Maddy summaryS 2782 clarifies that certain licensed or regulated professionals in New Jersey may be treated as independent contractors under state law if they have a written agreement designating them as such. It directly affects insurance producers, securities professionals (broker-dealers, agents, investment advisers), freight drivers at marine terminals/rail facilities meeting specific unemployment exemption criteria, and others meeting defined criteria under unemployment law. The bill prevents these professionals from being classified as employees for any purpose under state law during the term of their written agreement and eliminates the need for them to satisfy additional tests (like those under wage and hour laws) to maintain independent contractor status. It applies retroactively to all existing written agreements for these professionals.
Sponsored bills
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 summaryThis New Jersey bill mandates that water providers regularly inspect and repair underground pipes, valves, and fire hydrants to prevent leaks and infrastructure failures. It requires specific maintenance schedules, such as testing valves every four to eight years and inspecting underground lines every five years, with more frequent checks for older iron pipes or those in sinkhole-prone areas. The legislation also obligates companies to mark hydrants, map infrastructure locations using GPS, and keep detailed records of all maintenance for at least 12 years. Finally, the bill establishes penalties for water providers that fail to comply with these new inspection and repair requirements.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a two-year pilot program to improve flood monitoring and rainfall sensing across New Jersey, primarily benefiting municipalities in flood-prone areas. The Department of Environmental Protection will partner with the Davidson Laboratory at Stevens Institute of Technology to install sensors in 30 selected locations and analyze flood risks in the northern, central, and southern regions. The legislation appropriates $2 million to fund the project, with at least $1.5 million allocated for research and administrative support. At the end of the pilot, officials must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature detailing the program's results and recommending whether to make it permanent.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows unsuccessful bidders on public works projects to sue contractors who win contracts while breaking prevailing wage laws or failing to pay required taxes and benefits. The law specifically targets losing bidders whose offers were close to the winning bid, giving them the right to seek financial damages and attorney fees in court. To prevent multiple lawsuits over the same contract, the bill requires losing bidders to notify each other of their intent to sue, ensuring only one case proceeds per project. If a court finds the winning contractor violated the rules, it must pay the losing bidder for their lost costs and potential profits, with higher penalties for intentional violations.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill introduces temporary surcharges on hotel stays and sales within the Meadowlands district between June 12 and July 21, 2026, to fund preparations for special events. The measure adds a 2.5 percent fee on hotel room rates in most counties and a 3 percent fee on sales of goods, food, drinks, and amusement tickets in the Meadowlands, excluding transactions in the lowest-classified counties and purchases by tax-exempt entities. All collected funds will go to the state's General Fund, and the Department of the Treasury will handle collection and administration using existing tax procedures.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies permit review requirements under New Jersey's Coastal Area Facility Review Act to address nuclear energy facilities. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner to evaluate whether a nuclear facility's radioactive waste storage and disposal methods are safe, comply with Nuclear Regulatory Commission standards, and do not endanger life or the environment. Currently, the commissioner only assesses waste disposal, but this change expands the review to include storage methods as well. The bill applies specifically to nuclear energy generation facilities operating in the state. No fiscal impact is expected from this legislative change.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows gas and electric public utilities in New Jersey to use alternative methods for setting customer rates instead of relying solely on traditional annual rate cases. Under the legislation, utilities could adopt tools like multi-year rate plans, performance-based pricing, or earnings-sharing mechanisms that adjust rates based on specific metrics rather than just reviewing financial statements each year. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities would oversee these new approaches and approve plans that may include features like decoupling, which separates utility profits from the amount of energy sold. Residential, commercial, and industrial customers would be directly affected as these changes could alter how their utility bills are calculated and adjusted over time.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that amateur sports officials, such as referees and umpires, are classified as independent contractors rather than employees under New Jersey state employment laws. The legislation directly affects individuals who are paid to enforce rules, manage games, and ensure participant safety in amateur athletic events. Key provisions exempt these officials from various state protections and obligations, including unemployment compensation, workers' compensation, wage and hour laws, and certain tax requirements. The law applies retroactively to any pending legal or administrative proceedings that might have previously classified these workers as employees.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows high school students in grades 11-12 at New Jersey public schools to miss up to three days per school year for college visits, visits to technical institutions, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Students must provide documentation to their school, and these absences will not appear on transcripts, job applications, or affect perfect attendance records. Military recruitment-related activities include required testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting for enlistment. The law aims to support students exploring college or military career paths while maintaining attendance accountability.