Sen. Benjie Wimberly

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the amount of paid leave available to public employees in New Jersey who serve in the United States Reserves or National Guard. Under the new provisions, these employees would receive up to 90 work days of paid leave for federal active duty, an increase from the current limit of 30 days. Any time served beyond the 90-day cap would remain unpaid but would not count against the employee's accrued time off. The change applies to full-time or permanent officers and employees across state, county, and municipal agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies that run public advertising bids to reserve at least 30% of their advertising budget for eligible local news organizations. The legislation defines eligible news outlets as those that produce original local content, maintain editorial independence, and meet specific operational standards such as staffing levels and financial transparency. By setting aside a portion of advertising revenue, the bill aims to support local journalism while preserving the editorial freedom of news organizations. The measure applies to all state departments and agencies that currently advertise bid solicitations under existing procurement laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national self-exclusion program, enabling gamblers to voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos across multiple states using a single form. It requires the division to create rules and forms for this participation, ensuring individuals can select which states they want excluded from and must give explicit consent before sharing their information. The bill protects casinos from liability if they follow self-exclusion protocols and keeps the list confidential from public view. It directly affects individuals seeking to restrict their access to gambling venues in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in New Jersey with more than 4,000 residents to create and maintain a free, publicly accessible list of local community service organizations. These organizations are defined as groups that provide voluntary services to benefit the community, and the list must include their contact information. Towns must publish this list on their official websites or on a free online news publication, updating it at least once every year. To help cover the costs of compliance, the bill allows municipalities to apply for financial reimbursement from the state Department of Community Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program within the New Jersey Department of Transportation to identify and address abandoned mines that threaten roads, bridges, and public utilities. It requires the department to develop a comprehensive plan that maps at-risk mines, prioritizes them by danger level, and outlines specific steps to stabilize or reclaim them. The legislation grants state employees the right to enter private property to conduct necessary safety investigations, provided they give proper notice and do not force owners to pay for the work. Once the plan is complete, the department can either perform the reclamation projects directly or hire private contractors to carry them out.

Maddy summaryS 1834 amends New Jersey's urban enterprise zone (UEZ) program to allow for the creation of additional zones. The bill updates definitions to clarify terms like "UEZ-impacted business districts" (areas negatively affected by adjacent zones) and expands the list of qualifying municipalities eligible to establish zones. This would enable more communities to create UEZs, which provide tax incentives to businesses to stimulate economic development in distressed areas. The changes would directly affect businesses operating within new zones and local governments managing these zones.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Council on Responsible Fatherhood within the Department of Children and Families to improve programs that encourage fathers to participate in their children's lives. The council will consist of 23 members, including state officials, community advocates, and fathers who have completed fatherhood programs, who will work together to identify needs and promote positive family involvement. Key provisions require the council to develop a comprehensive plan for fatherhood initiatives, review existing state programs to improve coordination, and hold an annual statewide symposium to discuss these issues. Additionally, the bill establishes a Responsible Fatherhood Fund to support the council's activities and reimburse members for necessary travel expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1786) establishes statewide rules to encourage accessory dwelling units (ADUs) - secondary housing units on the same lot as a primary home - across New Jersey. It requires municipalities with low population density (<9,000 people per square mile) to permit ADUs by default, while denser areas must have already adopted ADU-friendly zoning by 2025. Key provisions include mandating ADUs be at least 300 square feet with full living facilities, restricting them to personal use (not rental income), and allowing them only on lots zoned for single-family or two-family homes. The bill directly affects homeowners seeking to build ADUs, local governments updating zoning, and residents potentially gaining access to more affordable housing options.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows religious and nonprofit organizations to convert their nonresidential properties into housing developments that include affordable units, directly affecting these organizations and local municipalities. It requires municipal planning boards to approve such conversions without needing special variances, provided at least 20% of residential units are reserved as very-low, low-, or moderate-income housing, with specific sub-requirements for income tiers. The bill also permits increased density (up to 40 units per acre) and building height (one story above standard limits) for these projects and makes them eligible for long-term tax exemptions under New Jersey’s tax law. These changes aim to streamline the creation of affordable housing on properties owned by qualifying organizations while maintaining state affordability standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs 50% of revenue from fees and taxes on real property transfers exceeding $1 million (applied to sellers of residential, commercial, and certain other high-value properties) to the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Instead of depositing these funds into the General Fund as current law requires, the bill mandates they support affordable housing programs. The change takes effect July 1 following enactment, with the Trust Fund managing these dedicated resources for housing initiatives.