Asm. Erik Simonsen

Maddy summaryAJR 55 designates March 16 each year as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey to recognize service dogs that assist veterans with conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and seizure disorders. The resolution directly affects veterans, service dog organizations (such as Paws Healing Heroes in Glassboro), and the public by raising awareness of these animals' role in veteran support. Its key mechanism is an annual designation requiring the Governor to issue a proclamation encouraging public observance. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a law with funding or regulatory changes, and it takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state grant program through New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to fund YouthBuild programs serving economically disadvantaged youth aged 16-24 who have not completed high school. The program requires participating organizations to provide integrated education and job training (50% classroom instruction, 50% construction/vocational training), leadership development, counseling, and job placement assistance. It mandates that programs provide stipends to participants to cover participation costs and culminate in industry-recognized credentials. Only nonprofit organizations affiliated with YouthBuild USA or with previous HUD YouthBuild funding are eligible to apply, and funded programs must report outcomes to the Department of Labor. The bill appropriates state funds to support this program, aiming to increase access to and sustainability of YouthBuild services throughout New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A774) requires New Jersey to pay "just compensation" to businesses forced to partially or fully close due to state-ordered public health emergencies (like pandemic restrictions). It directly affects business owners who lost income or were forced out of business because they complied with emergency closure orders. Key provisions allow owners to sue the state for either lost income during/after closure or loss of the business itself ("going concern"), but the business owner must prove the loss was caused by the emergency order and calculate the compensation amount. The law applies to emergencies starting January 1, 2020, and requires lawsuits to be filed within one year after the emergency order ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey police departments to donate unclaimed bicycles to qualified nonprofit organizations instead of selling them at auction. Specifically, if a bicycle is found by police and remains unclaimed for six months (or if the owner refuses it), departments may donate it to nonprofits exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Municipalities must approve eligible nonprofits annually through a resolution, and donations can only occur after the six-month waiting period. The change supports nonprofits that refurbish and distribute bikes to families and individuals in need, particularly those facing economic hardship.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's unemployment compensation law to set new eligibility requirements for seasonal government workers. It states that individuals employed by the State, counties, municipalities, school districts, or other political subdivisions in seasonal roles will not qualify for benefits unless they worked at least 100 days in their base year within a seasonal occupation or earned wages in other covered employment equal to at least 10 times their average weekly wage. The bill defines "seasonal industry or occupation" as one that customarily operates for less than 26 weeks annually due to climactic conditions. This change specifically affects seasonal government employees who may have previously qualified for benefits under broader eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's NJTEAM Act (P.L.2015, c.32) to extend in-state tuition eligibility to veterans and their eligible family members (including spouses and children who qualify for federal educational benefits under programs like the Post-9/11 GI Bill) during public health emergencies requiring remote instruction. It ensures these individuals pay in-state tuition rates even if they temporarily live outside New Jersey while taking courses remotely from another state. The change applies specifically to periods when public colleges or universities mandate remote learning due to health crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This builds on existing law that already provides in-state tuition to these groups when they reside in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill reallocates 100% of revenue from New Jersey's hotel and motel occupancy fees to arts, historical heritage, and tourism programs, replacing the current 40% allocation. It sets specific minimum funding levels: at least $31.9 million annually for the State Council on the Arts (56.7%), $5.5 million for the Historical Commission (9.6%), $17.6 million for tourism promotion (31.9%), and $720,000 for the Cultural Trust (1.8%). The change directly affects hotels and motels (required to collect and remit the fee) and state agencies managing these funds. It ensures all collected fees - previously partially directed to the General Fund - now exclusively support these cultural and tourism initiatives. The bill amends existing law to mandate these new allocation percentages starting in fiscal year 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to review all public services it currently offers that aren't available online. Within six months, the MVC must study which services can be provided online (checking for federal law conflicts), then submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within nine months. The MVC must then make all feasible services available online within three years of the bill's effective date. This directly affects New Jersey drivers and vehicle owners who use MVC services, such as license renewals or registration, by shifting them to digital access where possible.

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.