Sen. Benjie Wimberly

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 establishes the "Enhanced Transit Village Program" to support municipalities in developing walkable, mixed-use communities centered around public transit hubs. It targets distressed municipalities (score 50+ on revitalization index) already designated as "transit villages" by the Department of Transportation. Key provisions include requiring 50+ housing units per acre within 1/4 mile of transit and 25+ units per acre beyond that, alongside technical assistance for zoning changes, infrastructure upgrades, and promoting pedestrian/bike access. The program, administered by the Office of Planning Advocacy (Department of State) and DOT, is funded with $25 million in state appropriations.

Maddy summaryS 2711 requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit electric and gas utilities from charging residential customers lump-sum payments when actual usage exceeds estimated usage under equal payment plans. It also bans utilities from "underbilling" residential customers - charging them for the difference between estimated and actual usage after the fact - and prevents adding those unpaid balances to future bills. The bill mandates that any annual adjustments to equal payment plans must be based solely on a customer’s actual usage data, not estimates. This directly affects residential electricity and gas customers in New Jersey by preventing unexpected large charges tied to billing practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1823) clarifies and updates requirements for two key parts of New Jersey municipalities' master plans: the land use plan and housing plan. It mandates that land use plans adopted after specific dates must include climate change hazard vulnerability assessments (analyzing risks like flooding and sea-level rise) and address electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The housing plan element must now evaluate existing housing stock, project future needs for 10 years, and explicitly consider affordable housing availability. These changes directly affect all New Jersey municipalities required to maintain master plans, ensuring their planning processes address climate resilience and modern infrastructure needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes which school district pays for the education of homeless students in New Jersey. For the first school year after a family becomes homeless, the district where the parent or guardian last lived before homelessness covers costs. In subsequent years, the district where the child attends school becomes responsible for funding. If a child stays in a shelter or transitional housing for over one year, the State pays tuition instead. It directly affects homeless students and school districts managing educational costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3059) amends New Jersey law to explicitly define a law enforcement officer’s use of a chokehold - applying pressure to a person’s throat, windpipe, or neck area to hinder breathing or blood flow - as "deadly force." It directly affects New Jersey law enforcement officers, clarifying that such actions are now classified as deadly force under state law. The key provision specifies that officers cannot justify chokeholds unless they are necessary to protect themselves or others from death or serious injury, arrest a violent criminal, or prevent a violent crime. This change updates the legal definition to ensure chokeholds are treated with the same seriousness as other deadly force scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover prescription drugs for "serious mental illness" (including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and PTSD) without prior authorization or step therapy protocols. It directly affects individuals with these diagnoses who rely on insurance for mental health medications. Key provisions ban insurers from forcing patients to try lower-cost treatments first (step therapy) or requiring pre-approval for covered medications. The bill also mandates insurers to report how they apply medical necessity standards for mental health coverage to ensure parity with physical health benefits. This creates immediate, concrete changes to medication access for covered mental health conditions.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates March 21 each year as "Renewable Energy Day" in New Jersey, requesting the Governor issue an annual proclamation to encourage public observance. It recognizes New Jersey's renewable energy progress - such as achieving 5 gigawatts of solar capacity by 2024 and aiming for 50% renewable energy by 2030 - while highlighting the state's commitment to equitable access and climate benefits. The measure is symbolic, with no new policies or funding, and aligns with the national "Renewable Energy Day" observed on March 21.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new senior housing complexes (where at least 90% of units are occupied by residents aged 62 or older) to install standby emergency power generators. It mandates weekly checks, monthly load testing, and annual servicing of these generators to ensure reliable power during outages, prioritizing resident health and safety. Generators must comply with Department of Environmental Protection regulations on air pollution. The law applies to newly constructed buildings where construction permits were not finalized before the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes employment stability for high school coaches in New Jersey public school districts. Head coaches (who are tenured or out-of-district employees) receive a three-year contract, while assistant coaches (tenured) get a two-year contract. Coaches are automatically reappointed at the end of their term unless the school board provides 90 days' written notice of non-reappointment. The bill requires school districts to provide written notice of dismissal or pay reduction within five days, allows coaches to request a hearing within 10 days (with legal representation and testimony under oath), and mandates a board decision following the hearing.