Sen. Renee Burgess

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all plastic construction materials (over 50% plastic by cost) used in State-funded projects by government entities (state, county, or municipal) to contain at least 10% postconsumer recycled content for two years after enactment, increasing to 15% thereafter. It exempts projects if compliant materials would raise costs by 25% or aren’t available in needed quantities. The bill applies to materials like pipes, panels, or insulation incorporated into construction projects. Note: This bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved in P.L.2025, c.308.

Maddy summaryS 642, the "New Jersey Clean Energy Act of 2024," requires all electricity sold to New Jersey consumers to come from 100% clean sources by 2035, directly affecting electric power suppliers and utilities. It establishes a "clean electricity certificate" (CEAC) program administered by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to track and verify zero-emission generation from sources like nuclear, solar, wind, and hydroelectric facilities. The bill mandates that electricity providers meet this standard by purchasing CEACs representing clean energy from qualifying facilities, excluding fossil fuel-based generation. This policy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution while supporting New Jersey's existing clean energy infrastructure goals.

Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes retirement benefits for New Jersey public employees by removing tiered membership in the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS). It transfers all current non-retired PERS members to "Tier 1" (the benefits tier for those enrolled before July 2007), ensuring they receive identical retirement and health benefits as pre-2007 members. It also automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants, though their contributions remain in DCRP, and gives them 6 months to opt out. Additionally, it requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summarySCR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee all New Jersey residents a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean air, pure water, safe climate, and healthy habitats. It designates the State as the trustee of all natural resources (waters, air, lands, wildlife, and climate) for both current and future generations, requiring the state to conserve and maintain these resources for public benefit. The amendment would be self-executing, meaning courts could enforce it directly without new laws, and it explicitly states these rights are in addition to existing environmental protections. This change would apply to all New Jersey residents and require the state government to uphold these environmental rights through its actions and policies.

Maddy summaryS 1190 establishes a New Jersey legislative internship program specifically for veterans. It allows state legislators to hire eligible veterans as interns in their district offices, with approval from their chamber's presiding officer. To qualify, veterans must be honorably discharged, released within five years, at or below E-5/O-3 pay grades, and have at least a 20% service-connected disability (or be Purple Heart recipients); New Jersey residents receive priority. Interns would complete one work period (potentially extendable) performing legislative tasks under a legislator's direction, with the state seeking federal grants to support the program. The bill is currently pending in committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryS 3012 creates two new state entities: the Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission and the Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency within New Jersey’s Department of Health. The bill requires hospitals and other health care entities (including insurers and providers) to publicly report detailed pricing data for services like inpatient care, emergency visits, and physician services using standard medical codes. It establishes price growth benchmarks to monitor cost trends, mandates public reporting of pricing data, and empowers the Commission to address entities exceeding these benchmarks through transparency measures and potential penalties. The law directly affects all New Jersey hospitals and health care payers by requiring data transparency and cost monitoring to improve affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a section of New Jersey's Revised Statutes to redirect $1 per traffic violation fine to existing state funds, including the Body Armor Replacement Fund and the New Jersey Spinal Cord Research Fund, and $3 per fine to the Forensic DNA Fund. It does not establish a new fund for cancer or cardiovascular screenings as suggested by the title, nor does it appropriate $20 million for such purposes. The provided bill text focuses solely on reallocating fine revenues to existing funds, with no mention of health screenings for law enforcement officers. The title and description provided do not align with the actual content of the bill text.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's four-year public universities to create and update annual plans ensuring student access to reproductive health services, including referrals for contraception (including emergency contraception), STI testing/treatment, prenatal care, and abortion. It mandates 24-hour access to over-the-counter contraception via campus vending machines, retail, or health centers, plus evidence-based education. County colleges must develop referral networks to local providers for off-campus reproductive care. The law does not require institutions to directly provide services but sets specific access requirements, effective seven months after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 2990 requires New Jersey long-term care facilities to establish specific pharmacy staffing and oversight structures. Each facility must have a consultant pharmacist (who cannot also serve as the pharmacy director or provider and must attest to avoiding conflicts of interest) and either a provider pharmacist or a pharmacy director if the facility has an in-house pharmacy. Facilities must also form a pharmacy committee including the administrator, nursing staff, and consultant pharmacist, which meets at least quarterly and maintains detailed records. Additionally, facilities storing controlled substances must maintain current federal and state drug registration records. The bill codifies existing rules while adding new conflict-of-interest safeguards for pharmacy oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric and gas utilities to reset their rates to levels from 2020 for a five-year period. Utilities must submit rate filings reflecting 2020 rates to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which must approve them within 30 days. The approved rates would then remain in effect until 2029, directly affecting all residential and business customers of these utilities. The policy change prevents new rate increases above 2020 levels during this period.