Sen. Bob Singer

Maddy summaryS 846 establishes a state-administered system for electronic "gold and silver transactional currency," backed by physical gold and silver bullion held in a pooled depository account. The Commissioner of Banking and Insurance would administer the system, allowing users to pay with the currency (voluntarily accepted) or redeem it for U.S. dollars or physical bullion. The bill specifies that physical gold/silver coins meeting certain marking requirements may serve as legal tender under this system, but explicitly states it does not replace U.S. dollars or require businesses to accept the currency. Fees for administration would cover costs and be deposited into the state General Fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a three-year pilot program for barber licensing in four New Jersey cities (Elizabeth, Passaic, Paterson, and Perth Amboy). It allows barbers from states or countries without barbering licenses to work temporarily (for 120 days, extendable) while applying for full licensure, provided they have professional experience and work under a licensed New Jersey barber. The temporary permit protects them from violating licensing laws during this period. The program also streamlines licensing for barbers from jurisdictions with similar standards, eliminating the need for exams in those cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires a mandatory 3-year prison sentence with no parole eligibility for drivers who leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident causing serious bodily injury. It directly affects drivers convicted of leaving accident scenes under New Jersey law (specifically amending N.J.S.2C:12-1.1). The key provision eliminates judicial discretion for third-degree offenses in these cases, mandating a minimum 3-year term and prohibiting suspended sentences or parole. The bill also clarifies that this conviction does not merge with separate assault charges, requiring consecutive sentences for multiple offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all licensed hospitals and nursing homes in New Jersey to provide 24/7 interpreter services for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. It specifically mandates that services include electronic options like video remote interpreting and AI-assisted interpreting, as approved by the Health Commissioner. The policy directly affects healthcare facilities and ensures patients with hearing disabilities can access care without language barriers. The requirement takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 822 prohibits New Jersey public and private institutions of higher education from using a candidate's cultural competency skills or knowledge of specific ethnic/religious groups as criteria in hiring or promotion decisions. The bill directly affects colleges and universities receiving state funding, requiring them to remove these factors from employment reviews. Institutions found non-compliant become ineligible for state operational and capital funding, though exemptions exist for roles where such skills are essential (e.g., diversity officers), determined by the Higher Education Secretary. The law takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (SCR 24) would adjust New Jersey veterans' property tax deductions annually based on inflation, starting in 2026. Currently fixed at $250 for tax years 2003-2025, the deduction would increase each year using the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rounding up to the next dollar. It applies to honorably discharged veterans, their surviving spouses, and veterans living in continuing care retirement communities. The change requires voter approval through a constitutional amendment vote.

Maddy summaryS 803 creates a program for New Jersey to acquire development easements on privately-owned woodlands, permanently restricting future development to protect land for farming, forestry, and conservation. Woodlands must be at least 20 acres, used for agriculture or forestry production, and managed under approved stewardship plans to qualify. The program will use existing farmland preservation funds and coordinate with federal agencies to access additional support, such as the federal Forest Legacy Program. Landowners who sell these easements retain ownership but lose development rights, with restrictions recorded to last indefinitely.

Maddy summaryThe "Energy Security and Affordability Act" (S 1900) requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prioritize energy security, diversity, and affordability when updating the state's Energy Master Plan. It mandates the BPU to conduct detailed economic and ratepayer impact analyses for all energy generation projects and the Master Plan itself, including cost breakdowns, infrastructure expenses, and public comment periods. These analyses must be published online for 10 years using open-source modeling tools. The bill directly affects ratepayers (utility customers) and energy developers by ensuring decisions consider financial impacts and public input before project approvals.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 784) would allow New Jersey employers to prohibit cannabis use by employees during work hours and take disciplinary action based on drug tests showing impairment. It permits employers to conduct drug tests for reasonable suspicion of on-duty use, observable intoxication, or after work-related accidents, using scientifically reliable methods to assess impairment. The bill also creates new certification standards for "Workplace Impairment Recognition Experts" to help employers evaluate impairment during investigations. It maintains existing protections against workplace discrimination for off-duty cannabis use but explicitly allows employers to enforce drug-free workplace policies during work hours. This change directly affects employees who may face discipline for on-duty cannabis use and gives employers clearer legal authority to enforce safety policies.

Maddy summaryS 796 (New Jersey Senate Bill) allows school districts to use existing security categorical aid funding to hire school security personnel for both public and nonpublic schools within their district. The bill amends the "Secure Schools for All Children Act" to explicitly state that security services - including hiring security staff - can be paid for with this dedicated funding. Currently, school districts must provide security services to nonpublic school students, but this clarifies that hiring security personnel is an approved use of the existing security funding. The change makes current Department of Education guidance about allowable security expenditures consistent with the law.