Sen. John McKeon

Maddy summaryS 4796 amends the lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding under New Jersey's FY2026 environmental infrastructure funding program. The bill specifies 151 clean water projects and 51 drinking water projects across numerous municipalities that will receive funding for construction and infrastructure improvements. It details specific funding amounts for each project, with total clean water project funding at approximately $1.28 billion and total drinking water project funding at approximately $1.16 billion. This bill authorizes funding for specific, pre-approved projects rather than creating new programs or policies.

Maddy summaryS 4797 amends the lists of environmental infrastructure projects eligible for loans from New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank for fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically updates eligibility for both clean water (wastewater treatment) and drinking water infrastructure projects across numerous municipalities. It includes specific projects such as the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission's wastewater systems, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority projects, and various municipal water systems. Local government units and public water utilities that sponsor these projects are directly affected by this eligibility update. This is a technical adjustment to the funding list rather than a new funding mechanism or policy change.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill streamlines the process for filling vacancies in the state's U.S. House of Representatives seat. It requires the Governor to issue a writ within 10 days of a vacancy and eliminates primary elections for all vacancies. The bill establishes three specific scenarios for election timing: using the next general election if the vacancy occurs between July 1 and 70 days before the general election, or holding a special election 70-80 days after the writ issuance if the vacancy happens before July 1 or after 70 days before the general election with an unexpired term exceeding one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Landscape Irrigation Contractor Certification Act to authorize local municipal or county construction officials (rather than solely the Department of Community Affairs) to enforce the law and inspect job sites for violations. It increases penalties for violations to $5,000 for first offenses, $10,000 for second offenses, and $15,000 for subsequent offenses. Revenue from these penalties will be split, with 30% going to the State General Fund and 70% remaining with the local municipality or county where the violation occurred. The bill aims to improve enforcement of licensing requirements for landscape irrigation contractors by expanding enforcement authority to local agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state, county, and municipal employers to automatically enroll employees in deferred compensation plans (like retirement savings), with employees able to opt out or choose a different contribution rate. It mandates automatic enrollment for all new state employees hired after the law's effective date, requiring them to actively choose not to participate. For union-represented employees, employers must negotiate plan terms - including automatic enrollment - with the union, and without a written agreement, employees must affirmatively elect to join. The bill also requires setting a default investment option for employee contributions if they don’t specify one.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's solid waste management districts to create and implement strategies reducing food waste by 50% by 2035 (compared to 2022 levels), with plans integrated into existing waste management frameworks. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must publish a list of practical methods for achieving this, including food donation programs, composting, and public education. Additionally, the DEP must develop new rules to streamline regulations for composting facilities, exempting small operations (like community gardens) from strict permitting requirements. These provisions directly affect waste districts, composting facilities, and entities generating food waste, aiming to reduce landfill disposal and methane emissions.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $15,815,984 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to fund historic preservation projects across New Jersey. The funds will support 33 capital preservation projects (totaling $12.1 million) and 36 historic site management projects (totaling $1.6 million), plus $100,000 for emergency preservation needs and $1.98 million for administrative costs. The New Jersey Historic Trust will administer the grants for properties listed or eligible for listing in the New Jersey or National Register of Historic Places, with recipients required to provide matching funds. Projects include preservation work on sites like the Atlantic City Convention Hall, USS New Jersey, and various historic districts across 15 counties. This legislation implements the constitutional dedication of CBT revenues for historic preservation established by the Preserve New Jersey Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create an automated online platform (the "State Smart Solar Permitting Platform") to speed up approval of residential solar energy system installations. It directly affects homeowners, solar installers, and local governments by replacing slow manual permitting with instant digital reviews. The platform must automatically check code compliance, issue permits within minutes, allow 24/7 applications, and support electronic signatures - handling 75% of standard residential systems. Local agencies must adopt the platform or an equivalent alternative within 18 months, with penalties for non-compliance to fund low-income energy assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1125) makes it a crime for individuals to keep a payment sent to them by mistake through person-to-person payment apps (like Venmo or Zelle) after being formally asked to return it. It directly affects people who accidentally receive funds via these digital platforms and refuse to return them upon notification. The key provision amends New Jersey’s theft laws to require the return of such erroneous payments within a reasonable time after being notified, criminalizing the failure to do so. It does not apply to business transactions or payments made for goods/services. The bill focuses on correcting accidental transfers, not intentional fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public colleges and universities in New Jersey that partner with sports wagering operators (e.g., for stadium advertising or digital content) to establish gambling addiction prevention programs. These programs must provide students with educational materials about responsible gambling and prominently display a gambling hotline number in campus locations like stadiums, dorms, libraries, and student centers. The bill defines "sports wagering partnership" as any agreement between a college and a gambling company for promotional access. It directly affects public higher education institutions participating in such partnerships, mandating concrete prevention measures rather than speculative outcomes. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.