Maddy summaryS 731 requires New Jersey electric utilities to create special pricing plans for large data centers (defined as facilities with 100+ megawatts monthly demand) to protect regular electricity customers from cost increases. The bill mandates that these plans must prevent non-data center ratepayers from bearing costs from data centers' high energy use and incentivize data centers to improve energy efficiency, including using waste heat. Utilities must submit these plans to the Board of Public Utilities within 180 days, and the rules will take effect one year after the bill passes. Key requirements include data centers committing to 85% service levels for 10 years, proving project uniqueness, and providing financial guarantees to cover potential cost overruns if they reduce service.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a transaction-based requirement for remote sellers and corporations to pay New Jersey sales/use tax and corporate business tax. Currently, sellers must collect tax if they make 200+ separate transactions in New Jersey or exceed $100,000 in revenue. The bill removes the 200-transaction threshold, meaning only the $100,000 revenue rule remains to determine tax obligations. It directly affects out-of-state online retailers and corporations operating in New Jersey without a physical presence. The change applies only to future transactions, not retroactively.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to create formal agreements with state agencies and nonprofit energy groups that offer their own utility assistance programs. The goal is to integrate these separate programs into a single, user-friendly online application portal for residents seeking help with utility bills or energy efficiency measures. Under the new rules, these partner organizations must work with the department to update the consolidated form and report any temporary assistance programs so they can also be included. This change aims to simplify the process for households applying for financial aid by centralizing multiple options into one digital system.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 725) allows New Jersey municipalities to acquire vacant, abandoned, or tax-delinquent properties more easily. It defines "abandoned" or "vacant" as property meeting at least four specific criteria (e.g., overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, or unoccupied for seasonal use), and gives municipalities two options: purchase the property at fair market value (minus unpaid taxes/liens) or use eminent domain. Property owners would receive compensation adjusted for outstanding municipal debts, and unclaimed funds would be held for one year before being treated as abandoned under state law. The bill aims to streamline property acquisition compared to existing laws like the Abandoned Properties Rehabilitation Act, directly affecting municipalities and property owners in blighted areas. It was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to remove the automatic right to release on bail for individuals charged with contempt of a domestic violence restraining order. Under current rules, courts must generally release eligible defendants unless specific exceptions apply, but this legislation explicitly adds domestic violence contempt charges to the list of offenses where that presumption does not hold. The change means judges will have broader authority to order pretrial detention for these defendants without being required to grant release first, aiming to better protect victims and community safety. The measure directly affects prosecutors, defense attorneys, and defendants involved in domestic violence cases by altering the initial bail hearing process.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an annual competitive auction system for film and digital media tax credits in New Jersey, directing the resulting funds to the state's Civic Information Consortium and public broadcasting system. It reduces the available tax credit percentage for certain film productions while maintaining higher rates for specific digital media projects that meet strict local hiring and spending requirements. The legislation also includes a $15 million appropriation to support these initiatives and requires all recipients to include promotional materials for New Jersey in their final credits.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that outside contractors working at high-hazard industrial facilities, such as chemical plants and refineries, must employ a skilled and trained workforce to improve public safety. To achieve this, the legislation requires contractors to pay workers at least the prevailing journeyperson wage or ensure they are enrolled in approved apprenticeship programs that include advanced safety training. Additionally, the bill specifies that a significant portion of journeyperson workers must be graduates of these registered apprenticeship programs to guarantee they have received proper classroom instruction and on-the-job supervision. These measures aim to reduce risks associated with accidents by ensuring that personnel handling hazardous materials possess the necessary expertise and experience.
Maddy summaryThe Utility Rate Recovery Fairness Act prevents electric and gas public utilities in New Jersey from passing specific operational costs onto their customers through utility rates. This legislation explicitly bans the recovery of expenses related to legal fees, expert witnesses, employee time spent on rate hearings, and lobbying activities. It also prohibits utilities from including costs for trade association memberships, executive travel, and entertainment in the bills charged to consumers. By disallowing these charges, the bill aims to ensure that only essential service costs are reflected in the rates paid by the public.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires employers to pay a fee for each automated customer service kiosk they operate within the state. The fee is calculated based on the number of hours the kiosk is available for use and the state minimum wage, with the collected money going to unemployment and property tax relief funds. The law specifically defines these kiosks as self-service stations where customers can quickly order goods or submit payments at a business location. Employers must report and pay this contribution to the Division of Taxation, and the bill does not classify the kiosks themselves as employees.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an automated "Clean Slate" expungement process in New Jersey to help individuals with criminal records clear their histories more easily. It allows people to petition for expungement even if they do not meet standard eligibility criteria, provided they have waited the required amount of time after their conviction and paid any associated court fines or fees. The law includes specific provisions for cases where financial obligations are delayed due to reasons other than intentional nonpayment, as well as exceptions for those who have substantially complied with payment plans despite facing difficult circumstances. By streamlining these procedures, the legislation aims to reduce the administrative burden on courts while offering a pathway for record clearance to eligible residents.