Asm. Antwan McClellan

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's tax code to provide a $6,000 gross income tax deduction for surviving spouses of qualifying veterans. It directly affects spouses who were married to a veteran at the time of their death, were living together continuously (with limited exceptions), and have not remarried or cohabited with another person in a spousal relationship. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment and matches the existing $6,000 deduction available to veterans themselves. Eligibility requires the veteran to have died while on active duty, been honorably discharged, or been released under honorable circumstances from military service. The deduction remains available if the spouse remarries after age 57, or if the remarriage was void, annulled, or obtained without fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Red Tape Review Commission to evaluate state regulations and executive orders for their economic impact on businesses, workers, and local governments. The commission, composed of eight members including the Lieutenant Governor (as chair), department heads, and legislative leaders, will review all proposed or adopted rules and executive orders to determine if their costs outweigh benefits. It must solicit public input, require state agencies to provide data, and issue annual recommendations to the Governor for repealing, rescinding, or amending burdensome rules. The commission’s findings are advisory only and cannot be used in legal challenges against state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible military service members purchasing primary residences in New Jersey, on top of existing state homebuyer programs. It specifically targets members of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve who served at least 90 days of active duty after 9/11 or during the 1990-1991 Gulf War period, were honorably discharged, or were discharged due to service-connected injuries. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency would administer the program, with funds limited to available appropriations. Surviving spouses of eligible service members also qualify if they meet all other eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's annual payment to certain veterans and their surviving spouses from $750 to $3,000. It directly affects veterans with specific service-connected disabilities, including total loss of sight, paraplegia, amputations, or permanent loss of use of limbs due to military service, as well as their surviving spouses. The payment change applies to veterans covered under existing laws (R.S. 38:18-2, 38:18A-2) and takes effect January 1 following the bill's passage. Currently, 207 individuals receive this benefit at the lower rate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide public boat access at state-owned lakes where boating is permitted, within two years of enactment. It appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to fund construction, contracts with private marinas (via public bidding), or other solutions for public boat launches. The policy directly affects residents seeking recreational access to state lakes, such as Greenwood Lake, where public access has been limited as private marinas now restrict or charge for day-use access. Key provisions mandate DEP action if access cannot be provided due to funding constraints, requiring a report to the Governor and Legislature detailing the issue and needed resources.

Maddy summaryAJR 17 is a commemorative resolution designating August 27 of each year as "Billy Cray Day" in New Jersey. It does not create new laws or programs but aims to raise public awareness about abuse and neglect in congregate settings for individuals with developmental disabilities. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to honor this day, referencing the 2017 death of Billy Cray - a 33-year-old man with developmental disabilities found deceased in a congregate setting - and ongoing concerns raised by the Ombudsman's office. This resolution serves solely as a symbolic observance, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program to improve sickle cell disease care in New Jersey, appropriating $10.2 million from the General Fund. The Department of Health will competitively select federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), prioritizing those in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Trenton, Camden, and other high-need areas, to develop comprehensive treatment programs. The program requires participating centers to provide coordinated care (including telehealth where permitted), build specialized medical workforce capacity, conduct outreach, promote awareness, and collect state-wide data on sickle cell disease incidence and healthcare use. Funds must be used for these purposes during the three-year pilot, with unspent funds reverting to the General Fund after expiration.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3171) requires the New Jersey Veterans' Memorial Homes in Paramus and Menlo Park to convert at least one section in each facility to single-occupancy rooms and upgrade their heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems to infection control standards. The Adjutant General may also require additional modifications like negative pressure ventilation for infectious disease control. Funding will come first from federal block grants (including American Rescue Plan Act funds) allocated to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, with state General Fund money covering shortfalls if needed. The changes directly affect veterans residing at these two specific facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A772) requires that at least one member of New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) must reside in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, or Ocean County. It amends the state law governing BPU appointments by adding this residency requirement for all new appointees. The change applies to all future appointments to the BPU, ensuring representation from these four coastal counties. This is a procedural change affecting BPU membership rules, not the board's policy responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a working group to help New Jersey coastal communities identify and safely remove abandoned vessels, and establishes a $25 million fund to reimburse municipalities for these removal costs. The working group, consisting of 21 members including federal and state agency representatives, must report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of formation and annually thereafter. Municipalities must adopt vessel registration ordinances for vessels in municipal waterways to qualify for reimbursement, and the fund will be supported by $25 million in state appropriations plus civil penalties collected from vessel abandonment violations.