Sen. Troy Singleton

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to clarify coverage requirements for business owners. It states that self-employed individuals, partners in partnerships, members of limited liability companies, and S corporation shareholders who actively work for their business are considered "employees" *only if their business elects to cover them* through workers' compensation insurance. Businesses are not required to purchase coverage unless they have at least one regular employee (not just the owner). The bill also clarifies that insurers cannot be sued for failing to cover these business owners unless the insurer acted with gross negligence, and requires new application notices about coverage options.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee to include specific first responder job titles in its primary care medical home program. It expands coverage to police, firefighters, emergency medical staff, dispatchers, correctional officers, investigators, and similar personnel (and their dependents) already enrolled in the state health benefits program. The program must provide comprehensive care, including routine check-ups, medications, mental health services, urgent care, and coordination with specialists. This mandate applies whenever the committee creates or modifies such a program for first responders.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Public Education Innovation Fund within New Jersey's Department of Education to provide grants to low-performing public schools for implementing educational innovation programs. Schools qualify if they meet specific academic performance thresholds based on state assessment results, such as high percentages of students scoring below proficiency in math or language arts. Businesses that donate to this fund receive tax credits - up to $10,000 annually for gross income tax, and corporation business tax credits - directly tied to their donations. The total tax credits available annually are capped at $5 million, with certifications issued on a first-come, first-served basis. The fund aims to address academic barriers through innovative strategies in schools meeting the defined performance criteria.

Maddy summaryS 475 requires New Jersey's Attorney General to review and update statewide policies for investigating human trafficking. This affects law enforcement agencies (county/municipal police), county prosecutors, and human trafficking victims by mandating specific policy improvements. Key provisions include evaluating whether audio/video recordings in undercover operations protect investigations and victim treatment, establishing strict rules for sharing such recordings, and ensuring county prosecutors are involved early in investigations to address legal issues. The review must address these points as outlined in the bill, responding to a 2024 state commission report on trafficking in massage therapy businesses. The policy revision must be completed following the Attorney General's review, with no new funding or penalties specified.

Maddy summaryS 325 establishes a grant program to expand rural broadband access in New Jersey, using $2.5 million in federal funds from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The program, managed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, provides grants up to $75,000 per project to qualified organizations (like companies, nonprofits, or local governments) that build or improve broadband infrastructure in "unserved areas" (defined as locations lacking 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload speeds). Applicants must contribute 25% private funding and prioritize projects addressing these underserved areas. The bill appropriates federal funds directly into a dedicated grant fund and requires annual reporting on program outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2876) requires New Jersey state agencies to automatically enroll eligible households into ongoing utility bill assistance programs. It directs the Department of Human Services and Treasury to share information about recipients of needs-based programs (like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, SNAP, and Supplemental Security Income) with agencies managing utility assistance (such as the Winter/Spring Termination Programs). Agencies must then automatically enroll qualifying households into programs like the Universal Service Fund, without requiring separate applications. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was incorporated into an already-approved law (P.L.2025, c.387).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to review their administrative rules before they expire to ensure they remain effective and necessary. Agencies must assess whether a rule's benefits still outweigh its costs and whether it has become outdated or could be improved. Rules expire after seven years unless renewed through specific processes outlined in the bill, but agencies must conduct this review prior to renewal to justify continued use. The findings of these reviews must be reported to the Governor and Legislature, with the results published in the New Jersey Register.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 442) creates a role for county pretrial coordinators to help defendants on pretrial release access voluntary support services. It requires coordinators to evaluate defendants’ needs - including substance use treatment, food assistance (like SNAP), healthcare (Medicaid), housing, and job training - and connect them with appropriate programs during their release period. Counties must track service usage and outcomes, then report annually to the Governor and Legislature on whether these services affect rearrest rates. The bill applies to defendants charged with serious offenses or disorderly persons offenses who have been granted pretrial release, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1221, the "Protecting Against Forever Chemicals Act," bans intentionally added PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, nicknamed "forever chemicals") in certain consumer products. Beginning two years after the law takes effect, it prohibits selling cosmetics containing PFAS (except for unavoidable trace impurities) and requires cookware manufacturers to inform consumers if PFAS is present. The law directly affects cosmetic brands, cookware producers, and retailers selling these items within the state. It also mandates state-funded research and educational programs about PFAS exposure risks. The bill aims to reduce human exposure to these chemicals, which accumulate in the environment and have been linked to health issues like cancer and developmental problems.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how the "base year" is calculated for New Jersey homeowners who relocate and qualify for homestead property tax reimbursements. It revises the rule so that when an eligible homeowner moves to a new primary residence, their base year (used to calculate tax refunds) becomes the first full tax year before the move - **but only for tax years starting on or after January 1, 2010**. This affects elderly or disabled homeowners who move within the state and meet income and residency requirements. The key change prevents the new base year rule from applying to tax years before 2010, maintaining the prior calculation for earlier relocations.