Asm. Anthony Verrelli

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New Jersey veterans who are permanently 100% disabled (as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) from paying motor vehicle registration fees for one passenger vehicle. It directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own a vehicle not used for hire. The law requires the Adjutant General and the Motor Vehicle Commission to notify these veterans about the fee exemption. The exemption applies to vehicles registered in the veteran's name and does not cover commercial vehicles. The bill amends existing law to update eligibility criteria and add the notification requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State Health Benefits Commission (SHBP) and School Employees' Health Benefits Commission (SEHBP) to annually publish detailed reports explaining how health benefit rates are set. Each commission must produce a report prepared by an actuarial firm, including financial projections, trend analysis, and plan overviews for the upcoming year. The reports must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature, posted online, and followed by a public comment period and at least one public hearing. These changes directly affect the two commissions and increase transparency for state and school employee health benefit programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a four-year pilot program allowing up to 15 New Jersey school districts to create mental health assistance programs for students in grades K-12. Participating districts must develop programs including confidential student referrals, mental health support services, and partnerships with community resources, staffed by trained counselors or contracted providers. The programs aim to identify mental health issues affecting students, provide intervention, and improve academic outcomes while maintaining student confidentiality. After the pilot, districts must report on participation and outcomes, and the Commissioner of Education will evaluate the program's effectiveness and recommend statewide expansion to the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a nine-member "Revolutionary War Park Study Commission" to evaluate creating a National Historical Park combining three existing New Jersey sites: Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton Battle Monument, and Princeton Battlefield State Park. The commission, including state environmental and historical officials plus appointed members with expertise in preservation, will assess feasibility, potential impacts on historical/ecological resources, local communities, tourism, and tax revenue. It must issue a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting, after which the commission expires. The bill does not create the park itself but studies whether it could be formed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Taxation to audit out-of-state contractors who have entered into state or private contracts funded by state money. The audits will verify if administrative costs are reasonable and properly allocated, review the contractors' financial controls, and examine their annual financial reports. The Division must share each audit's findings with the state agency that awarded the contract and submit an annual summary to the Governor and Legislature. It also establishes a toll-free hotline for confidential reporting of potential issues related to these contractors.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts individuals receiving unemployment compensation benefits or those whose benefits ended within the past six months from paying application fees for New Jersey state civil service exams. It removes the $25 fee for open competitive examinations and the $20 fee for appeals, which previously applied to all applicants. The policy directly affects unemployed New Jersey residents seeking state government jobs through civil service hiring processes. The change applies to all civil service exams covered under the existing fee structure without altering exam requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2871) increases the annual property tax deduction for senior citizens (65+), persons with disabilities, and veterans in New Jersey from $250 to $500. It directly affects eligible homeowners in these categories by reducing their taxable property tax burden by an additional $250 per year. The change would take effect starting in 2024, but the bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before implementation. The deduction amount remains capped at the actual tax bill amount if it falls below $500.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to provide public employers (non-State entities participating in SHBP) with detailed claims data upon written request. It mandates inclusion of 26 specific data points, including prescription utilization reports (top 50 drugs by volume/cost), medical claims summaries by diagnosis, and provider information, while maintaining HIPAA-compliant privacy safeguards. Public employers may request this data once per calendar year (reducing the prior 24-month limit), and employee majority representatives can also access it within 15 days of a public employer’s request. The bill directly affects public employers and their employees by increasing transparency into health plan spending and utilization patterns.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2848) allows New Jersey businesses to claim a tax credit against their corporation business tax or gross income tax for hiring employees with developmental disabilities. The credit equals 10% of the employee’s salary (capped at $3,000 per employee annually) and totals $60,000 per business per year. To qualify, the employee must have a developmental disability as defined by state law (N.J.S.A. 30:6D-25) and be declared eligible by the Division of Developmental Disabilities. Businesses cannot claim this credit for the same employee if they also claim the existing credit for hiring at a sheltered workshop or training center.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $10 million supplemental appropriation from the General Fund to the State Capitol Joint Management Commission for the State Capitol Park Complex. It directly affects the Commission, which manages the park, by adding to the existing $3 million already allocated in the FY2024 budget. The funding is specifically designated for developing and enhancing greenspace around the Capitol Complex in Trenton. The bill amends the annual appropriations act to include this supplemental amount for the park's upkeep and improvement.