Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to translate homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification exams into multiple languages, starting with English and Spanish. It directly affects individuals seeking these healthcare certifications, particularly non-English speakers who may face language barriers during testing. The law mandates the Department of Health and the New Jersey Board of Nursing to provide these exams in multiple languages, with no specific additional languages required beyond the minimum. This policy change aims to increase accessibility to healthcare certification pathways without altering exam content or standards.

Maddy summarySJR 105 establishes the "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force" to assess and recommend strategies for addressing cybersecurity threats targeting residents and businesses. The task force must focus its recommendations on identifying threats, preventing cyber breaches, and recovering from attacks. Comprising 11 members - including state officials, legislative leaders, and five public appointees representing municipalities, businesses, schools, and cybersecurity experts - the group must submit its report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting, after which the task force expires. This is a procedural resolution, not a policy law, creating a temporary body to guide future cybersecurity efforts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3085 requires public service employers (like government agencies, schools, and public libraries) to certify qualifying employees' work history for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF). Employers must provide completed PSLF forms to employees upon request, annually, or when leaving their job, and credit 3.35 hours of work for each hour of teaching time for educators. The bill also mandates the Secretary of Higher Education to create and distribute plain-language materials - including a standardized letter, fact sheet, and FAQ - to all public service employers and their employees about the PSLF program. These materials must be shared annually with current staff and provided to new hires within 30 days of starting work.

Maddy summaryS 3066 prohibits the combustion of high-emission fossil fuels (defined as substances emitting 25+ kg CO₂ per million BTU) in new buildings under seven stories starting 12 months after enactment, expanding to all new buildings after 36 months. It exempts emergency systems, emergency facilities, and commercial kitchens but requires these areas to be "all-electric ready" for future conversion. The bill mandates a joint report on utility rate adjustments and allows municipalities to enforce stricter local standards than the state. This directly affects new construction developers and builders of residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThe John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey establishes new protections for voters in racial, color, and language-minority groups. It requires that all voting policies be interpreted in favor of protecting voting rights and prohibits policies that burden these voters. The law creates a preclearance process for certain political subdivisions needing Attorney General approval before implementing voting changes. It also mandates language assistance for limited English proficient voters and establishes a New Jersey Voting and Elections Institute to maintain public voting data.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets minimum payment rates for ambulance services under New Jersey's Medicaid program. It requires $300 per emergency ambulance transport and $8.94 per loaded mile for ground ambulance services, with annual adjustments tied to Medicare rates. These changes directly affect ambulance providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries. The rates take effect July 1, 2024, and require state rule updates for implementation.

Maddy summarySCR 43 proposes adding a constitutional amendment to New Jersey's Constitution that grants every resident a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including pure water, clean air, a safe climate, and ecologically healthy habitats. It requires the state to act as trustee of public natural resources - such as air, water, public lands, and wildlife - and mandates that these resources be conserved and maintained for all people, both present and future. The amendment specifies that these rights are self-executing, meaning they can be directly enforced in court without requiring new legislation. If approved by voters, this would become a permanent part of New Jersey's Constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to reimburse providers at the same rates for certain primary care and mental health services as the federal Medicare program. Starting July 1, 2023, Medicaid rates must equal or exceed Medicare Part B rates for services provided by family doctors, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, midwives, and mental health professionals like psychologists and social workers. The law ensures current Medicaid rates won't decrease and applies to both fee-for-service and managed care Medicaid systems. It also mandates a report within one year to the Governor and Legislature on how these rate changes affect access to care and service quality for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 237, the "Clean Energy Act of 2024," requires all retail electricity sales in the state to come from clean sources by 2035. This affects electric utilities and power suppliers, who must meet the standard through a new certificate program tracking clean energy generation. The bill establishes "clean electricity certificate" (CEAC) credits for zero-emission sources like nuclear, solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. It replaces some existing renewable energy certificate systems and directs the Board of Public Utilities to implement the program, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while supporting existing nuclear and offshore wind projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric utilities to create and submit detailed grid modernization plans within one year. The plans must address storm resilience, integrating renewable energy sources, improving outage prevention, and meeting climate goals, with cost estimates and timelines. It appropriates $300 million to fund a ratepayer relief program that helps offset customer cost increases from these upgrades. The Board of Public Utilities will review plans, approve or revise them, and manage the relief fund, which prioritizes projects using federal infrastructure funding. The bill does not take effect until passed into law.