Maddy summaryS 2774 requires local governments receiving loans or guarantees from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to establish programs ensuring military- or veteran-owned businesses (including spouses of military members or veterans) can bid on contracts for materials and services in infrastructure projects. This bill expands existing requirements - already mandating programs for minority workers and socially/economically disadvantaged contractors - by adding this new category for military/veteran businesses. It does not set a specific contract percentage but mandates local governments create a program to provide these opportunities. The law applies to all infrastructure projects funded through the NJ Infrastructure Bank, including those using state or federal funds.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill expands reimbursement eligibility under New Jersey's EMT Training Fund to include volunteer firefighters seeking EMT certification. It amends existing law to explicitly allow reimbursement for training and testing costs for volunteer fire company members pursuing EMT-A (Emergency Medical Technician-Advanced) or EMT-D (Defibrillation) certification, which was previously limited to volunteer ambulance/squad members. The fund will now cover these costs for certified volunteer firefighters, with reimbursement priority set for EMT-A certification first. The bill also prohibits agencies receiving fund monies from charging fees to eligible volunteer firefighters or ambulance/squad members.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The program must include a public campaign covering symptoms, warning signs, and treatment options; educational materials for health providers; and training for police, fire, emergency medical staff, and judicial personnel to recognize symptoms and respond appropriately. DHS will develop and post accessible information about Alzheimer's on its website in English and Spanish, in consultation with the Alzheimer's Association. The law aims to improve public understanding of Alzheimer's, support early detection, and help professionals better assist affected individuals and families.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of New Jersey to annually reimburse municipalities for the full cost of exempting disabled veterans' property from local property taxes. It directly affects all New Jersey municipalities that provide this exemption under existing law (P.L.1948, c.259). The key mechanism mandates the state pay each municipality 102% of the total tax value of disabled veterans' exemptions, covering both lost revenue and administrative costs. Municipalities must certify exemption numbers and amounts by June 1 each year, and the state will fund this through the existing property tax system. This replaces the current practice where municipalities alone absorbed these costs, which sometimes led to higher taxes for other residents or reduced services.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program to reimburse counties for providing transportation to disabled veterans traveling to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs medical appointments in New Jersey or neighboring states. It removes previous restrictions that limited veterans to only specific transportation methods, allowing counties to use public transit, private vehicles, or county-owned services for reimbursement. The program directly affects disabled veterans with service-connected disabilities and participating county governments. It appropriates $2 million from the state General Fund to fund this transportation assistance, effective six months after enactment. The law amends existing provisions to expand access for veterans who cannot use existing state or federal travel programs.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual income limit for New Jersey seniors (65 or older) and disabled citizens (permanently and totally disabled) to qualify for a $250 property tax deduction from $10,000 to $15,000. Currently, the $10,000 limit applies to 2022 and prior years, but the bill would raise it to $15,000 for 2023 and beyond. The change requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before taking effect. The deduction amount itself remains capped at $250 annually.
Maddy summaryS 2382 requires New Jersey public schools to report student-on-student assaults to law enforcement. School staff must notify principals when an assault occurs on school property, buses, or school events, and principals must immediately contact law enforcement. The bill defines "assault" as causing bodily injury and applies to all public schools statewide. It takes effect immediately, mandating this reporting for specific incidents without additional discretion.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a law that shields planned real estate developments (like community housing with shared amenities) from civil lawsuits related to COVID-19 exposure or transmission on their premises. To qualify for this immunity, developments must display a specific sign at communal areas (e.g., pools, gyms) stating that visitors waive liability for COVID-19 claims, except in cases of crime, fraud, gross negligence, or willful misconduct. The law previously had a temporary expiration (January 1, 2022), but this bill removes that deadline. It directly affects developments and visitors who enter shared spaces, while preserving workers' compensation claims and excluding serious misconduct from the immunity. The bill was introduced in the New Jersey Senate on January 29, 2024.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Volunteer Fire Company Assistance Program" in New Jersey's Division of Fire Safety, appropriating $10 million annually to support volunteer fire companies. It creates a grant program allowing these companies to apply for funding to cover emergency equipment (like protective gear, tools, and maintenance) and operational costs - excluding new vehicles or buildings. To receive funds, fire companies must submit detailed applications outlining how they'll use the money, and must report back within a year on expenditures and impacts. The program directly affects all volunteer fire departments statewide, aiming to improve their operational sustainability through targeted financial assistance.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1470 establishes that public safety workers (firefighters, police, EMTs) who responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks and participate in the federal World Trade Center Health Program are deemed eligible for state workers' compensation benefits for related illnesses or injuries. The bill creates a presumption of compensability regardless of when a claim is filed, provided the worker is enrolled in the federal health program. Workers must file claims within two years of the bill's effective date or when they knew of a disability linked to 9/11 exposure, and prior benefits from federal or other state programs reduce new awards. Employers and government entities must notify affected workers and their families within three months of the bill's enactment about this eligibility.