Asm. Antwan McClellan

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New Jersey municipalities to adopt a "land-based property tax system," where buildings and structures (taxable improvements) are taxed at a lower rate than the land itself - currently, all properties use a single tax rate. Municipalities in existing or former urban enterprise zones can implement this immediately via ordinance, while other municipalities must apply to the Director of Taxation for approval after seven years, with standards preventing approval if lands are preserved for open space or farmland. The tax rate difference can be phased in gradually, and municipalities may later return to a single tax rate through a new ordinance. The policy requires a constitutional amendment approved by voters to become effective, aiming to encourage redevelopment of vacant urban land.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 57) urges New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping activities off the New Jersey coast. It is prompted by the unexplained deaths of at least 12 whales (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphins recorded near offshore wind development areas since December 2022. The resolution calls for pausing these activities to allow for scientific study of potential links between sonar/mapping technologies and the marine life deaths. As a resolution, it does not create law but formally requests federal and state agencies to halt related operations pending investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2638) requires New Jersey's chief law enforcement officers or the Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities when a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in the United States applies for a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC) or handgun purchase permit. The notification requirement applies specifically to applicants who are undocumented non-citizens, as federal law (18 U.S.C. §922(d)(5)) prohibits firearm sales to such individuals. This bill incorporates the existing federal standard into New Jersey's state law by mandating that law enforcement agencies notify federal immigration authorities when they determine an applicant is unlawfully present in the U.S. The bill does not change who qualifies for firearm permits but adds a notification process for certain non-citizen applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to publish quarterly crime data collected from police departments within six months after each quarter ends, making it available on the Department of Law and Public Safety website. It also mandates an annual report on crime data to the Governor and Legislature within 13 months of the reporting period. The law directly affects the Attorney General's office and the Division of State Police, which will manage the data repository. These deadlines replace the current lack of specific timelines for releasing crime statistics.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to fund paid internships at local manufacturers for students at New Jersey county colleges. County colleges applying for grants must partner with approved manufacturers, with 85% of grant funds covering student stipends for internship hours and 15% supporting program administration and career counseling. Priority is given to internships in manufacturing jobs designated as high-demand occupations, and students completing the program earn academic credit while potentially receiving job offers. The program requires annual reporting on partnerships, student participation, skills gained, and employment outcomes to the state government.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 5-year pilot program offering New Jersey income tax credits to homeowners who open eligible properties for hunting. To qualify, a property must be the taxpayer's primary residence (with at least 10 acres of land suitable for hunting) and located in areas with frequent wildlife incidents like road collisions or property damage. Taxpayers receive $1,500 for the first 10 acres opened plus $200 per additional acre, but must allow hunting 2 days weekly during legal seasons and submit detailed annual logs of hunting activity. The Division of Taxation, with environmental protection input, will select no more than 12 participants annually based on wildlife incident data, and must report program results to the legislature after the pilot ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 billion in supplemental funding for after-school recreation programs in urban areas. It directs the Commissioner of Education to allocate these funds through a competitive application process to improve playgrounds, pools, and recreational infrastructure; reopen closed parks; and support mentorship programs with computer science, home economics, and life skills education. The funding directly affects urban communities and schools by expanding access to safe after-school activities and educational resources. The bill creates no new programs but provides concrete financial support for existing infrastructure and educational initiatives in underserved urban neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects fines collected from people convicted of "prostitution as a patron" (paying for sex) to the existing Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund. Specifically, it requires municipal courts to send these fines directly to the state Treasury for deposit into the fund, instead of the local treasury. The fund, established in 2013, uses these monies to provide services for trafficking victims, promote awareness, and develop educational materials. This policy change applies only to fines from the specific offense of paying for sex, not other prostitution-related crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state employees who were temporarily working at New Jersey psychiatric hospitals or correctional facilities before joining the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits if injured during that temporary employment. It deems injuries sustained while performing duties (e.g., as nurses, correction officers, or healthcare workers) at those facilities as occurring "during membership" for PERS benefit eligibility, even if the injury happened before PERS enrollment. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2003, and covers employees who later become PERS members without interruption in their job. This specifically affects temporary workers in state psychiatric or correctional facilities who were previously ineligible for PERS disability benefits after becoming members.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers administration of all school meal programs in New Jersey from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. It covers programs including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and emergency meal distributions, which provide nutritious meals to students and children in childcare settings. The transfer includes all related functions, funding, staff, records, and existing rules (which remain in effect until replaced by the Department of Education). The change aims to align program management with the Department of Education’s mission of supporting student academic success through school-based services.