Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the filing deadline for New Jersey public safety retirees and members of PFRS, SPRS, and PERS to claim accidental disability retirement benefits related to 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It allows retirement system boards to approve additional two-year filing extensions beyond the initial two-year window required after the 2019 law. The bill also provides an alternative to proving prior medical health status by permitting members to submit medical examination results from before or after public service entry, rather than requiring proof of a passing pre-employment physical. This applies to those who participated in 9/11 operations between September 11-12, 2001, and developed qualifying health conditions as a result of their service. Retirement systems must notify members about this bill within 30 days of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students receiving opportunity grants through New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their academic major. Students must notify the Secretary of Higher Education before the academic year begins, resulting in a proportional reduction of their grant funds during the regular academic year. The bill also requires annual reporting by institutions on summer grant usage and graduation rates, implementing a 2016 College Affordability Study Commission recommendation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4408) creates a new first-degree crime of "home invasion" for entering a residence with intent to commit certain serious crimes (like robbery, violent offenses, or sexual crimes) when others are present, using force, threats, or being armed with a weapon. It upgrades residential burglary to a second-degree crime if someone enters a home where a resident or other person is present, regardless of whether the offender knew others were there. The bill also requires juveniles accused of home invasion or carjacking to be tried in the county where the alleged incident occurred, rather than their home county. These changes apply to both adult and juvenile cases involving these specific offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to study how state agencies use artificial intelligence (AI). The council, made up of the state's Chief Technology Officer, two Assembly members, two Senate members, and two public AI experts, will evaluate AI's benefits and risks in government operations. It must develop ethical guidelines to prevent bias and protect privacy, recommend safe AI practices for state agencies, and review current AI systems for fairness. The council will report its findings to the Governor and Legislature within one year and then cease to exist.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4401 bill establishes an online public registry of individuals convicted of human trafficking offenses who are incarcerated, on parole, or participating in community release programs. The registry will include specific details about each person's conviction, sentence, location, and criminal history, organized into four categories based on their status. The bill also mandates training for law enforcement, hotel/motel staff, healthcare employees, and court personnel on recognizing and responding to human trafficking. Additionally, it requires schools to incorporate age-appropriate human trafficking prevention education into middle and high school curricula, covering topics like online safety and grooming tactics.

Maddy summaryThis bill would adopt New Jersey into the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact, an interstate agreement that allows dentists and dental hygienists licensed in one participating state to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses in each state. To practice in another participating state, licensees would need to meet requirements like passing national board exams and having graduated from accredited programs, and would apply for a "compact privilege" to practice there. The compact would establish a commission to oversee the agreement and a data system to share licensure and disciplinary information among participating states, with adverse actions in one state affecting a professional's ability to practice in all participating states.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill exempts certain military survivors from state income tax on income they receive. It specifically applies to New Jersey resident surviving spouses who did not remarry and unmarried dependent children under 19 (or qualifying dependents) of service members who died while serving in combat zones, hazardous duty areas, or from combat-related injuries. To qualify, survivors must annually certify their status to the state tax department and receive written proof to provide to employers, eliminating tax withholding on their income. The exclusion covers income otherwise subject to tax, expanding existing tax benefits for military families.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 50% tax deduction for New Jersey residents who pay out-of-pocket for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment for themselves, their spouse, or domestic partner. The deduction applies only to IVF costs not covered by health insurance plans (such as hospital, health maintenance organization, or state programs) and not already deductible under existing tax rules. It takes effect immediately for taxable years beginning after enactment, reducing taxable income by half the eligible IVF expenses paid during the year.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to count existing housing built before April 1, 1980, toward their affordable housing requirements under specific conditions. To qualify, the housing must have been reserved for low- or moderate-income residents for at least 20 consecutive years starting after March 24, 1975, and cannot have already been counted toward another obligation. Municipalities can apply this credit toward past, future, or current housing obligations - especially if the property is rehabilitated to meet affordability standards. The bill directly affects local governments and existing low/moderate-income housing units, easing compliance with state housing mandates without requiring new construction.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4351) modifies New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) small business loan program to provide preferential terms for veteran-owned businesses. It requires the EDA to offer lower interest rates and more flexible repayment terms to eligible veteran-owned small businesses, including 0% interest for loans to businesses owned by veterans with service-connected disabilities. The bill prohibits the EDA from charging application, closing, or guarantee fees for these loans. To qualify, a business must be owned or controlled by veterans, with at least 50% of employees being veterans or meeting the service-connected disability criteria. The policy directly affects small businesses in New Jersey that meet these veteran ownership definitions.