Sen. Benjie Wimberly

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and "renaissance school projects" to install at least one exterior key box meeting safety standards at every school building by June 30, 2027. The key boxes must contain physical keys/access devices for all building areas and printed emergency mapping data, with locations determined in collaboration with emergency responders. The state appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to cover installation costs. This directly affects school administrators and emergency response teams by standardizing access during emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1927) extends New Jersey's $6,000 gross income tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans to their surviving spouses. Currently, the exemption applies only to the year a veteran dies (if filing jointly), but the bill would allow the spouse to continue claiming it in all subsequent years until they remarry. It directly affects spouses of deceased veterans who were eligible for the exemption during the veteran's lifetime. The change modifies the existing tax code (N.J.S.54A:3-1) to add this ongoing benefit, with no other policy changes described in the bill text.

Maddy summaryS 3457 establishes a New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs. The 20-member commission includes state agency leaders, legislative appointees, and community representatives from child care, education, and parent organizations. It will assess current programs, develop statewide quality standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program access across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The commission must submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years to the Governor and legislative education committees, then expire 30 days after the final report.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a voluntary program for New Jersey commercial farms to safely dispose of unused pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. The state will establish regional collection sites (with at least two annual events per site) and manage recycling of containers, overseen by the Department of Environmental Protection. Farms can participate to properly manage these materials without cost, and the program requires annual reports on participation, environmental benefits, and program costs. The initiative aims to reduce environmental risks from improper disposal while supporting farm compliance.

Maddy summaryS 4796 amends the lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding under New Jersey's FY2026 environmental infrastructure funding program. The bill specifies 151 clean water projects and 51 drinking water projects across numerous municipalities that will receive funding for construction and infrastructure improvements. It details specific funding amounts for each project, with total clean water project funding at approximately $1.28 billion and total drinking water project funding at approximately $1.16 billion. This bill authorizes funding for specific, pre-approved projects rather than creating new programs or policies.

Maddy summaryS 4797 amends the lists of environmental infrastructure projects eligible for loans from New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank for fiscal year 2026. The bill specifically updates eligibility for both clean water (wastewater treatment) and drinking water infrastructure projects across numerous municipalities. It includes specific projects such as the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission's wastewater systems, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority projects, and various municipal water systems. Local government units and public water utilities that sponsor these projects are directly affected by this eligibility update. This is a technical adjustment to the funding list rather than a new funding mechanism or policy change.

Maddy summaryS 4983 extends the deadline for enrolling newborn infants in health benefits coverage from 60 days to 90 days after birth. This change applies to both family health plans (covering parents and dependents) and individual plans that include newborns. Parents will now have 90 days, instead of 60, to submit birth notification and required payments to maintain continuous coverage for their infant. The bill does not alter the initial coverage start date (which remains effective at birth) but provides additional time to complete enrollment paperwork.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to allow licensed plumbing, electrical, and HVAC contractors to submit subcode application materials (like shop drawings and compliance calculations) electronically instead of physically. It specifically prohibits DCA from requiring physical seals or signatures on these contractors' subcode forms or on physical plans displayed at construction sites. The bill applies only to documents related to these contractors' specific disciplines (electrical, fire protection, or energy subcodes), not to general construction permits. This changes existing requirements to enable digital submissions while maintaining the same submission content and approval standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides labor protections for cannabis workers who are currently excluded from federal and state labor law protections. It establishes that cannabis employers (those not covered by the National Labor Relations Act) must allow employee organizations to represent workers, negotiate contracts, and access employees for meetings. The bill prohibits unfair labor practices by cannabis employers, such as discriminating against employees who join unions or refusing to negotiate in good faith. Employers who violate these provisions face fines up to $5,000 per day and must make employees or organizations whole for losses. The bill applies to workers employed by cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, dispensers, and other cannabis businesses operating under New Jersey's cannabis regulations.

Maddy summaryS 2392 amends New Jersey's existing medical cannabis law to add sickle cell anemia as a qualifying condition for treatment. This allows patients diagnosed with sickle cell anemia to access medical cannabis under the state's current program, following the same registration and physician authorization process as other qualifying conditions. The bill expands the list of approved medical conditions without creating new infrastructure or changing dispensary rules. It directly affects sickle cell anemia patients seeking alternative treatment options within New Jersey's regulated medical cannabis system. The policy change integrates sickle cell anemia into the existing framework established by P.L.2009, c.307.