Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program, which provides tax credits to businesses that make significant investments in New Jersey manufacturing facilities. To qualify, businesses must invest at least $10 million in capital and create at least 20 new full-time jobs with median salaries at least 120% of local manufacturing averages. The tax credit amount is calculated as the lesser of 0.1% of capital investment multiplied by new jobs, 25% of capital investment, or $150 million, with $100 million reserved for clean energy manufacturers in the first two years. Businesses must maintain the jobs and investment for a specified period, and may forfeit credits if they fail to meet requirements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3974 prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers from using deceptive marketing practices. The bill requires all advertising to include accurate, plain-language details about services, locations, and contact information (including phone numbers and addresses), and bans false claims about network status, geographic location, or affiliations with other providers without written consent. Violations carry civil penalties up to $20,000 per incident, and affected individuals may sue for triple damages plus attorney fees. This directly affects licensed treatment facilities, certified providers, and recovery residences offering substance use disorder services within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for illegal payments related to patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities. It makes such payments a third-degree crime (up from fourth-degree) with a mandatory $50,000 fine, affecting healthcare providers, facilities, non-profits, and recovery residences. The law prohibits payments that vary based on patient volume, treatment duration, or insurance benefits, but allows flat fees not tied to these factors. It clarifies that referrals to certified treatment facilities or recovery residences (sober living homes) must not involve commission-based payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to issue an annual report on compensation awards to crime victims. The report must detail the number of applications granted or denied (with reasons), award amounts, demographics of recipients, services covered, and office funding, and must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within six months after each fiscal year ends. The report will also be published on the Department of Law and Public Safety's website for public access. This formalizes an existing reporting practice without changing eligibility or funding for victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow property owners, agents, or responsible persons in charge of construction projects to choose private inspection agencies for building code compliance inspections, rather than being limited to municipal enforcing agencies. Currently, owners could only use private inspectors if the municipality failed to complete inspections within three business days and with Department of Community Affairs authorization. The bill would eliminate this restriction, permitting owners to select private inspectors for any reason. It also establishes procedures for charging separate inspection fees and requires private agencies to follow conflict-of-interest rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new criminal penalties for selling or buying marijuana from unlicensed businesses in New Jersey. Business owners operating without a license from the Cannabis Regulatory Commission face a third-degree crime (3-5 years in prison or $15,000 fine), while organizers running multiple unlicensed operations face a second-degree crime (5-10 years or $150,000 fine). Purchasing from unlicensed businesses is classified as a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months in jail or $1,000 fine). The law also authorizes state police to shut down violating businesses and seize illegal marijuana, supplementing existing cannabis regulations under the CREAMMA law. It directly affects unlicensed cannabis businesses, their operators, and buyers who knowingly purchase from them.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 25% gross income tax deduction for K-12 teachers in New Jersey. It directly affects teachers employed by public school districts, charter schools, Renaissance school projects, or qualifying nonpublic schools. The deduction reduces taxable income by 25% of the wages paid by these employers during the tax year. The policy applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows retired teachers who left the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to return to teaching for up to two school years without needing to rejoin TPAF. It requires school boards to prove they searched for other qualified candidates and hired the retired teacher as the only available option, with salaries capped at 40-70% of the median teacher pay. Retired teachers rehired under this law also receive gross income tax relief: 50% of their rehired salary is deductible, and the remaining amount is taxed at a flat 1.4% rate (regardless of filing status). The bill specifically applies to teachers who retired "bona fide" and did not prearrange their return before retirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance to regularly evaluate banks, credit unions, and mortgage companies on how well they serve low- and moderate-income consumers and underserved communities. The department will conduct examinations every three years and assign institutions ratings (Outstanding, Satisfactory, Low Satisfactory, Needs to Improve, or Substantial Noncompliance) based on their lending, investments, and financial services to these communities. Institutions receiving "Low Satisfactory" or lower ratings must develop improvement plans with public input. The bill also mandates the department to conduct a disparity study identifying underserved areas and requires financial institutions to post public notices about their community reinvestment performance. These evaluations will influence the department's decisions on branch expansions, licenses, and other regulatory approvals.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5924) automatically grants tenants in multi-unit buildings (two or more units) who are displaced by fire the same protections as those displaced by code enforcement. Specifically, it defines tenants made homeless by fire damage (as certified by a housing inspector) as "displaced persons" under New Jersey's Relocation Assistance Act, eliminating the need for municipalities to pass separate resolutions. Key provisions include a tenant's right of first refusal to return to their repaired unit once it's habitable, and the option to pay $1/month rent to the landlord to maintain that right during repairs. These changes apply immediately to tenants displaced by fire, ensuring they have clearer pathways to return or secure housing assistance.