Maddy summaryS 4414 requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish best practices for electric utilities covering areas like generation, transmission, operations, consumer education, and cost management. The BPU must set measurable benchmarks for compliance and assess utilities' progress toward these standards during rate increase reviews, comparing performance to other utilities in the state. If a utility fails to show adequate progress, the BPU cannot approve the rate increase and must provide a compliance assessment with specific remedial steps for improvement. This directly affects electric utilities seeking rate hikes in New Jersey, linking their financial requests to demonstrated adherence to established industry standards.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4411 would require the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to create a program exempting certain disabled veterans from E-ZPass tolls. To qualify, veterans must have a state-issued "Disabled Vet" license plate (approved under existing law) and an active New Jersey E-ZPass account for their vehicle. The program applies only to vehicles owned or leased by disabled veterans registered in New Jersey. Authorities must approve all applications from veterans who already hold the required license plate.
Maddy summaryS 4393 would exclude certain retirement savings plan contributions, qualified withdrawals, and rollovers from New Jersey's gross income tax calculation. It specifically applies to contributions and qualified withdrawals from 401(k) plans, 403(b) annuity contracts for government and nonprofit employees, 457 deferred compensation plans, Thrift Savings Plans, and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). A "qualified withdrawal" is defined as one permitted under federal tax law without penalties or additional taxes. This change would reduce taxable income for New Jersey residents using these retirement savings vehicles. The bill would take effect immediately for taxable years beginning on or after January 1 following its enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides license fee waivers for professionals and small businesses affected by public highway construction. It waives renewal fees for licensed professionals (like contractors or consultants) and small retail businesses operating within "impacted construction zones" where highway projects block traffic or access. To qualify, applicants must prove they operate in the affected zone and suffered significant income loss due to the project. The waiver applies only during the active construction period, and applications require documentation verified by state licensing directors. The bill defines "public highway projects" broadly to include repairs after disasters, but focuses on direct fee relief for affected entities.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding for New Jersey's Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) from $1 million to $10 million by redirecting cigarette and tobacco tax revenues into a dedicated, permanent Cancer Research Fund. The fund, established within the Department of the Treasury, must use at least $5 million annually for general cancer research and at least $5 million for pediatric cancer research, with all funds exclusively supporting approved research projects. Unlike the previous system, this fund is non-lapsing (permanent), preventing annual budget transfers that previously reduced available resources. The bill also repeals outdated provisions and designates the State Treasurer to manage fund disbursements.
Maddy summaryThis bill suspends two specific charges on residential electricity and gas utility bills in New Jersey from June 1 to September 30, 2025. It exempts customers from the sales and use tax (under the Sales and Use Tax Act) and removes the societal benefits charge (per P.L.1999, c.23) during this period. The policy directly affects residential utility customers by preventing these fees from being added to their monthly bills. The suspension applies only to electric and gas public utilities serving end users, as defined in state law, and expires October 1, 2025.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State Treasurer to sell a 0.69-acre parcel of land and improvements at 101 Ridgedale Avenue in Morristown (previously used as a New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission inspection center) to the Town of Morristown as surplus property. The sale, set at a fixed price of $850,000, will transfer ownership directly to Morristown after the property was declared surplus following hurricane damage to the facility. Proceeds from the sale will be deposited into a state fund for debt relief or capital improvement projects, with terms approved by the State House Commission.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to submit two specific documents before procuring certain information technology projects. For projects exceeding $2.5 million in value, agencies must provide a written business case detailing the project's need, budget, risks, benefits, and change management plan. For larger projects involving multiple agencies or significant service changes, agencies must also submit a change management plan outlining stakeholder impacts, workflow adjustments, and implementation strategies. All documents must be submitted to the New Jersey Office of Information Technology at least 30 days before requesting state funds or issuing procurement documents. The Office of Information Technology will then review and report findings to the Office of Management and Budget.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits nine specific substances - including preservatives like propylparaben and food dyes like Red 3, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 - from commercial food sold, distributed, or manufactured in New Jersey within two years. It immediately bans those same dyes in all school food, including meals, snacks, vending machines, and after-school programs on school property before the end of the school day. The law applies to food manufacturers, distributors, and schools, with violations punishable by fines of $50-$1,000 per offense. It amends existing food safety laws to add these substances to the list of "adulterated" foods and updates school nutrition rules to exclude the banned dyes.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address safety and environmental risks from abandoned mines. The DEP must develop a comprehensive state plan mapping all abandoned mines, identifying the most dangerous sites (like those threatening structures or water quality), and ranking reclamation projects by priority and cost. The program will use a dedicated fund - supported by state, federal, and private funds - to finance reclamation work, which can be carried out by the DEP, contractors, or through grants to local governments and landowners. Property owners must be notified before DEP entry for reclamation, though the DEP retains authority to act if owners are unavailable or refuse permission, without it being considered trespass.