Asm. Don Guardian

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3688) expands school transportation eligibility for nonpublic school students in New Jersey. It requires school districts to provide transportation or a $675 annual reimbursement (adjusted for inflation) to students attending nonpublic schools located **within the same county** as their residence, regardless of distance. This replaces the previous rule that limited coverage to schools within 20 miles. The bill repeals outdated language (P.L.1999, c.350) that mandated the 20-mile restriction. It directly affects parents/guardians of nonpublic school students in districts providing transportation for public school students living more than 2 miles (elementary) or 2.5 miles (secondary) from school.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county commissioners to create a "Sharing Resources" program offering grants and loans to local municipalities. It directly affects towns and cities studying shared services (like combining police or waste management) or consolidation (merging with another municipality), covering costs for feasibility studies, consultants, and one-time startup expenses. Counties must exclude debt financing from the program, set cost-effective award limits, and provide technical support for applicants. Funding can come from state, federal, or private sources, or county taxes, with the Commissioner of Community Affairs setting application guidelines.

Maddy summaryBill A 3677 provides tax credits to New Jersey long-term care facility operators who increase single-occupancy residential units by at least 5%. Specifically, facilities licensed under NJ law (including nursing homes and assisted living residences) can claim a $100 credit for every 5% increase in single-occupancy units, capped at $2,000 per year against either corporation business tax or gross income tax. The credit applies only to new single-occupancy units added during the tax year and cannot reduce tax liability below zero. This policy directly affects facility owners seeking to expand single-occupancy options while receiving financial incentives through state tax relief.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Caregiver's Assistance Act creates a tax credit for residents who pay for care of elderly relatives. Caregivers with income under $100,000 (or $50,000 for certain filers) can get 22.5% back on up to $3,000 annually in qualified care costs. Eligible expenses include home health services, adult day care, home modifications, and personal care assistance for qualifying seniors aged 60+ (or 50+ with disability) who meet income requirements. The credit does not apply to costs covered by insurance or government programs, and it's in addition to existing dependent deductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a $50 fee for filing a certified copy of a court-ordered name change in New Jersey. It directly affects residents who need certified copies for legal purposes, such as after marriage, divorce, or other life events requiring a name change. The key provision deletes the existing $50 fee line (Section 11(d)) from state law, replacing it with no fee for this specific service. The change applies immediately upon enactment, removing a cost for individuals seeking to update official records.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey parents and guardians to deduct up to $1,200 from their taxable income for eligible school supply purchases made for students in public or private K-12 schools or higher education institutions. It specifically covers common items like notebooks, pencils, folders, calculators, paper, and other standard classroom materials. The deduction applies to purchases made during the taxable year and takes effect for years beginning after the bill's enactment date. This creates a direct tax benefit for families covering recurring school-related expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national or multi-state self-exclusion program for casino gambling. It enables individuals who want to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos to use a single form to exclude themselves across multiple states, rather than submitting separate requests to each state. The bill requires the division to create forms and procedures ensuring people can select which states they want excluded from, and explicitly prohibits sharing their personal information without their direct consent. This directly affects gamblers seeking to self-exclude from casinos in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax incentives for New Jersey residents with disabilities to save for disability-related expenses through ABLE accounts. It provides a one-time $750 dollar-for-dollar matching grant for initial deposits into a New Jersey ABLE account (for taxpayers earning $150,000 or less annually) and allows a state tax deduction for all contributions to these accounts. The matching funds are subject to annual state budget approval, with the Department of Human Services determining allocation if funding is insufficient. The program expands New Jersey’s existing ABLE program, which allows tax-advantaged savings for expenses like housing, education, and assistive technology, without affecting Medicaid eligibility.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A3694 establishes a voluntary registration and training program for commercial applicators who remove snow or ice for hire using deicing substances. It requires these applicators to complete certified training on effective, water-quality-protective methods and register with the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The program mandates record-keeping of application methods and amounts, annual reporting to DEP, and periodic refresher training. Registered applicators gain limited liability protection for snow/ice removal on private property when following trained methods, but this protection does not apply if they act recklessly or deviate from the training. The bill directly affects commercial snow/ice removal businesses and property owners who hire them, aiming to reduce water contamination from excessive deicer runoff.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes penalties for licensed sports wagering operators who accept bets on prohibited sports events, directly affecting casinos, online sportsbooks, and sports pools operating in New Jersey. Key penalties include: repaying all improperly accepted wagers, paying fines of $20,000-$100,000, and facing up to 10 days of suspension. Funds from fines go to either the Casino Control Fund (for gaming enforcement) or the state general fund (for racing commissions). Prohibited events include all NJ college/athletic events, high school sports, and esports, but exclude some tournaments and international events with under-18 minority participation, as defined by existing law.