Sen. John Burzichelli

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $7.65 million from New Jersey's "Securing Our Children's Future Fund" to expand career and technical education programs at the Cumberland County Technical Education Center. The funding is specifically directed to this single institution in Cumberland County for vocational program enhancements. The bill does not create new programs but allocates existing state funds for immediate use under the Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state-funded transportation projects (like roads or bridges) to use geotechnical engineers to determine necessary soil, groundwater, and structural monitoring. It mandates groundwater testing before construction begins and ongoing monitoring if site conditions require it (capped at three years), plus deformation monitoring during and after construction if needed. The Department of Transportation must follow all internal standards for subsurface data and cannot waive these requirements without approval. This directly affects state agencies and contractors managing transportation projects funded by New Jersey resources, including the Transportation Trust Fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to acquire abandoned, vacant, or tax-delinquent properties by purchasing them at fair market value or using eminent domain. It defines "abandoned" or "vacant" as property exhibiting at least four specific conditions (e.g., overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, or accumulated debris), while excluding properties under active renovation, seasonal occupancy, or ownership disputes. Municipalities may deduct unpaid taxes and liens from payments to owners and must hold funds for unlocated owners for one year before transferring to unclaimed property laws. The law aims to streamline property acquisition for blight removal, neighborhood revitalization, and increased municipal revenue.

Maddy summaryS 4149, the "Car Insurance Reduction Act," modifies New Jersey's auto insurance regulations to make rates more transparent and fair. It prohibits insurers from using credit history, education, occupation, or driving record factors (like accumulating 4 or fewer points) in underwriting decisions, and requires them to explain how rates are calculated - including whether non-driving factors were used - to policyholders online. The bill also mandates that insurers offer safe-driving discounts (potentially via telematics) and provide online tools for customers to compare coverage options and premiums. These changes directly affect New Jersey auto insurers and their customers, aiming to reduce unfair rate variations and improve consumer choice.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits electricity rate increases for low- and middle-income residential households in New Jersey. Specifically, electric utilities cannot raise rates for these households by more than the annual inflation rate (based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index). Eligible households are defined as those with annual incomes up to 400% of the federal poverty level (200% for "low-income" households). Utilities must report program participation and financial impacts to the Board of Public Utilities annually, and non-compliance may result in fines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state-funded transportation projects needing geotechnical testing to hire a geotechnical engineer. The engineer must recommend testing types and frequency during design, and all recommended testing must be completed during construction unless exempted by the State transportation engineer. It also mandates groundwater testing and monitoring before construction begins, with ongoing monitoring if site conditions require it (capped at three years), and requires deformation monitoring if needed, with advanced tracking if limits are exceeded. The Department of Transportation must follow all internal standards without waiving them, except as authorized by the State transportation engineer.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4073 authorizes special "U.S. Navy Retired" license plates for honorably discharged U.S. Navy veterans who provide a DD-214 or discharge certificate. Applicants pay a $50 one-time fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee, with all fees (minus administrative costs) deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund, managed by the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, must be used annually to support programs benefiting Navy veterans. The program requires 500 pre-submitted applications and $25,000 in private funding before implementation, and expires if these conditions aren't met within 12 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that New Jersey farmland taxed under the 1964 Farmland Assessment Act will not trigger "roll-back taxes" if a farmer stops active agricultural use solely due to retirement, disability, or other non-conversion reasons. Roll-back taxes - additional taxes calculated as the difference between farmland tax rates and standard property tax rates for the current year and the previous two years - only apply when land is actively converted to non-farm use. The change aligns the law with a 1981 court ruling that found it unreasonable to tax farmers who cease farming without changing land use. It directly affects New Jersey farmers who maintain land as farmland but temporarily halt agricultural activity.

Maddy summaryS 4051 allows New Jersey school districts to appoint qualified "school security specialists" to provide security services, directly affecting schools and district safety planning. To qualify, specialists must have 20+ years of supervisory law enforcement experience, pass background checks, hold a valid driver's license, be registered with the Security Officer Registration Act, and complete specific training in emergency response, de-escalation, and school safety protocols. Districts may permit these specialists to carry handguns in schools only if they meet state firearm laws and receive superintendent approval. The bill also establishes certification requirements through the state's School Safety Academy and integrates specialists into existing school safety information systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for New Jersey businesses that hire qualified community health workers. The credit equals 15% of wages paid to each eligible worker, up to $2,500 per worker annually. To qualify, workers must be certified, employed at least 10 hours weekly on a permanent basis, complete a state-approved training program, and not work as independent contractors. Businesses must apply to the Commissioner of Health for certification of workers, which must be included with tax returns, and the credit is limited to 50% of tax liability per year. Unused credits may be carried forward for up to five years.