Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S2815 allows disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients who hold state-issued disabled veteran or Purple Heart license plates to park in designated disability parking spots without needing additional permits. The bill amends existing law to recognize these specific license plates as valid for accessing disability parking, removing the requirement for holders to obtain standard disability placards or identification cards. It directly affects veterans and Purple Heart recipients certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or awarded the Purple Heart, who already possess these plates. The change takes immediate effect, simplifying parking access for this group in all public and private parking zones reserved for people with disabilities.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to eliminate walk-in and bicycle entrance fees at state parks and forests during Memorial Day weekend, the week of the Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekend. It directly affects visitors entering these parks using those specific entry methods during the designated holiday periods. The key provision mandates the DEP to waive these fees without exception for the specified holidays. The law would take effect one year after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all battlefield cross memorials in New Jersey - both existing and future ones - to include replicas of a vertical rifle, helmet, boots, and dog tags in their traditional configuration. It applies to memorials located anywhere in the state, as defined by the bill. The legislation cites the Gulf War-era configuration (since 1991) as the standard for honoring fallen soldiers, replacing older designs. The requirement takes effect 90 days after the bill is enacted.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Mobility and Transportation Innovation Pilot Program to fund public transportation projects statewide (previously limited to Mercer County), appropriating $20 million from the General Fund. It requires projects to include accessibility features like wheelchair-accessible vehicles and accessible mobile apps, enable access without smartphones/credit cards, and demonstrate success with similar projects. The program prioritizes projects improving mobility for low-income communities, people with disabilities, and disadvantaged areas while reducing emissions. Local governments and transit agencies across New Jersey can apply for grants to support innovative transit services meeting these criteria.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Transportation Commissioner and Highway Safety Director to update public awareness campaigns annually, including specific information about motorists' duty to slow down or change lanes when approaching pedestrians, bicycles, or personal conveyances (as defined in existing law C.39:4-92.4). It mandates that these campaigns explain the importance of complying with this rule, the risks of not following it, and the associated penalties. The campaigns must also include at least one annual use of variable message signs to inform drivers. The bill amends existing laws to integrate these requirements into routine safety communications.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3698) allows surviving spouses of retired police or firefighters (PFRS members) who died due to work-related injuries or complications to keep state-paid health insurance (SHBP) and continue receiving pension benefits even after remarriage. It requires surviving spouses to provide documented proof that the injury causing the member's disability was a significant factor in their death. Eligible spouses can also apply to reinstate pensions terminated due to remarriage before this law took effect. The state covers all health insurance premiums for the spouse and dependent children and pays any increased retirement system costs from continued pension payments.
Maddy summaryS 3191 allows New Jersey's Transportation Research Bureau to award transportation research contracts to private universities and certain non-profit organizations, expanding beyond current law that restricted contracts to public institutions. The bureau must now determine if such contracts serve the public interest, and the bureau manager must actively build relationships with these private entities. All contracts must also include provisions addressing transportation and mobility needs for residents with disabilities, while excluding municipal planning organizations from eligibility. This change streamlines the contracting process without altering existing public bidding requirements.
Maddy summaryS 3652 allows New Jersey farmers to register utility task vehicles (UTVs) used exclusively for farm operations for travel on public roadways, with a $5 annual registration fee. The bill requires these vehicles to display a slow-moving vehicle emblem and prohibits operation between sunset and sunrise without special lighting or for snow removal. It also mandates that travel on public highways by these UTVs must be at least 50 miles, as specified in future rules by the Motor Vehicle Commission. This change directly affects farmers using UTVs for farm work and updates existing registration rules for farm vehicles.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits foreign governments and certain foreign persons (including non-U.S. entities controlled by foreign governments) from owning or acquiring land within 10 miles of military facilities in New Jersey. Current owners of such "protected land" must sell their interest within five years to a U.S. entity, with limited exceptions for land obtained through debt collection, foreclosure, or inheritance (requiring sale within two years). The law does not apply to land owned under U.S. treaties with other countries. It directly affects foreign governments and entities deemed "foreign persons" under the bill's definition.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to specifically include Sikhism as a protected class, alongside existing categories like race, religion, and sexual orientation. It requires law enforcement to properly classify anti-Sikh hate crimes and provides $100,000 annually for three years to fund Sikh awareness education and outreach initiatives. The bill mandates training for law enforcement on Sikh identity features (such as turbans and beards) to prevent misclassification of hate incidents. It also requires public entities to incorporate anti-Sikh hate definitions into their bias policies and directs the Attorney General to develop educational programs about Sikhism for schools. These measures address the fact that Sikhs are the second-most targeted religious group for hate crimes in the U.S., with 198 anti-Sikh hate incidents reported by the FBI in 2023.