Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 286 allows counties and municipalities to create reduced water, sewer, and stormwater fees for low-income households. It permits local sewerage authorities and municipal water systems to lower charges for residents whose household income is at or below a threshold based on federal poverty guidelines, provided they meet specific eligibility criteria like residing in the dwelling unit and not receiving similar assistance elsewhere. Authorities must establish clear application processes requiring income documentation and advertise the program to residents. The bill requires that local governments have sufficient budget flexibility to cover revenue losses from these reductions without raising rates for other customers.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThe Freedom to Read Act establishes requirements for library materials in New Jersey public school libraries and public libraries, requiring school boards and library governing bodies to adopt policies that ensure access to diverse and inclusive materials. The bill defines "diverse and inclusive material" as content reflecting protected classes under New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination, materials produced by authors regardless of their protected class status, and materials containing authors' views on contemporary issues, while excluding age-inappropriate content. It creates procedures for challenging library materials, including review committees and requiring that challenged materials remain available until a final decision is made. The bill also provides legal protections for school library media specialists and librarians, granting them immunity from liability for good-faith actions and a civil cause of action against those who harass them for complying with the law.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's unemployment benefit rules to protect workers who leave one job to accept another but lose the new job offer through no fault of their own. It extends the time period between leaving the first job and starting the second job from seven to ten days. The change codifies a 2019 court ruling (McClain v. Bd. of Review) that established these workers should be eligible for unemployment benefits. This directly affects workers experiencing rescinded job offers during employment transitions, ensuring they can access benefits during this period.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to establish electronic systems for receiving public complaints and distributing key municipal information, such as meeting notices, budgets, emergency alerts, and road closures. Municipalities must provide an online complaint form (or the state will supply one for those without a website) and allow residents to sign up for electronic alerts via email, text, or social media. Implementation depends on available funding, as the bill explicitly states it cannot impose unfunded costs on municipalities. The law applies to all municipalities and takes effect immediately.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create online systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results in drinking water. Schools (required to test since 2016) and child care centers (required since 2017) must submit their test results electronically within 90 days of the systems launching, with results made publicly searchable on department websites. The bill also mandates that DOE and DCF jointly produce a report within two years detailing lead contamination levels, remediation needs, and state assistance recommendations. This aims to create a centralized public database to better track lead issues and inform future funding or support for affected facilities.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's bereavement leave provisions under the Family Leave Act (P.L.1989, c.261) and Temporary Disability Benefits Law (P.L.1948, c.110) to include leave for the death of a child, miscarriage, stillbirth, termination of pregnancy for medical reasons, unsuccessful adoption, and failed fertility treatments. Employees who meet eligibility requirements can take up to 21 days of leave for circumstances where they wouldn't otherwise qualify for leave, or up to 7 days for circumstances where they would otherwise qualify. The leave applies to employees who are biological parents, adoptive parents, or parents through a gestational carrier agreement, as well as their spouses, domestic partners, or civil union partners. This legislation specifically addresses bereavement needs not previously covered under existing leave provisions for these specific personal losses.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of New Jersey to cover transportation costs exceeding a district's average per-pupil transportation expense for two specific groups of homeless students. First, it applies when homeless students attend school in their "district of residence" while temporarily living in another district (e.g., due to shelter placement). Second, it applies to students displaced by terrorism or natural disasters who remain in their original school district for up to two years. Currently, school districts cover all transportation costs for these students, but this bill shifts the burden for costs above the district's average to the state. The change takes effect immediately for the next full school year following enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents to purchase special "Student Movement Against Cancer" license plates. Vehicle owners pay a $50 application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, with all additional fees (after covering costs) deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund annually provides money to the Student Movement Against Cancer (SMAC) foundation to support its cancer awareness and fundraising programs. The program requires 500 initial applications and $25,000 in private funding before launch, and the plates display the phrase "Peace Out, Cancer" with SMAC's emblem.
Maddy summaryS 3914 prohibits the farming (aquaculture) of any octopus species for human consumption in New Jersey. It also bans businesses from selling, possessing, or transporting octopus raised through aquaculture. Violations carry daily civil penalties of up to $1,000, with each day of violation treated as a separate offense. The law takes immediate effect and excludes wild-caught octopus and octopus used solely for research.
Maddy summaryS 3871 establishes an Artificial Intelligence Apprenticeship Program within New Jersey’s Department of Labor, connecting employers in the AI industry with apprentices for training in AI technology, data analytics, and automation. It also creates a tax credit allowing employers to claim up to $5,000 per qualified AI apprentice annually (based on half the apprentice’s wages, capped at $5,000). To qualify, apprentices must be unskilled or semi-skilled, employed for at least 20 weeks in a state-compliant program, and work in AI-related roles like software development or generative AI applications. The credit applies to both the state’s gross income tax and corporation business tax starting in 2026, supporting employer investment in workforce development.