Sen. Troy Singleton

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1012) expands New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans. It adds "mental illness" to the list of qualifying service-connected disabilities that allow veterans to receive a proportional tax exemption on their primary residence (based on their disability percentage). The bill also extends survivor eligibility to include surviving partners in civil unions or domestic partnerships, allowing them to claim the exemption after a veteran's death if the veteran would have qualified. This amends existing law (P.L.1948, c.259) to broaden access for veterans with mental health disabilities and ensure surviving partners receive the same benefits as surviving spouses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Assistance to Firefighters' Families Act," directly affects families of volunteer firefighters, emergency medical technicians, and rescue squad workers who die while on duty. It doubles annual survivor pensions (from $15,000 to $30,000 for widows, $10,000 to $20,000 for children, and $5,000 to $10,000 for parents), increases the maximum group life insurance coverage a municipality can pay for from $25,000 to $250,000, and requires municipalities to cover reasonable funeral costs not paid by fire associations. Municipalities can fund these benefits by adding a surcharge to fire code inspection fees. The bill takes effect immediately and amends existing laws to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Statewide Suicide Prevention Coordination and Oversight Council within the Department of Human Services. The council will survey existing suicide prevention programs, develop standardized reporting requirements for data on suicide attempts and completions (including demographics and methods), and serve as a central hub for collecting non-identifying data from prevention entities. It will create guidelines for informational materials, assist entities with compliance, and compile findings for state and federal authorities to improve suicide prevention efforts. The council requires 25 members, including government officials and public appointees with specific expertise in mental health, suicide prevention, and community representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded loan program to help small New Jersey businesses protect against climate risks. It creates a revolving loan fund managed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA), providing low-interest loans to qualified businesses with 50 or fewer employees that implement specific resiliency projects - such as flood protection, stormwater management, or climate-adapted infrastructure. Businesses must be registered in New Jersey and maintain operations in-state, with priority given to those in municipalities with climate planning. Loans require annual reporting on fund usage but are designed to offer better terms than typical private business loans.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program through New Jersey's state housing agency to fund sustainable tiny home construction. It appropriates $5 million total ($1.65 million annually) to award grants to builders for developing tiny home communities (each under 300 sq ft) in selected municipalities across northern, central, and southern New Jersey. Builders must follow green building standards, report recycled construction waste (in cubic yards), and include energy-efficient features. The program requires participating towns to temporarily relax zoning rules to enable tiny home projects, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and construction waste compared to traditional housing.

Maddy summarySCR 54 is a symbolic resolution passed by the New Jersey legislature condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and rejecting efforts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. It specifically addresses modern manifestations like blaming Jewish people for global issues, spreading harmful stereotypes, and targeting Jewish institutions. The resolution references rising anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey (including 370 reported in 2021) and affirms that such hatred violates constitutional values of tolerance and religious freedom. As a concurrent resolution, it has no legal force but serves as a formal statement of legislative stance.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a $50 fee for filing a certified copy of a name change order in New Jersey. It directly affects residents who need to officially document a name change for legal purposes, such as after marriage, divorce, or other personal reasons. The key provision removes the fee from the state's fee schedule, making this administrative process free for individuals. The change applies immediately upon the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1389, would require businesses in New Jersey to notify consumers when collecting or disclosing their personal data, particularly for sensitive categories like biometric information, health details, precise location data, or financial information. It defines "personal data" broadly but excludes de-identified or publicly available information, and clarifies that "consent" must be clear, affirmative, and not obtained through deceptive practices ("dark patterns"). Businesses would need to provide clear disclosure about data use and allow consumers to opt out of certain disclosures, including data "sales" to third parties. The bill was introduced in January 2024 but was withdrawn the same day.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies how New Jersey public entities (like counties, cities, school districts, and universities) can purchase construction services. It prohibits using "time-and-materials" contracts (where costs are based on hourly labor plus materials) for public works projects covered by prevailing wage laws. Instead, it allows contracting units to use cooperative purchasing agreements for standardized procurement and authorizes "indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity" contracts for goods/services without final project details upfront. All contracts must still comply with public bidding rules and cost-effectiveness reviews before approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1491) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, without requiring new legislative action each time. The key mechanism is restoring a provision that had been removed, so benefits rise automatically based on the Consumer Price Index rather than relying on annual budget decisions. This change provides predictable income stability for retirees as living costs change. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024.