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.
Sponsored bills
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's process for health insurance carriers to credential physicians seeking to join their provider networks. It requires carriers to notify applicants within 30 days if an application is incomplete (or deem it complete if no notice is given), post universal application forms and process details online, and reimburse physicians for services delivered during the credentialing wait period if approved. Physicians changing employers within the state cannot be forced to resubmit applications solely due to the job change. The Department of Banking and Insurance gains authority to enforce these rules and investigate complaints about credentialing violations.
Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence (such as a home or dwelling) from a third-degree to a second-degree crime in New Jersey, increasing potential penalties to 5-10 years in prison. If the burglary occurs while the perpetrator is armed with a weapon or explosives, or is connected to another serious crime, it becomes a first-degree crime with a potential 10-20 year sentence. The bill also requires that offenders convicted of these upgraded residential burglaries serve at least 85% of their sentence without parole, as mandated by New Jersey's No Early Release Act. This change directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglary, making penalties more severe for crimes targeting homes.