Sen. Mike Testa

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appropriate at least $10 million annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding, starting July after the bill takes effect. It directly affects local health departments across the state, which lost this dedicated, unrestricted funding when it was eliminated in 2011 (previously accounting for about 15% of their budget). The funding must be spent as outlined in the existing "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977," restoring a flexible resource for local health needs. Currently, local health departments rely on fragmented funding sources like property taxes and purpose-limited grants, which this bill aims to supplement.

Maddy summaryS 3406 revises provisions of New Jersey's Aspire Program, which provides tax credits to developers of economic redevelopment projects that would otherwise be economically unfeasible. The bill expands the definition of "government-restricted municipality" to include additional cities like Newark, Camden, and Elizabeth, allowing projects in these areas to demonstrate a net economic benefit that is up to 50 percentage points lower than standard requirements. It removes a provision requiring tax credit reductions if a project's actual financing gap is smaller than initially approved, and gives residential developers the option to use project labor agreements instead of paying prevailing wages for construction workers. The bill also extends utility fee reductions to Aspire Program developers and establishes a 5-year tax exemption for project improvements followed by a 5-year phase-in of payments in lieu of taxes.

Maddy summaryS 2535 establishes a new minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. The bill requires that these services be reimbursed at the average rate of $9.09 per 15 minutes (currently $3.65), aligning with reimbursement rates for similar services under the Division of Developmental Disabilities. This change directly affects approved brain injury service providers who deliver structured day programs to Medicaid beneficiaries. The policy applies to services provided on or after the bill's effective date, ensuring consistent reimbursement for brain injury care.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies rules for food and service stands (like cafes or newsstands) in New Jersey state, county, and municipal buildings. It prioritizes the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired for operating these stands, and if a stand is vacant for 3+ months, it becomes available to a disabled person-owned business (51% disability-owned), then a veteran-owned business (51% veteran-owned) after 6 months, and finally any business after 9 months. Disabled and veteran-owned businesses operate the stands without license fees or rental charges. Current operators aren't displaced, and the bill doesn't affect existing contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1.5 million grant program to support wine and grape education at New Jersey's four-year public colleges. It directs the Secretary of Higher Education to award up to $500,000 each to three institutions - one in each of the state's southern, central, and northern regions - to create or expand degree or certificate programs in wine science, grape growing, and related business operations. Institutions must include plans for student partnerships with wineries and local industry, and the program permits under-21 students to enroll in coursework not involving alcohol consumption. The program requires a final report to the Governor and Legislature on its implementation and outcomes.

Maddy summaryS 3351 establishes a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with aggravated assault against law enforcement officers must be held in pretrial detention unless they can prove otherwise. This bill amends New Jersey's criminal justice law to add "aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer" to the list of offenses triggering this presumption, alongside existing crimes like murder or life-imprisonment offenses. Defendants facing these charges would need to demonstrate by a preponderance of evidence that release conditions could reasonably ensure court appearance and public safety. The law does not automatically detain these defendants but shifts the burden to the defendant to rebut the presumption at a hearing. This directly affects individuals charged with this specific violent offense against police officers.

Maddy summarySCR 107 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand New Jersey's civil service hiring preference for veterans. Currently, only veterans who served during wartime receive this preference when applying for state or local government civil service jobs. The amendment would allow the New Jersey Legislature to pass laws extending this hiring preference to all veterans, regardless of whether they served during wartime. If approved, this change would enable future legislation to broaden eligibility for the preference, directly affecting all veterans applying for civil service positions in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryS 3356 amends New Jersey's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act to exclude full-time students (in any educational level) and au pairs from the legal definition of "domestic worker." It also removes a provision requiring employers to share joint liability for violations of the law. These changes mean the bill's workplace protections and enforcement mechanisms will no longer apply to full-time students or au pairs. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryS 3334 establishes a voluntary, three-year pilot program in New Jersey to cover Medicaid expenses for remote maternal health services, including at-home monitoring of vital signs (like blood pressure), remote fetal monitoring, and tele-ultrasound consultations. It applies to pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries who are at high risk due to medical conditions (such as diabetes or high blood pressure), age (under 19 or over 35), lifestyle factors, or pregnancy complications, as well as those in areas with few obstetric providers or facing socioeconomic barriers like transportation issues. Participation requires a health care provider's referral and is voluntary; all services must use FDA-approved, HIPAA-compliant technology to securely transmit health data. Implementation depends on federal approval of a Medicaid waiver to secure funding for the state's costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 21-member working group to assist New Jersey coastal communities in identifying and safely removing abandoned vessels, particularly after events like Hurricane Sandy. It appropriates $25 million to establish the "Abandoned Vessels Fund," which will reimburse municipalities for removal costs under a new program. The fund will be financed by the $25 million appropriation and civil penalties from existing laws. The working group, including state agency representatives and industry members, must report annually to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations for improving vessel removal efforts.