis intervention services and care coordination through the Department of Human Services. This bill directly impacts major data-collecting companies operating in New Jersey, with no exemptions for basic contact information like email or payment details.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2922) creates a single universal financial disclosure form for New Jersey officials who must file reports with multiple government entities, such as municipal officials also serving on school boards. The State Ethics Commission, working with the School Ethics Commission and Local Finance Board, must develop this form within 90 days to meet all disclosure requirements from state, school, and local laws. The form will replace separate filings, require no additional reporting, and be available on all relevant government websites. It directly affects public officials holding multiple positions requiring financial disclosures, streamlining their annual reporting process.
Maddy summaryS 1510 would require New Jersey to adopt year-round daylight saving time (EDT) once federal law permits states to do so. If enacted, it would amend state statutes to define New Jersey's standard time as Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) permanently, eliminating the current biannual time changes. The bill directly affects all residents and businesses across New Jersey by making the current daylight saving time period permanent. It does not change federal law but prepares the state to implement year-round EDT immediately upon federal authorization. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Transportation Committee after being reported out of the State Government Committee.
Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers of first responders (law enforcement officers and paid firefighters) to cover workers' compensation for up to 12 hours of confidential mental health counseling after a "critical incident," such as witnessing violence, serious injury, or trauma during duty. Additional up to 24 hours of counseling may be covered if a mental health professional deems it necessary for the responder's well-being. The law also mandates confidentiality for mental health communications between first responders and peer support teams or resiliency program officers, with limited exceptions if a responder poses a risk to themselves or others. All counseling must be completed within one year of the first session and cannot require use of the responder's accrued paid leave.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to approve sites for small modular reactors (SMRs) exclusively in municipalities with existing nuclear facilities, overriding local zoning laws. It permits SMR operators to store spent nuclear fuel on-site until a national waste repository is established, following U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission safety standards. The BPU must also create a financial incentive program for SMR construction within one year. These provisions directly affect SMR developers, the BPU, and municipalities with prior nuclear operations.
Maddy summaryS 4263 makes permanent a 72-hour limit on holding individuals in general hospitals or emergency departments for involuntary mental health commitment without a court order. Hospitals may extend this hold for up to 72 additional hours only if they have exhausted efforts to place the person in a less restrictive facility and two psychiatrists certify the person's danger due to mental illness. Hospitals must submit quarterly de-identified reports to the state detailing extended holds, including reasons for extension, duration beyond 72 hours, and placement outcomes, with reports made public within 60 days. This directly affects general hospitals, emergency departments, and individuals subject to involuntary mental health commitments.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to provide supplemental tax credits to housing developers who have received four-percent low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) but would qualify for nine-percent LIHTC. The supplemental credits cover the "project financing gap" for qualifying housing projects, ensuring developers receive a subsidy equivalent to a nine-percent LIHTC. The agency can award these credits to developers who demonstrate a financing gap, with the credit amount limited to the smaller of either the gap amount or the amount needed to reach a nine-percent subsidy level. Developers may transfer or sell these tax credits under specific conditions, including minimum sale amounts and restrictions on further transfers.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and certain nonpublic schools to offer parents a no-fee option for paying school meals, field trips, activity fees, and other school-related costs. It mandates that payment platforms used by schools must clearly disclose all fees, average annual user costs, and the availability of the no-fee alternative. Schools must include this fee information and the no-fee option in all payment requests sent to parents. The law applies to all school districts and charter schools, taking effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3787) changes how 5% of annual service charges from urban renewal entities is transmitted to counties under New Jersey's Long Term Tax Exemption Law. It requires municipal tax collectors, not municipalities, to directly send this amount to county chief financial officers within seven days of receiving the payments. These annual service charges are payments in lieu of taxes for tax-exempt development projects. The bill affects municipalities, urban renewal entities, and counties involved in long-term tax exemption agreements.