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 requires data brokers operating in New Jersey to register with the Division of Consumer Affairs annually ($100 fee) and submit detailed information about their data collection, privacy policies, opt-out options, and data breach history. It directly affects businesses that collect and sell personal identifying information without a direct relationship to the individual, such as those selling health data. The key provision bans data brokers from selling, sharing, or transmitting physical health records (covering treatments for physical conditions) or behavioral health records (covering mental health, substance use, or emotional disorder care). The law establishes a public registry of registered brokers to increase transparency about how sensitive health data is handled.
Maddy summaryS 2338, the "Climate Superfund Act," imposes strict liability on fossil fuel companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of covered greenhouse gas emissions during 1995-2026 (the "covered period"). It requires these companies to pay compensatory damages into a state fund managed by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The collected funds will finance climate change adaptation projects - such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and heat-resilient housing - as defined in the bill. This legislation directly affects major fossil fuel extraction and refining entities operating in New Jersey during the covered period, establishing a new cost recovery program without requiring proof of negligence.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance to create a centralized all-payer claims database. The system will collect and store data on medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision claims from insurance companies, hospitals, and other healthcare providers. Key provisions mandate that the department securely manage this information, conduct audits to verify accuracy, and publish the data on a public dashboard for transparency. The law applies to nearly all health plans in the state but excludes specific types of coverage such as accident-only policies and Medicare supplements.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that any food product containing animal cell-cultivated ingredients must be clearly labeled to inform consumers. The law requires these labels to be prominent, large enough to be seen, and distinct from traditional food packaging to prevent confusion. It also applies to food service businesses, such as restaurants and cafeterias, which must indicate on menus or through verbal notification when serving such products. The legislation defines cell-cultivated food as tissue grown in a lab outside of an animal and excludes commercial feed and pet food from these requirements. Additionally, the state health commissioner is tasked with creating specific rules to implement these labeling standards across various food types.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State of New Jersey to use eminent domain to acquire private real property in the state's five most populous cities to address a severe housing shortage. The acquired land will be used to build affordable, rapid-rehousing, and transitional housing facilities specifically designed to assist formerly incarcerated individuals, families displaced by natural disasters, and those currently experiencing homelessness. The legislation also includes an appropriation of funds to support these construction and operational efforts, aiming to provide stable living environments and necessary supportive services. By creating publicly owned housing hubs in major urban centers, the bill seeks to alleviate the strain on existing shelters and improve access to resources for vulnerable populations.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that direct care staff in various health and residential facilities receive specific training on caring for people with dementia. The requirement applies to employees in assisted living homes, hospitals, nursing facilities, and other similar settings overseen by state departments. Staff must complete live training sessions every two years, with the number of hours depending on their role, and must pass a short exam to prove they learned the material. The training covers essential topics such as understanding dementia symptoms, effective communication techniques, managing behavioral changes, and creating supportive environments. The Commissioner of Health is responsible for developing the curriculum and enforcing these new rules to improve care standards.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires health insurance companies to offer a reference-based pricing system for specific medical services, directly affecting patients and healthcare providers. Under this system, insurers would pay providers a pre-determined maximum rate for certain procedures instead of the full amount billed, with the goal of controlling costs on services that currently have the largest gaps between Medicare rates and negotiated rates. The law mandates that insurers provide customers with an annual list of covered services, their set prices, and the providers who have agreed to accept these rates, while also ensuring patients have reasonable access to care. The Department of Banking and Insurance is tasked with creating detailed rules to implement this pricing framework and monitor network adequacy.
Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the governance of New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program by creating a new 13-member State Health Benefits Commission. The commission will include existing state officials, representatives from local and higher education employers, and members appointed by various public employee unions, including specific seats for police and firefighters. It also establishes a process for selecting an independent expert to advise on health plan design while ensuring the commission operates with a majority vote requirement. The legislation mandates that commission members serve without pay but receive expense reimbursement, and it requires the commission to publish an annual financial report for public review.
Maddy summaryThis bill imposes three new fees on private prison operators in New Jersey. Operators with government contracts must pay 8% of the contract value annually, while all operators must pay $15 per inmate per day detained at their facility. Non-S corporation operators must also pay a 3% surtax on their taxable income. Revenue from these fees will fund two programs: legal services for detained and deported individuals, and community initiatives including food security, housing, job training, and youth mentorship.