Sen. Mike Testa

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's requirement that most residents maintain minimum essential health insurance coverage. It removes both the coverage mandate and the penalty for not having coverage, which was previously enforced through state tax filings. The repeal also eliminates a funding source for the state's Health Insurance Premium Security Fund that relied on penalties collected from non-compliant residents. This directly affects all New Jersey residents who would have been subject to the penalty under prior law.

Maddy summaryS 3817 delays New Jersey's implementation of Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2027. The bill affects vehicle manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, requiring them to gradually increase zero-emission vehicle sales (capping at 40-75% by 2035). It directly modifies the current timeline by prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from enforcing these rules before 2027. This is a procedural change to the existing 2021 DEP adoption of California's ACT regulations, not a modification of the regulations themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence (such as a home or dwelling) from a third-degree to a second-degree crime in New Jersey, increasing potential penalties to 5-10 years in prison. If the burglary occurs while the perpetrator is armed with a weapon or explosives, or is connected to another serious crime, it becomes a first-degree crime with a potential 10-20 year sentence. The bill also requires that offenders convicted of these upgraded residential burglaries serve at least 85% of their sentence without parole, as mandated by New Jersey's No Early Release Act. This change directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglary, making penalties more severe for crimes targeting homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to hire additional staff to reduce backlogs in processing professional license applications and renewals. It appropriates $10 million annually for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026 specifically for this purpose. The funding directly affects licensed professionals (such as doctors, engineers, and contractors) who face delays in obtaining or renewing their licenses. The bill mandates annual reports tracking hiring numbers, backlog reductions, and spending details to ensure accountability. This is a concrete funding measure aimed at improving license processing efficiency.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commission on Human Trafficking to expand public awareness signage about human trafficking to include new locations like gas stations, staffing agencies, law enforcement offices, nail salons, and Motor Vehicle Commission offices. The signage must display the national 24-hour human trafficking hotline number and be visible to the public, meeting specific size (8.5x11 inches) and language (English/Spanish) requirements. Businesses failing to comply face civil penalties of $300 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The measure directly affects these newly listed establishments by mandating visible anti-trafficking information.

Maddy summaryS 3718 authorizes New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to appoint an antisemitism monitor at any public institution of higher education. The monitor reviews campus policies protecting Jewish students/staff, establishes anonymous reporting procedures for antisemitism incidents, and issues quarterly reports with recommendations to the institution and legislature. Institutions must implement the monitor's recommendations and provide necessary support, with non-compliance risking reduced state funding or loss of student aid eligibility. The bill defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 working definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to establish a two-year pilot program providing additional bus service for commuters traveling from Cumberland and Cape May counties to Atlantic City. The program must include user-friendly policies to reduce barriers and increase service frequency, with NJT tracking ridership through ticket sales. After the pilot, NJT must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature analyzing the program's success (based on ticket sales), costs, feasibility of expanding service, alternative transportation options, and recommendations for future routes. The bill expires upon report submission.

Maddy summaryThe "Grown Here, Eaten Here Act" (S 3683) provides tax credits to New Jersey restaurants, food manufacturers, and certain breweries (limited/restricted breweries) for purchasing local ingredients. It allows a 10% credit against corporation business tax or gross income tax for costs of buying eligible ingredients - like fruits, vegetables, or crops grown in New Jersey - used in food or beverage preparation. The credit cannot exceed 50% of a business’s tax liability for the year, and unused credits can be carried forward for up to 20 years. The bill aims to incentivize local sourcing by reducing tax burdens for qualifying food businesses.

Maddy summaryS 3656 requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to have at least one member residing in each of the state's three geographic regions: northern (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Warren), central (Hunterdon, Middlesex, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, Somerset, Union), and southern (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Salem). The bill mandates that the Governor must ensure all new BPU appointments after the law takes effect meet this regional representation rule. This change applies to the five-member BPU without altering its total size, aiming to ensure geographic diversity in decision-making. The requirement becomes effective immediately upon the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to submit a report to the Legislature within 90 days of enactment. The report must assess the current socioeconomic status of all 31 school districts currently designated as SDA (School Development Authority) districts, comparing their current conditions to their original 1990 classification. It specifically asks for analysis on whether each district should maintain SDA status, whether new districts should qualify, and recommendations for updating the criteria used to determine SDA designation. The bill directly affects the 31 SDA districts and the state's education funding process.