Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities (like gas or electric companies) to reimburse New Jersey state or local governments for costs incurred when securing dangerous conditions on utility-controlled property that threaten public safety. If a utility's property creates a hazard accessible to the public, the government must first notify the utility and deploy personnel to secure the site. The utility has one hour to respond; if they fail to secure the hazard within that time, they must pay for the government's costs. The bill also establishes a federal-style fee schedule for reimbursement claims and prohibits utilities from including these payments in future rate increase requests. The bill is pending before the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 474) requires human trafficking awareness signs in New Jersey to include information in Chinese and Korean, in addition to English and Spanish. It affects businesses like strip clubs, massage parlors, hotels, airports, hospitals, and transportation hubs that already display these signs under existing law. The signs must be at least 8.5x11 inches, printed in 16-point font, and displayed in conspicuous locations. Failure to comply carries a $300 penalty for the first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The change responds to a 2024 Commission report on trafficking in the massage industry.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 455) is mislabeled in its title; the actual text amends **special probation rules for substance use disorder cases**, not expungement statutes. It creates a new "special probation" option for individuals with substance use disorders convicted of certain offenses (excluding serious violent crimes), requiring a court to assess their condition, confirm the offense was drug/alcohol-related, and ensure no prior violent convictions. If approved, offenders must enter licensed residential or nonresidential treatment (including medication-assisted therapy) with regular drug testing, replacing incarceration. The bill directly affects people with substance use disorders who meet strict eligibility criteria, aiming to reduce prison time by prioritizing treatment over punishment. *(Note: The bill's title incorrectly references "expungement" despite the text focusing solely on probation and treatment programs.)*
Maddy summaryS 2706 requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities to hire a third party to study whether de-privatizing public utilities (like electricity or water providers) would be feasible and cost-effective. The study must examine two main options: public entities (e.g., government agencies) acquiring or jointly operating utilities, or public entities partnering with existing utilities. It will analyze short- and long-term costs, benefits, environmental impacts, service effects, and ratepayer costs, and must be completed within one year. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the state General Fund to cover the study and mandates a final report with recommendations for the Governor and Legislature.
Maddy summaryS 457 expands New Jersey's "Nosey's Law" (P.L.2018, c.141) by banning rabbits, hares, and rodents from traveling animal acts like circuses and carnivals. It removes previous exemptions for domestic animals such as cows, horses, and dogs, adding these species to the prohibited list. The bill limits existing exceptions to apply only to educational institutions - outreach programs at schools can still use animals for bona fide education, but not for general entertainment. This change takes effect immediately upon passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Senior Citizen Tenant Protection Act," would allow renters aged 55 or older who live in the same rental unit for at least 10 years to apply for rent increase limits. To qualify, applicants must have an annual income under $80,000 (adjusted annually), not use federal or state housing assistance, and reside in non-public housing. If approved, landlords could only raise rent by an amount tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), not exceeding the current rent multiplied by an annual CPI-based rate factor. Landlords may request waivers for financial hardship, but the rent cap would remain in effect unless a waiver is granted.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1188) amends New Jersey's "Extended Employment Act" to modernize support for people with significant disabilities. It revises key definitions - such as replacing "sheltered workshop" with "extended employment" to describe nonprofit-run programs providing work opportunities for individuals with disabilities who cannot compete in the open labor market. The bill updates funding mechanisms to tie annual increases to the CPI-W index (not fixed amounts) and requires contracted providers to submit detailed annual reports on participant outcomes. It directly affects nonprofit service providers administering these programs and people with significant disabilities who qualify for extended employment services. The changes aim to better align program structure with current vocational rehabilitation standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence (a dwelling or structure adapted for overnight accommodation) to a second-degree crime, regardless of whether the burglar was armed or caused injury. Currently, such burglaries are typically third-degree unless specific aggravating factors exist. The change means offenders convicted of entering a home unlawfully will face a second-degree charge, requiring them to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before parole eligibility under New Jersey’s No Early Release Act (NERA). This directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglary, increasing potential prison time compared to the current third-degree classification. The bill amends New Jersey law to automatically classify these offenses as second-degree burglary under Section 2C:18-2(b)(3).
Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a crime in New Jersey for a person to refuse to provide valid identification or their true identity to law enforcement *when arrested and specifically requested to do so*, if the purpose is to hinder their own apprehension or prosecution. It applies to individuals who withhold ID to avoid being charged or convicted, with penalties tied to the severity of the underlying offense they face (e.g., a mandatory minimum year in prison for serious cases like fatal hit-and-runs). Penalties range from a third-degree crime (for serious underlying offenses) to a fourth-degree crime or disorderly persons offense (for less severe cases). The law does not apply to routine ID requests unrelated to evading prosecution.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 to explicitly include elderly and disabled adults living in non-institutionalized settings (like their homes or community housing) as protected victims. It amends the law's definition of "domestic violence" and "victim" to clarify that emotional, psychological, physical, and financial abuse against these vulnerable groups must be treated equally to abuse against spouses or children. The change ensures law enforcement and courts apply existing protections consistently to elder abuse in domestic contexts, closing a gap where such cases weren't clearly covered under prior law. This affects elderly and disabled residents who rely on family or caregivers but face abuse without clear legal recourse.