Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates New Jersey's transfer inheritance tax for step-grandchildren by reclassifying them as tax-exempt beneficiaries, same as biological grandchildren and stepchildren. Currently, step-grandchildren (defined as the children of a stepchild) face a 15% tax on inheritances up to $700,000 and 16% on larger amounts, while biological grandchildren and stepchildren inherit tax-free. The bill amends tax law to treat step-grandchildren identically to stepchildren and biological grandchildren under the exemption rules. This change takes effect January 1, 2025, applying to all future inheritances.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 283) adds current members of the New Jersey State Legislature to the list of individuals authorized to solemnize marriages and civil unions while holding office. It amends existing law (R.S. 37:1-13) to include legislators alongside judges, mayors, certified civil celebrants, and clergy. The bill does not change certification requirements for civil celebrants but expands who can legally perform marriage ceremonies. It directly affects current state legislators by granting them this specific officiant authority during their term. The bill is procedural and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes squatting in vacant homes by creating three new offenses: "housebreaking" (forcibly entering without permission to live there), "unlawful occupancy" (living in a vacant home without permission), and "unlawful reentry" (returning after being evicted via court order). It presumes people know they lack permission unless they have a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details. The law directly affects individuals occupying vacant properties without legal authorization, making these acts fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill aims to replace current eviction processes with criminal penalties for unauthorized occupancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 656) authorizes New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission to issue special insignias for passenger cars used to transport individuals with developmental disabilities. Drivers providing this transportation (such as family caregivers) would receive the insignia, allowing their vehicles to park in handicapped spaces when actively transporting a person with a developmental disability. The insignia is renewable annually and costs no more than the actual administrative fee. It defines "developmental disability" as a severe, chronic condition present before age 22 that causes significant limitations in major life activities, including autism, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new exclusion from New Jersey's gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain small business income. It directly affects qualifying small businesses by allowing them to exclude specific income from their taxable base under these two tax codes. The key mechanism establishes a defined exclusion for small business income while revising statutory definitions related to tax calculations, such as "net worth" and "taxpayer." The bill does not specify exact income thresholds but provides the framework for excluding qualifying small business revenue from state taxation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (ACR 23) expresses the New Jersey Legislature's support for H.R. 7109, the "Equal Representation Act," a federal bill that would require a citizenship question on the U.S. census and change how congressional seats and electoral votes are apportioned. The proposed bill aims to base representation on the U.S. citizen population only, rather than the current method that counts all residents - including noncitizens like undocumented immigrants. Currently, census data used for apportionment includes all people living in the U.S., which supporters argue dilutes representation for citizens in areas with larger noncitizen populations. The resolution itself has no legal effect but formally urges the U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 7109, which the House approved in May 2024.

Maddy summaryThe "Restoring the Representation of Legal Residents Act" requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to adjust census data used for redistricting by excluding undocumented immigrants. It mandates using specific datasets - including U.S. Census citizenship data and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission records - to create an adjusted population count for determining congressional, state legislative, county, municipal, and school district boundaries. This adjustment would apply to all districting processes in the state, replacing the standard census count that includes all residents. The bill specifies that if the federal Census Bureau provides a legal-resident-only count, that data would be used instead of the state-adjusted version.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's theft statute to set a specific $25,000 value threshold for motor vehicle theft to be classified as a second-degree crime. Currently, most thefts exceeding $75,000 are second-degree, but this change ensures motor vehicles valued at $25,000 or more automatically qualify as second-degree offenses (punishable by up to 10 years in prison), while vehicles under $25,000 remain third-degree theft. It directly affects individuals who steal motor vehicles worth $25,000 or more, raising the severity of penalties for higher-value auto thefts. The bill maintains the existing structure but clarifies the lower threshold specifically for motor vehicles.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 255, the "Energy Storage System Procurement Act," requires electric utilities, power suppliers, and basic generation providers (collectively "electric service providers") to integrate energy storage systems into their long-term grid planning. The bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish rules within 180 days for procuring storage systems that improve grid reliability, reduce peak-demand generation needs, and defer infrastructure investments. It allows providers to submit early applications for systems under 15 megawatts before the rules are finalized and mandates that planning include cost-benefit analyses and safety safeguards for grid integration. The law explicitly preserves existing approved storage projects and aims to standardize how utilities evaluate storage as part of grid planning.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 946), now law as P.L.2025, c.177, requires mental health services to be provided in the communication method preferred by each deaf or hard of hearing individual - such as sign language or oral communication - based on their assessment. It mandates that mental health professionals be fluent in that method, trained in cultural needs, and able to collaborate with interpreters. The law also requires a state resource guide listing specialized mental health services and ensures individuals can help shape their own care plans. It directly affects all deaf or hard of hearing residents seeking mental health support in New Jersey, addressing long-standing barriers in access and care quality.