Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to offer reduced or free beach fees for children aged 12 to 17 and expands fee exemptions for veterans. It amends existing state law to permit local governments to set these discounts through ordinances while maintaining the current exemption for children under 12. The legislation specifies that veterans, including active duty service members, National Guard members, and those with Gold Star Family designations, qualify for fee reductions, and requires municipalities to track the number of eligible individuals receiving these benefits. Additionally, the bill clarifies that disabled veterans do not need to pay fees to obtain, replace, or renew permits for operating motorized vehicles on beaches.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes amending the New Jersey Constitution to increase the property tax deduction for veterans from $250 to $2,500 over a four-year period. The increase would occur in annual steps, reaching the full $2,500 amount by tax year 2029, and would apply to honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses. The amendment also clarifies how the deduction works for veterans living in continuing care retirement communities, ensuring they receive the benefit through a payment or credit from the facility. If approved by the legislature and voters, the change would become permanent and cannot be altered or repealed.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a concurrent resolution that formally recognizes the role of natural gas in New Jersey's energy policy and declares natural gas a clean fuel. It directly affects state energy policy discussions and does not create new laws or regulations for individuals or businesses. The resolution states that natural gas is a vital component of the state's energy mix and has lower carbon emissions compared to coal and oil. It also notes that recent technological advancements continue to improve the environmental performance of natural gas production and usage.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates October 22nd as "Stuttering Awareness Day" and the second full week of May as "Stuttering Awareness Week" in New Jersey. The primary purpose is to raise public awareness about stuttering, a speech disorder that affects approximately one percent of the global population, and to highlight available support and treatment services. The resolution requests that the Governor issue annual proclamations encouraging public officials and citizens to observe these designated times with appropriate activities and programs. It aims to educate the community about the challenges faced by individuals who stutter and promote understanding of available resources for assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Task Force on Student Mental Health in New Jersey to study mental health issues affecting public school students, such as depression, anxiety, and trauma. The 16-member task force includes state officials, educators, parents, and public members with relevant expertise, who will examine current programs and recommend ways to improve access to mental health care services. The group will review topics like student identification, counseling expansion, school safety connections, funding needs, and successful programs from other states, then submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of organizing. The task force will operate without compensation for members but may receive reimbursement for necessary expenses, and it will dissolve 30 days after issuing its report.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to create policies for administering nasal seizure rescue medication and using manual vagus nerve stimulators for students with seizure disorders during emergencies. It defines specific roles for school nurses as primary responders while allowing them to designate at least two additional trained staff members to assist when the nurse is not present. The legislation mandates that designated staff receive CPR and defibrillator training, obtain written parental consent, and includes provisions protecting school employees from liability when acting in good faith during emergency medical situations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school bus drivers, aides, and other personnel transporting students with disabilities to complete specialized training. The training covers behavior management, communication, adaptive equipment use, recognizing life-threatening emergencies (as defined in the bill), and safety procedures. Employers (school districts or contractors) must provide this training annually and require staff to certify completion within five business days. The bill does not mandate 911 calls or specific bus safety features, but focuses on personnel preparedness through training and certification. It is pending before the Assembly Education Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an agricultural apprenticeship program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to train new farmers. The program has two stages: Stage 1 (for beginner farmers with less than five years of experience) requires 225 hours of on-the-job training and 25 hours of technical instruction to earn a pre-apprenticeship credential, while Stage 2 (for those who complete Stage 1) requires 2,700 hours of on-the-job training over 18 months on a host farm (operated by an established farmer with at least five years of experience), 210 hours of technical instruction, and passing a skills assessment to earn an apprenticeship credential, with participants receiving a stipend during Stage 2. Technical instruction covers practical topics like farm business planning, tractor safety, food safety, and equipment maintenance, while core skills assessed include crop planning, harvesting, and livestock handling. The program will be developed in consultation with the State Agriculture Development Committee and administered by the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey electric utilities from charging customers a "reconciliation charge," a fee used to recover differences between estimated and actual service costs. It directly affects all residential and commercial electricity customers in the state by eliminating this specific charge from their bills. The key provision bans the fee entirely, defining it as any amount charged to cover cost discrepancies related to electricity service (including generation, fees, taxes, and interest). The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Community Affairs to study how housing regulations impact the housing market. The study must quantify costs developers face from Department of Community Affairs (DCA) rules - including regulatory compliance and permitting delays - and assess effects on rental and homebuying markets. The commissioner must submit a report to the legislature within nine months of the bill's effective date. This study aims to provide data on how regulations influence housing development costs and market dynamics, without proposing specific changes to the rules.