Maddy summaryS 3962 requires New Jersey to annually pay eligible municipalities $75,000 per low- or moderate-income housing unit they commit to under the state's Fair Housing Act. This compensation, paid to a separate "Local Infrastructure and Planning Fund," covers costs municipalities face from building infrastructure like schools, roads, and water systems due to new affordable housing developments. Municipalities must have certified housing plans (via the Fair Housing Act) to qualify, and funds can be used for infrastructure upgrades, planning services, or legal costs related to housing compliance. The payments are spread equally over 10 years per housing obligation round, starting in the first full year of the round (e.g., 2026 for the upcoming round).
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to receive regular cancer and cardiovascular screenings starting three years after employment and every three years thereafter, covering 11 specific cancer types including colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. It establishes a dedicated fund to cover these screening costs by appropriating $20 million from the State General Fund and adding a $10 surcharge to motor vehicle fines. Public employers not participating in the State Health Benefits Program can be reimbursed up to $2,500 per officer every three years for these screenings. The fund is designed to carry over unused funds year to year, ensuring consistent funding for these screenings. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.
Maddy summaryThe "Welcome Home Veterans Act" (S 3595) requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide veterans with information about federal and state benefits when issuing or renewing a driver's license or ID card that includes a veteran designation. The MVC must offer this information in both physical copies at all agency locations and online, including the state veterans' benefits guide and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' "Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers" booklet. The packet will also include resources for accessing additional benefit information and any supplementary details the MVC determines necessary. This applies to all veterans receiving a veteran-designated license or ID card under existing New Jersey law.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 871, now P.L.2024, c.97) grants retirement eligibility to certain county fire instructors in New Jersey. It allows eligible individuals - those who were enrolled in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) before November 1, 2008, employed by a county on the bill’s effective date, maintained continuous membership, earned over $1,500 annually, and held permanent career status - to receive service credit for their tenure and qualify for retirement benefits. It also reinstates membership for those whose PERS coverage was terminated within five years prior to the bill’s effective date, provided they repay any returned contributions. The law takes effect immediately, directly impacting qualifying county fire instructors who previously lacked full retirement eligibility under PERS.
Maddy summaryS 3923 requires public utilities (such as electricity or gas companies) to provide daily updates to mayors or municipal clerks about service work occurring within a municipality, including emergency repairs. The updates must detail the status of the work and be provided from the start to end date of the project. The Board of Public Utilities will create rules for how these updates are delivered, including special rules for emergencies affecting municipal buildings. This bill directly affects public utilities and local governments in New Jersey by mandating regular communication about infrastructure work.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies workers' compensation coverage requirements for business owners in New Jersey. It specifies that self-employed individuals, partners in partnerships, members of LLCs, and S-corporation shareholders who actively work for their business are considered "employees" for coverage purposes **only if the business elects to include them** when purchasing or renewing a workers' comp policy. Businesses are not required to cover these owners unless they already have at least one regular employee (not a business owner). The bill also requires clear notices on applications about this option and protects insurers from liability if businesses choose not to cover owners, unless insurers acted with gross negligence.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to establish electronic systems for receiving public complaints and distributing key municipal information, such as meeting notices, budgets, emergency alerts, and road closures. Municipalities must provide an online complaint form (or the state will supply one for those without a website) and allow residents to sign up for electronic alerts via email, text, or social media. Implementation depends on available funding, as the bill explicitly states it cannot impose unfunded costs on municipalities. The law applies to all municipalities and takes effect immediately.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's bereavement leave provisions under the Family Leave Act (P.L.1989, c.261) and Temporary Disability Benefits Law (P.L.1948, c.110) to include leave for the death of a child, miscarriage, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, unsuccessful adoption, and failed fertility treatments. Employees who meet eligibility requirements can take up to 21 days of leave for circumstances where they wouldn't otherwise qualify for leave, or up to 7 days for circumstances where they would otherwise qualify. The leave applies to employees who are biological parents, adoptive parents, or parents through a gestational carrier agreement, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, or civil union partners. This legislation specifically addresses bereavement needs not previously covered under existing leave provisions for these specific personal losses.
Maddy summaryThis bill would allow restaurants and licensed alcoholic beverage retailers (including bars, wineries, breweries, and distilleries) to operate in designated outdoor spaces adjacent to their business premises, including on public sidewalks. It creates a "premises expansion permit" process requiring applications to either the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (for licensed businesses) or municipal zoning officers (for restaurants without alcohol licenses), with requirements for security plans and property descriptions. Municipalities may regulate hours of operation but must allow outdoor service outside specific hours (10pm-11am on Sundays-Wednesdays, and 12am-11am on Thurs-Sat), and cannot prohibit outdoor service for businesses already operating under legal or disciplinary restrictions. The bill specifies that State-owned rights-of-way require separate approval from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, with setback requirements for roads intersecting state highways.
Maddy summaryS 3806 would exempt volunteer fire companies, emergency medical service providers, and veteran organizations from New Jersey's charitable registration fees. The bill amends the Charitable Registration and Investigation Act to remove these groups from the requirement that charitable organizations raising over $10,000 annually must register and pay a fee. This exemption specifically applies to fire companies operating under state law, non-profit emergency service providers, and veteran organizations that qualify as tax-exempt under federal law (501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19)). As a result, these volunteer-based organizations would no longer need to pay the registration fee.