Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for fiscal year 2026 to provide zero-interest and principal-forgiveness loans to local governments and public water utilities for environmental infrastructure projects. It directly affects municipalities and water utilities that need financing for clean water projects (like combined sewer overflow reduction and water quality restoration) and drinking water projects, with specific funding limits based on project type and affordability criteria. The bill includes detailed lists of 151 qualifying clean water projects totaling $1.7 billion and 59 drinking water projects totaling $652 million, all intended to meet federal requirements under the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. The loans may offer full principal forgiveness for eligible projects or a blended interest rate based on project costs and borrower affordability.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates notification requirements for New Jersey's "Energy Bill Watch" program, which affects residential customers using smart meters for electricity or gas. It clarifies that utilities must notify these customers on the 10th and 20th days of each billing cycle via text or email (with email as backup if phone numbers are unavailable), showing both usage cost in dollars and consumption in kilowatt hours or therms. Notifications must now reflect data up to two days before sending, and customers gain options to set spending thresholds or compare current usage to prior cycles. The bill ensures utilities automatically enroll smart meter customers while providing clear opt-out instructions and advertising the program through multiple channels like websites and bills.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study how data centers impact electricity rates for residential customers. The BPU must determine if non-data center customers unfairly subsidize data center costs, whether infrastructure for data centers causes unreasonable rate hikes, and project the future portion of residential rates attributable to data centers over the next 20 years. The study will also evaluate policy options to prevent rate increases from data center growth. The BPU must complete the study within one year and submit a report to the governor and legislature within 15 months.
Maddy summaryS 1320 requires licensed public adjusters in New Jersey to include specific details in written contracts with insureds. The bill mandates that contracts must list the adjuster's license number, describe services and compensation, and include a clear notice of the insured's right to cancel the contract within three business days. It also requires public adjusters to hold any client funds in an interest-bearing escrow account and provides that insureds can terminate contracts later without penalty, though they remain liable for reasonable fees for services rendered. This law directly affects insureds seeking property damage claim assistance and public adjusters operating in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most sweepstakes wagering models where participants pay to enter for a chance to win prizes, with specific exceptions for free entry options or paid entry tied to purchasing food, beverages, or merchandise under $20. It establishes civil penalties of up to $100,000 for first offenses and $250,000 for repeat violations, with additional requirements for transparency including clear disclosure of rules, odds, and prize values. The bill designates the Division of Consumer Affairs to enforce sweepstakes regulations and the Division of Gaming Enforcement to oversee other gambling prohibitions, including expanded definitions for online gambling resorts. It affects businesses offering sweepstakes or gambling services in New Jersey, requiring them to comply with specific operational rules and disclosure requirements. The law includes protections for senior citizens, requiring restitution of twice the amount for violations against them.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4532) updates New Jersey's "Energy Bill Watch" program, which affects residential customers using smart meters for electricity or gas. It requires utilities to notify these customers on the 10th and 20th days of each billing cycle about their usage costs (in dollars) and consumption (in kilowatt hours or therms) up to two days prior to notification. Customers can choose text or email alerts and set usage thresholds for additional alerts. Utilities must automatically enroll smart meter customers but provide clear opt-out options and program details through multiple channels like email, social media, and billing statements.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S4693 requires the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to collaborate with neighboring states to research alternatives to PJM Interconnection's capacity market, which has caused record electricity costs for consumers. The bill directs the BPU to examine three specific options: mandating that electricity providers secure 80% of their future capacity through long-term bilateral contracts, withdrawing from PJM's market to form a multi-state compact, or leaving PJM's transmission grid entirely. This action responds to a 2024 PJM capacity auction that saw prices surge nearly 10x, projecting $14.7 billion in consumer costs for the 2025/2026 delivery year. The BPU must submit a report by December 31, 2025, with recommendations for these alternatives. The bill directly affects electricity providers and ratepayers by targeting the system that sets grid reliability costs.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Advanced Transmission Technologies Workforce Development Program (ATT Program) within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development. It directly affects electrical engineers and utility workers by providing training to install and manage advanced transmission systems, aiming to reduce deployment delays caused by skill gaps. Key mechanisms include embedding workforce training in infrastructure projects, using community agreements to link training to jobs, developing retraining programs for existing workers, and leveraging state/federal funds. The program requires annual progress reports to the Governor and Legislature, starting in 2027, to evaluate effectiveness and inform future improvements.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4147) requires New Jersey’s State Board of Medical Examiners to allow physicians to use one optional credit of continuing medical education (CME) focused on menopause toward their biennial license renewal. The credit covers specific topics including menopause’s physiological/psychological aspects, treatments (like hormone therapy), related health risks (e.g., cardiovascular issues, osteoporosis), and patient communication strategies. Physicians who complete this training receive standard CME credit (counting toward their required 100 hours) and may qualify for financial assistance or specialized recognition. The bill defines menopause as the natural process where a woman permanently stops menstruating after 12 months without periods. It does not apply to advanced practice nurses, as the bill text specifies physicians only.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey grant program to help small businesses in low-income communities that suffer economic harm from prolonged state infrastructure or construction projects. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) must establish the "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" to award grants based on actual or projected revenue loss, using a $750,000 state appropriation. Eligible businesses must be independently owned, employ fewer than 100 people, be located in a municipality with under 10,000 residents and a poverty rate over 7.5%, and have experienced losses due to state or public entity projects. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis as applications are submitted, with the EDA administering the program and fund.