Asm. Robert Karabinchak

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to require developers to contribute to the cost of mass transit improvements (such as bus or train infrastructure) that are necessary because of new development projects but located outside the development site. It expands existing law - which already permits municipalities to require developers to pay for streets and utility systems - to include mass transit. Municipalities must create contribution rules in consultation with mass transit agencies and base them on local transportation plans. Developers who pay under protest can challenge the amount in court within one year.

Maddy summaryAJR 77 designates May of each year as "Bag Up NJ Month" to raise public awareness about reducing single-use plastic bags and promoting reusable alternatives. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging educational activities, such as community programs and reusable bag distributions, to support New Jersey's existing law (P.L.2020, c.117) that phased out single-use plastic and paper carryout bags starting May 2022. It does not create new regulations but aims to foster widespread behavioral change through public education.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow crematories to operate as stand-alone facilities separate from cemeteries and funeral homes, rather than being restricted to cemetery property or existing funeral home operations. It would permit crematories to be established on property owned or leased by a crematory company (defined as a stand-alone facility separate from cemeteries and funeral homes) and would require these companies to be nonprofit organizations. The bill would require crematory companies to file annual reports with the New Jersey Cemetery Board, adopt regulations for crematory use, and publicly post their service charges. This change would directly affect crematory companies, funeral homes, and cemetery operators in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A543) requires all newly-manufactured school buses in New Jersey to have GPS systems that track their real-time location and speed. It directly affects school bus manufacturers and school districts purchasing new buses, as they must install the GPS equipment. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment, and the State Board of Education will create rules for installation and data use. The requirement applies only to buses made on or after that effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's research tax credit for corporations. It raises the credit rate for qualified research expenses from 10% to 15% for companies primarily operating in targeted industries like clean energy, life sciences, advanced transportation, and information technology. It also increases the basic research payments credit from 10% to 15% for all corporations. Most significantly, it makes the research tax credit refundable - allowing corporations to receive cash refunds for unused credit amounts instead of only carrying them forward for future tax years. The bill applies to privilege periods beginning on or after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill creates tax credits for developers and building owners who construct or retrofit buildings to meet specific green building standards. The credits equal 4.0% of allowable construction costs plus an additional 0.5-2.0% based on LEED certification level (Certified to Platinum), with costs capped at $280 per square foot. The program has annual spending limits of $20 million in the first year and $50 million for each of the next six years, with unused funds rolling over. To qualify, buildings must meet specific requirements for energy efficiency, materials, indoor air quality, water conservation, and other environmental standards, which will be adopted by the Department of Community Affairs within one year of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to apply a price discount (up to 5%) to bids for asphalt or concrete that use pervious pavement - material that allows rainwater to soak through - when building or improving municipal, county, or state projects. The discount rate is based on a ranking system created by the Environmental Department, which evaluates materials by their ability to reduce stormwater runoff and filter contaminants. It also provides businesses a tax credit of up to $3,000 per project for purchasing pervious pavement instead of traditional materials, covering the extra cost for up to eight projects annually. The bill applies to state contracts and construction projects, with a report due within two years to assess the program’s budgetary and environmental impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $25 million fund within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to support the Blue Acres program. The fund provides relocation assistance for homeowners and tenants displaced when the state acquires flood-prone properties through Blue Acres projects, and covers the cost of purchasing those properties. All money in the fund must be used for these purposes, with no more than 5% of annual funds allowed for administrative costs. The fund is non-lapsing (does not expire) and will be administered by the DEP to help residents affected by flood risk mitigation efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's standards for evaluating nursing home performance and imposing penalties on low-performing facilities. It requires the Department of Health to develop specific metrics covering resident physical/mental well-being (e.g., falls, depression, medication use) and facility operations (e.g., staff turnover, vaccination rates, safety incidents), with annual reviews of these standards. Nursing homes receiving repeated low ratings (one-star from CMS or failing two metrics per category in three out of four quarters) face escalating sanctions, including warnings, restrictions on Medicaid admissions, and loss of reimbursement unless they submit and implement a 18-month improvement plan approved by state agencies. The bill also mandates annual joint reports to the Governor and Legislature on implementation, including sanction details and outcomes of improvement plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1940) requires law enforcement officers to provide domestic violence victims with information about their rights in English, Spanish, and up to 10 additional high-demand languages spoken in New Jersey, as identified in the Supreme Court-approved Language Access Plan. It also mandates the Administrative Office of the Courts to create standard templates for temporary and final restraining orders in these languages for use by law enforcement, municipal courts, and Superior Court judges. These templates would be provided to both victims and defendants when restraining orders are issued. The bill aims to improve language access for non-English speaking domestic violence victims seeking legal protections across New Jersey.