Asm. Mitchelle Drulis

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey individual taxpayers to deduct certain capital gains from selling qualified small business stock held for more than five years. It applies to stock in C corporations that meet specific requirements, including having no more than $50 million in assets at issuance, using at least 80% of assets in active qualified businesses (not service industries like law or finance), and having 80% of payroll in New Jersey. The deduction is limited to the greater of $10 million (reduced by prior years' deductions) or ten times the stock's adjusted basis. The bill aims to encourage investment in New Jersey-based small businesses by reducing capital gains tax on qualifying stock sales after a five-year holding period.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's Innovation Evergreen Program, which funds investments in high-growth businesses through tax credit auctions. It expands eligibility by adding headquarters location as a factor for determining "principal business operations," making it easier for businesses with New Jersey headquarters to qualify. The bill increases the maximum initial investment from $5 million to $10 million (and to $12.5 million for university spin-offs or minority/women-owned businesses), and raises the threshold for triggering a pause in tax credit auctions from $15 million to $50 million in available funds. These changes aim to strengthen support for innovation-driven businesses while streamlining reporting requirements for participating venture firms.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a pause on collecting new student growth objective data for teacher evaluations in New Jersey schools. It applies to the 2024-2025 school year and subsequent years until the next revision of education regulations (N.J.A.C.6A:10). During this pause, school districts must use existing student growth data from the previous year for evaluations, though new teachers or those without prior data must still set objectives and collect data during this period. The pause ends once updated evaluation guidelines are implemented following recommendations from the New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force. This directly affects teachers, principals, and school districts in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases tax credits for investors who fund New Jersey emerging technology businesses, raising the credit rate from 20% to 60% of qualified investments, with an additional 5% available for investments in opportunity zones, low-income communities, or certified minority/women-owned businesses. It also lowers the maximum employee count for qualifying businesses from 225 to 150 employees. The bill repeals the "New Jersey Ignite Act" while updating definitions and mechanisms for the tax credit program to better support technology startups across fields like biotechnology, renewable energy, and advanced computing. This change directly affects individual investors and venture funds making qualifying investments in New Jersey-based technology businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a symbolic resolution designating June 2025 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in New Jersey. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups through policy changes; instead, it formally recognizes the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals to New Jersey society. The resolution urges public officials and citizens to commemorate the month with appropriate activities. It follows the state's longstanding commitment to inclusivity and aligns with federal Pride Month designations. (Note: As a procedural resolution, it has no legal force beyond symbolic recognition.)

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates New Jersey's sales tax on specific baby products and sunscreen. It exempts baby wash, shampoo, lotions, powders, car seats (child restraint systems), cribs (including bassinets), nursing bottles/nipples/funnels, and strollers from the state sales tax. Sunscreen is also exempt if it's FDA-regulated for UV protection (lotion, cream, spray, or gel), excluding cosmetic products. The tax change applies to retail sales starting October 1, 2025, directly benefiting parents and caregivers purchasing these items.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Regulatory Modernization Commission to review state regulations and identify unnecessary or duplicative rules that burden businesses and residents. The 11-member commission - including public appointees with business, nonprofit, and regulatory expertise, plus state agency leaders - will solicit public input, analyze regulatory impacts, and publish annual reports with recommendations for reform. It requires state agencies to respond to commission proposals within 90 days and mandates a public "Red Tape Reduction Portal" for submitting concerns. The commission has advisory authority only (it cannot change regulations) and will operate with a $250,000 annual budget to support its review process. This directly affects small businesses, nonprofits, and residents navigating New Jersey's regulatory environment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5376) creates two new state entities: the Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission (18 members) and the Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency within the Department of Health. It requires hospitals to publicly disclose pricing data for inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and physician services (using standard billing codes) and sets annual benchmarks for health care cost growth and hospital prices. Health care entities exceeding these benchmarks must submit improvement plans, and hospitals failing to comply with transparency rules face civil penalties of $10 per bed per day. The bill directly affects all hospitals, health care providers, and payers in New Jersey, with $5 million appropriated for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates electrical linemen as "first responder electrical linemen" during weather-related emergencies declared by the Governor or President. It provides these workers with immunity from civil liability for good-faith actions while restoring power, except in cases of willful, wanton, or grossly negligent conduct. The bill also authorizes the State Police to issue special vehicle decals for linemen to display only during emergencies, with strict rules requiring removal after the emergency ends and penalties for misuse (including $100 fines for failure to return decals). Additionally, it amends emergency call systems to require public safety centers to route power service requests directly to these designated linemen during declared emergencies.

Maddy summaryThe Anthony's Legacy Act (A4989) requires New Jersey courts to give special consideration to grandparents applying for visitation rights if they are Gold Star family members - defined as relatives (such as spouses, parents, children, or legal guardians) of service members who died while on active military duty due to enemy action, accident, or disease. Currently, courts evaluate visitation applications based on factors like the child-grandparent relationship and family dynamics, but this bill mandates that Gold Star grandparents receive heightened attention under those considerations. The law does not alter the existing requirement that applicants must still prove visitation serves the child's best interests. It directly affects grandparents who lost a family member in military service when seeking court-ordered visitation with their grandchildren.