Maddy summaryS 3187 makes it a fourth-degree crime for employers to knowingly falsify payroll records required under New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act or to make false statements on public works contractor registration forms. Currently, such violations carry civil penalties like fines ($2,500-$25,000) and disqualification from public work, but this bill adds criminal penalties including up to 18 months in jail and fines up to $10,000 - applied in addition to existing penalties. The bill also requires county prosecutors or the Labor Commissioner to notify the Attorney General about violations, allowing the Attorney General to decide whether to prosecute directly or refer the case to local authorities. It directly affects employers working on public construction projects in New Jersey who must comply with prevailing wage requirements.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summarySJR 96 permanently designates August 17th as "Nonprofit Day" in New Jersey to honor the state's over 40,000 nonprofit organizations. The resolution requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition of nonprofits, which employ 330,000 New Jersey residents and contribute $5.3 billion annually to the state's economy through services like food assistance and education. This symbolic resolution aligns New Jersey with a national observance recognizing nonprofits' community impact.
Maddy summaryS 2346 creates a three-year pilot program to protect vulnerable residents during extreme heat and poor air quality events. It establishes "Code Red" alerts triggered when heat index reaches 95°F+ for two days or air quality hits index 151+, requiring counties to coordinate cooling centers, transportation, and outreach for homeless or outdoor residents. The bill appropriates $5 million total - $500,000 per participating county - to fund this effort in 10 selected counties. Counties must develop alert plans with local agencies, report to the state, and submit a final evaluation on the program’s effectiveness after the pilot ends.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2051 requires law enforcement officers to conduct a risk assessment for domestic violence victims who agree to participate. Officers must use the Ontario Domestic Assault Risk Assessment (ODARA) tool, gathering details on recent incidents, injuries, and weapon use. If the assessment indicates elevated risk of serious harm, officers must inform the victim and, with consent, connect them to crisis services or charge the suspect. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims (through consent-based assessments) and law enforcement officers (through mandated training and procedures).
Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A4976 creates two new firearm offenses: a third-degree crime for accidentally firing a gun within 100 yards of occupied buildings or schools/child care facilities (even if unoccupied), and a fourth-degree crime for other reckless discharges. This directly affects anyone who unintentionally discharges a firearm near schools, homes, or businesses. The bill specifies that convictions for these offenses won’t merge with other charges, requiring separate sentences, and mandates consecutive prison terms if multiple offenses occur. Third-degree violations carry up to 5 years in prison or $15,000 fines, while fourth-degree violations carry up to 18 months or $10,000 fines.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's State Longitudinal Data System (SLDS), a centralized platform to track education and workforce data across state agencies. It directly affects New Jersey residents by using anonymized data from the Department of Education, Higher Education offices, Labor Department, and other partners to improve workforce policies and education programs. The system will be operated by Rutgers' John J. Heldrich Center under a Governing Board with agency representatives, requiring strict privacy safeguards (like NIST certification) and releasing only aggregated data. The bill mandates $2 million annually in state funding for the system's maintenance and requires an annual report on its use and impact.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a single online application portal for substitute teachers seeking jobs at public schools. It mandates the portal be operational within 90 days of the bill's effective date, allowing substitute teachers to submit one application to multiple schools. The portal must help teachers connect with available positions, improve information sharing about openings, and maintain strong data privacy and security. School districts may still use their own hiring systems alongside the portal, and the Commissioner may hire a private vendor to manage it. The bill directly affects substitute teachers and public school employers across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric utilities to create a special pricing structure (tariff) for data centers within 180 days of the law taking effect. The tariff must prevent regular residential and business customers (non-data center ratepayers) from facing higher electricity costs due to data centers' increased energy demand. It also mandates that the pricing structure encourage data centers to improve energy efficiency, such as by using waste heat from their operations. Utilities must implement this tariff for all data centers in their service area one year after the bill becomes law, with the Board of Public Utilities overseeing approval. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to improve collaboration between local workforce development boards and community colleges in New Jersey. The pilot will operate in three areas, focusing on jointly developing workforce training programs with industry credentials, coordinating marketing efforts, and integrating funding resources to better serve job seekers. It designates community colleges as the preferred providers for state workforce training and adult literacy programs, replacing previous arrangements. The State Employment and Training Commission will manage the pilot, develop a statewide expansion strategy, and submit annual reports on outcomes like employment rates and credential attainment. Funding will come from state and federal sources, prioritizing federal funds where available.
Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the employee threshold for New Jersey's Secure Choice Savings Program, requiring all employers with at least one employee to participate - previously, only businesses with 25 or more employees were subject to this requirement. It removes the "small employer" exemption, meaning even the smallest businesses must automatically enroll eligible employees in the retirement savings program unless employees opt out. Employers must establish payroll deduction arrangements within nine months of the program's launch, with employees able to choose contribution levels (starting at 3% of wages) and investment options. The change directly affects all New Jersey employers, expanding participation from larger businesses to all workplaces with employees.