Sen. Kristin Corrado

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $12 million from the state General Fund to the Village of Ridgewood for drinking water infrastructure upgrades specifically addressing PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) contamination. The funds directly benefit over 60,000 residents in Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock, and Wyckoff who rely on the Ridgewood Water system. The key provision provides state funding to cover the cost of required infrastructure improvements, preventing the village from needing to raise water rates for its customers. This is a direct financial allocation to address a public health concern identified in the community's water supply.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3358) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to study and compare the efficiency, speed, and costs of online versus in-person transactions. Specifically, the MVC must examine productive efficiency, operational throughput (transactions processed per time period), and marginal costs for both service methods. The MVC must submit a detailed report of its findings to the Governor and Legislature within six months of the bill's enactment. The bill expires once this report is submitted, making it a one-time study requirement without ongoing policy changes.

Maddy summarySJR 120 designates March as "Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month" in New Jersey to honor the service of military and law enforcement working dogs and their handlers. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition through activities during March, noting that March 13 is National K9 Veterans Day (commemorating the 1942 start of the U.S. Army's War Dog Program). This is a symbolic gesture with no new laws or funding, focusing on raising awareness of these animals' roles in protecting public safety.

Maddy summaryS 3351 establishes a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with aggravated assault against law enforcement officers must be held in pretrial detention unless they can prove otherwise. This bill amends New Jersey's criminal justice law to add "aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer" to the list of offenses triggering this presumption, alongside existing crimes like murder or life-imprisonment offenses. Defendants facing these charges would need to demonstrate by a preponderance of evidence that release conditions could reasonably ensure court appearance and public safety. The law does not automatically detain these defendants but shifts the burden to the defendant to rebut the presumption at a hearing. This directly affects individuals charged with this specific violent offense against police officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new exemption process for New Jersey municipalities facing severe flood risks, allowing them to avoid affordable housing requirements under the Fair Housing Act (P.L.1985, c.222). Municipalities designated as "extensively flood-prone" would be exempt from all current and future fair share housing obligations, including past unfulfilled commitments. The exemption would be determined by the Commissioner of Community Affairs using specific flood risk data, such as property owners' flood insurance costs and the number of repetitive flood-damaged properties relative to the municipality's size. This adds flood risk as a new factor - alongside existing considerations like historic preservation - to determine housing obligation exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to create a publicly available career and education guide for undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities attending state colleges and universities. The guide must detail each institution's resources, including disability career centers, work-based learning options (like internships), and accommodations (such as exam supports or accessible housing). It also provides career planning guidance on disclosing disabilities to employers, requesting workplace accommodations, understanding workers' rights, and accessing assistive technologies. The guide will include contact information for national and regional organizations supporting job seekers with disabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to create a policy for using video reviews in high school basketball playoff games. The policy must mandate official video and audio recordings of all playoff games to review game clock decisions. Head coaches will be allowed up to two challenges per game regarding clock errors. The policy applies to all NJSIAA basketball playoff tournaments starting with the first full school year after the bill takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3316) allows veterans to earn New Jersey Firefighter 1 certification without completing the standard training course if they have at least 12 months of active military service and completed military firefighter training. It directly affects veterans who served in military firefighting roles, waiving the required recruit training course while maintaining other eligibility and examination standards set by the Division of Fire Safety. The key provision replaces the mandatory training requirement with verification of military service and training completion. This change applies only to Firefighter 1 certification and does not alter examination or other eligibility criteria. The bill aims to recognize veterans' existing firefighting qualifications for state certification.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows disabled veterans in New Jersey to claim a $5,000 deduction from their gross income for service animal expenses not already covered by medical expense deductions. It directly affects disabled veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-connected disability recognized by the U.S. Veterans Administration. Key provisions include deducting costs for purchasing, training, and maintaining service animals (such as food, grooming, and veterinary care), with "service animal" defined per the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2024, and requires taxpayers to submit proof to the Division of Taxation.

Maddy summaryS 3357 establishes the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council within the Office of Information Technology to study how state agencies use artificial intelligence. The council, consisting of seven members including the Chief Technology Officer, legislative appointees, and two AI experts appointed by the governor, will assess the pros and cons of state AI adoption. Its key duties include developing a state AI ethics code with anti-discrimination protections, creating safety guidelines for agencies, and reviewing existing AI systems for ethical concerns. The council must issue a final report to the governor and legislature within one year of its first meeting, after which it will expire. This bill directly affects all state agencies procuring, developing, or using AI systems.