Sen. Benjie Wimberly

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers with 10+ employees to publicly disclose salary ranges and benefits details in all job postings for promotions, new roles, and transfers. It also mandates that employers announce promotion opportunities internally to all current employees in the relevant department before making decisions, unless promotions are based solely on experience or performance. Employers who fail to comply face escalating fines: $1,000 for the first violation, $5,000 for the second, and $10,000 for each subsequent violation. Temporary staffing firms are exempt from posting pay details for future openings but must provide this information at the time of interview or hire.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2652 revises laws to better protect children from sexual exploitation. It creates a civil right for victims (or their guardians/advocacy groups) to sue perpetrators for three times the profits gained from distributing child sexual abuse material, holding both individuals and corporate employees personally liable. The bill also expands sex offender registration requirements to include anyone working with children in schools or jobs for over 14 consecutive days, clarifies which offenses trigger registration (like creating or sharing exploitative material), and adds a limited exception for juvenile-created nude photos under strict conditions. These changes directly affect victims of child exploitation, perpetrators, and institutions that facilitate such abuse. The law passed unanimously in 2024 (P.L.2024, c.92).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows insurers to deliver portable electronics insurance notices and documents electronically (via email) instead of by mail. It requires insurers to switch to another delivery method (like mail) if they can't confirm email delivery or if a customer's email address is outdated. The law directly affects insurers selling portable electronics insurance and their customers, who receive policy changes, terminations, or other notices. Key provisions include 30-day notice requirements for policy changes and specific fallback rules for email delivery failures. The bill became law as P.L.2024, c.90.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection to New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance for damage from Hurricane Ida's remnants. It establishes a process for eligible homeowners to apply to the Department of Community Affairs for a "Certification of Eligibility for Forbearance," which would temporarily suspend mortgage principal and interest payments for one year. Homeowners must have occupied their primary residence as of August 31, 2021, and received federal disaster assistance related to Hurricane Ida damage. During the forbearance period, mortgage servicers cannot initiate foreclosure proceedings, though homeowners remain responsible for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. The relief ends either one year after the forbearance begins or January 1, 2026, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryAR 167 establishes a 12-member Assembly Select Committee on Ballot Design in New Jersey. The committee, with six members appointed by the Speaker and six by the Minority Leader, will review studies, court decisions, and best practices related to primary and general election ballot design. Its sole purpose is to examine ballot design research to inform future election administration in the state. The committee will expire upon completion of its work and has no authority to change election laws or voting procedures.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 95) urges Congress to permanently change federal tax law so that all forgiven student loans become tax-free. Currently, borrowers who have student debt discharged through programs like Public Service Loan Forgiveness or death/disability (but only until 2026) do not owe income tax on the forgiven amount, but other forms of forgiveness - such as after 20 or 25 years in Income-Driven Repayment Plans - still require borrowers to pay federal income tax on the discharged debt. The resolution requests Congress make all student loan discharge tax-free permanently, directly affecting borrowers who receive loan forgiveness but face unexpected tax bills. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change law but formally requests federal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4871) provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for New Jersey homeowners who lived in their primary residence as of August 31, 2021, and received federal disaster aid for damage caused by Hurricane Ida's 2021 remnants. Eligible homeowners can apply to the Department of Community Affairs for a "Certification of Eligibility for Forbearance," which pauses mortgage payments for one year while blocking foreclosure actions during that period. The bill requires lenders to extend the mortgage repayment term by the forbearance duration, prohibits fees or penalties during the pause, and mandates lenders to report forbearance data to state agencies. Foreclosure stays are available until January 1, 2026, or one year after the stay is granted, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A586 (A586) expands the state's affordable housing voucher program to cover homeownership expenses, such as mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance, instead of only rental assistance. It directly affects low-income households, seniors aged 62+, and veterans who qualify for the state's Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), requiring the Department of Community Affairs to reserve funds for this homeownership option. The bill mandates local housing authorities administering federal Section 8 vouchers to implement this homeownership program, which they currently aren't required to do. This change takes effect six months after enactment to allow time for implementation. The policy shift aims to help eligible residents transition from renting to homeownership using state-funded vouchers.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $20 million in additional state funding for New Jersey's Summer Tuition Aid Grants program for the summer 2025 semester. It directs that eligible undergraduate students - those who received aid in the prior fall or spring semester and are enrolled in summer courses at the same institution - will receive 75% of the full grant amount they would normally qualify for under current law. The funds are allocated to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to cover tuition costs for students enrolled in six or more credits during summer 2025. This is a supplemental appropriation to the existing FY2025 budget, specifically increasing the grant amount for summer enrollment without changing eligibility requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence (such as a home or dwelling) from a third-degree to a second-degree crime in New Jersey, increasing potential penalties to 5-10 years in prison. If the burglary occurs while the perpetrator is armed with a weapon or explosives, or is connected to another serious crime, it becomes a first-degree crime with a potential 10-20 year sentence. The bill also requires that offenders convicted of these upgraded residential burglaries serve at least 85% of their sentence without parole, as mandated by New Jersey's No Early Release Act. This change directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglary, making penalties more severe for crimes targeting homes.