Asm. Rob Clifton

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a proportional property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-connected permanent disability rated at 10% or higher. It directly affects qualifying veterans (and their surviving spouses) by reducing their property taxes in line with their disability rating, with a $10,000 cap for exemptions below 100% disability. Veterans deemed unemployable due to service-connected disability receive a full 100% exemption, matching current benefits for those with 100% disability ratings. The bill also requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax costs for these exemptions, including administrative expenses, through annual reporting by local tax authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $52,798,268 from existing farmland preservation funds to the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) for farmland preservation. It provides $21 million for acquiring development easements or fee simple titles to farmland, including grants to counties (up to 80% of costs) and nonprofits (up to 50% of costs). An additional $3.45 million supports stewardship activities like soil conservation and deer fencing on preserved farmland, while $28.3 million covers administrative costs for SADC operations and enforcement. The funding directly affects landowners, local governments, and nonprofit organizations working to preserve agricultural land in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change New Jersey's income tax system to a flat tax rate of 5.9% for taxable income over specific thresholds. For single filers, married individuals filing separately, and estates/trusts, the tax would apply to income over $37,500. For married couples filing jointly, heads of household, and surviving spouses, the tax would apply to income over $75,000. Taxpayers with income below these thresholds would not owe any income tax under this bill. This would replace New Jersey's current progressive tax system, which has rates ranging from 1.4% to 10.75% across multiple income brackets.

Maddy summaryThe bill requires tax assessors to complete certification training on farmland valuation and assessment. It creates an online portal for landowners to apply for special farmland tax rates and establishes a hotline for reporting suspected fraud in farmland assessments. The bill increases on-site inspections for farmland under 10 acres from every three years to every two years. It also extends the time period for calculating rollback taxes when land changes from farmland use to another use from two to three tax years.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's farmland assessment rules to allow landowners with five or more noncontiguous acres of agricultural or horticultural land to qualify for reduced tax assessment. Specifically, it permits eligibility if at least three acres are contiguous, all parcels are owned by one person, and the land has been actively used for agriculture for two consecutive years. The change applies to existing farmland assessment requirements under P.L.1964, c.48, without altering other standard eligibility conditions like the two-year usage period or ownership rules. It directly affects small-scale farmers with fragmented parcels who previously couldn't qualify due to the contiguous acre requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6033) authorizes New Jersey County Agriculture Development Boards (CADBs) to create programs that accept donations of farmland from commercial farmers and lease that land to new farmers residing in New Jersey. It establishes a state tax credit equal to the proportional value of donated land (capped at $100,000 per donation), calculated using the farm’s most recent assessed value. The total tax credit pool is limited to $100 million statewide, and credits must be certified by CADBs and applied against the New Jersey Gross Income Tax. The bill directly affects commercial farm owners who donate land and new farmers seeking to lease farmland, aiming to support agricultural land preservation and new farm development.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to restart the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation (RREM) program using remaining unspent funds. It directly helps Superstorm Sandy-impacted homeowners who still need financial assistance for rebuilding or recovery but haven't received full support through previous programs. The DCA must accept new grant applications to fund these unmet needs, as defined under existing law (P.L.2015, c.102). The bill ensures leftover state funds are used to support affected homeowners rather than being reallocated elsewhere. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts and charter schools to verify the work authorization of teaching staff and school employees using the federal E-Verify system. Starting with hires for the next full school year after enactment, schools must check eligibility at hiring and annually thereafter. It directs the state education commissioner to provide guidance on the requirement and federal E-Verify rules to school boards. The bill explicitly allows schools to hire noncitizen teachers with valid limited certificates under existing state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises requirements for grants funding soil and water conservation projects on preserved farms in New Jersey. It eliminates the current 50% cost-share requirement, meaning landowners no longer need to cover half of project expenses. The bill clarifies that grant applications must go to a county agriculture development board only if the county provides funding; otherwise, they go directly to the local soil conservation district for review. Additionally, recipients must repay grant funds if they fail to maintain projects for three years, with exceptions for bankruptcy, death, or extreme weather events.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4603) allows commercial farmers in New Jersey to recover reasonable legal costs and attorney fees when defending against complaints they win under the "Right to Farm Act." It directly affects farmers who successfully prove a complaint was filed in bad faith and that their farming activity met the Act's legal standards. Key provisions require farmers to apply to their county agriculture board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), which must then determine if the complaint was filed in bad faith (by a preponderance of evidence) and if the costs/fees are reasonable before ordering the complainant to pay. The change provides a specific remedy for farmers facing frivolous legal challenges, strengthening existing protections under the Act.