Sen. Kristin Corrado

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1135 requires colleges and government employers to inform specific people about the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Public and private colleges must provide this information to students with outstanding federal student loans during their final academic semester and when applying for graduation. Government employers must share the same information with employees at hiring and annually thereafter. The details include eligibility requirements (like 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer) and the program's website, but do not change loan terms or forgiveness eligibility.

Maddy summaryS 1179 allocates $12 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Village of Ridgewood for drinking water infrastructure upgrades addressing per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) pollution. This directly affects Ridgewood Water, a public water system serving over 60,000 residents across Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock, and Wyckoff. The bill provides supplemental funding to cover costs of PFAS-related infrastructure improvements, avoiding the need for the water department to impose significant rate increases on its customers. The funding is added to the state's 2024 annual appropriations act and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryS 1168 requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to offer discounted fares for five specific groups: K-12 and college students commuting to school, participants in workforce training programs, individuals receiving Work First New Jersey benefits, and newly employed residents meeting strict criteria (earning minimum wage, working 20+ hours weekly, unemployed 30+ days, and not currently on public assistance). The discounts apply to NJT’s regular bus, rail, and light rail services. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage and defines "workforce training" as unpaid apprenticeships or internships. It does not alter existing fare structures for other riders.

Maddy summaryBill S 1161 allows New Jersey's State Board of Social Work Examiners to permit applicants to seek licensure as a clinical social worker, social worker, or certified social worker without taking an exam. It directly affects individuals seeking social work licenses who can demonstrate equivalent education and work experience through documented records. The bill requires applicants to submit educational and experiential records, and the board must determine if their background meets competency standards for the specific license. This creates an alternative pathway to traditional exam-based licensure under the Social Workers’ Licensing Act of 1991.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) for low-income residents in specific facilities - from $50 to $140 - to cover personal expenses like phone calls, meals out, or hobbies. It directly affects individuals receiving medical assistance under Medicaid who live in nursing homes, state psychiatric hospitals, or state developmental centers. The allowance will automatically rise annually starting January 1 after enactment, matching the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) percentage. This change ensures the PNA remains aligned with inflation while being disregarded income for Medicaid eligibility calculations. The bill amends existing state laws to implement this increase and adjust future payments.

Maddy summaryS 1125 (New Jersey) expands the 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund to cover costs counties and municipalities incur for maintaining 9-1-1 services, including training, operations, and equipment. It explicitly adds "costs incurred by counties and municipalities for the provision and maintenance of 9-1-1 emergency services" as an eligible use of trust funds. The bill requires funds to be prioritized for distribution to county, regionalized, or large centralized 9-1-1 centers before other local providers. This change directly supports local governments managing emergency call systems by providing dedicated funding for their operational needs.

Maddy summaryS 829, titled "CJ's Law," would make it illegal to manufacture, sell, or possess substances containing kratom in New Jersey. The bill amends state drug laws to explicitly include kratom under prohibited "controlled dangerous substances," creating new criminal penalties for these activities. This change would directly affect individuals who use or sell kratom products, as current law does not ban kratom. The law would apply to all kratom-containing substances, including those sold as dietary supplements or recreational products.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides free tuition at New Jersey public colleges and universities for dependent children and surviving spouses of New Jersey residents who were killed while serving in the U.S. military. It covers the portion of tuition not already covered by other scholarships or aid, applying to institutions like Rutgers, NJIT, and county colleges. Eligibility lasts eight years after high school graduation for children or eight years from the service member's death for surviving spouses. The program begins for the 2022-2023 academic year and is funded through state appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill suspends the state sales and use tax, plus the societal benefits charge, on electric and gas utility bills for all customers in New Jersey during 2026 (January 1-December 31). It directly affects residential and commercial utility ratepayers by removing these specific charges from their monthly bills. The key mechanism is a temporary exemption from two fees: the standard sales tax on utility services and the societal benefits charge (which funds clean energy programs and energy assistance). The suspension ends January 1, 2027, and does not alter the underlying utility rates.

Maddy summaryS 1108 creates a grant program within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to fund homeless veterans' shelters in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland counties. The bill requires these three southern counties to submit applications proposing specific locations and property they will provide for the state to develop and operate shelters. Grants will be awarded based on criteria set by the Adjutant General, using funds appropriated by the legislature. This directly addresses geographic barriers homeless veterans face in accessing shelter services, particularly during extreme weather, by establishing new facilities in underserved southern counties.