Asm. Erik Peterson

Maddy summaryThis bill would extend New Jersey's tax treatment of health savings accounts (HSAs) to mirror federal tax treatment. It would allow New Jersey taxpayers to deduct HSA contributions that are deductible for federal income tax purposes, exclude HSA growth from gross income, and exempt qualified medical expense distributions from NJ taxation. The bill would apply to individuals covered by high-deductible health plans, which require minimum deductibles ($1,000 for self-only coverage, $2,000 for family coverage) and have out-of-pocket maximums ($5,000 for self-only, $10,000 for family). This would align New Jersey tax law with federal law for HSAs, which currently provide tax advantages not available under NJ gross income tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1498) changes how energy tax revenues are distributed by requiring energy taxpayers (such as utility companies) to pay energy taxes directly to municipalities instead of through the State. It revises the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program, directing the State Treasurer to calculate each municipality's share based on historical payments and equalized property valuations, then instruct energy taxpayers to pay that amount directly to the municipality. The bill ensures municipalities receive either the full amount of energy taxes collected or the amount they would have received under current law, whichever is greater, preventing the State from retaining any portion of these tax collections for other purposes. This change would take effect starting in Fiscal Year 2022, fundamentally altering the revenue distribution mechanism for energy taxes in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for capital gains realized when landowners sell certain real property interests to qualified conservation organizations for preservation purposes. The deduction applies to both full market value sales and "bargain sales" (where the sale price is below market value, with the difference treated as a charitable donation). The deduction amount equals the capital gain as determined under federal tax rules, covering transactions with groups participating in programs like Green Acres, Blue Acres, and farmland preservation. This policy aims to encourage land conservation by reducing tax liability on such sales, directly benefiting landowners who sell property for environmental preservation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would restore criminal penalties for individuals under the legal age to purchase alcohol or cannabis who possess or consume these substances in schools, public places, or vehicles. Currently, underage possession/consumption results in written warnings rather than criminal charges, but this bill would make it a "disorderly person offense" punishable by a minimum $500 fine and up to six months in jail. The bill also reinstates a six-month suspension of driving privileges for violations committed in motor vehicles. The sponsor states this change is needed because the previous non-punitive system has been ineffective, as shown by increased police reports of underage parties with alcohol and cannabis in beach communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts the sale of residential fire safety devices, including carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, and other equipment designed to detect, warn of, or extinguish fires, from New Jersey's sales and use tax. The exemption applies only to devices meeting Underwriters Laboratories standards or equivalent at the time of purchase. Homeowners purchasing these safety products will save money on the tax, as the exemption covers all qualifying items sold for residential use. The law takes effect immediately and applies to sales starting four months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2688) requires all New Jersey high school students to pass a civics test identical to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test to graduate. Students must take the test in 9th grade and retake it annually until they correctly answer at least 60 of 100 questions. School districts must document passing scores on students' transcripts. The bill directly affects all public high school students in New Jersey, making this test a mandatory graduation requirement starting with the 2015-2016 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2197) removes a requirement that county or municipal deer management plans must include written consent from private landowners located within 2,000 feet of a designated deer management area. It directly affects landowners in that proximity by eliminating the need to provide written permission for wildlife officials to access their property for specific deer management activities, such as retrieving darted deer for sterilization. The key provision amends existing law to prohibit the Fish and Game Council and Division of Fish and Wildlife from mandating this consent, streamlining implementation of approved community-based deer management plans. This change applies specifically to access for authorized management actions, not to the deer control methods themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2416) would regulate credit card interchange fees in New Jersey by prohibiting electronic payment systems (like Visa/MasterCard networks) from imposing restrictive terms in contracts with merchants. It directly affects merchants (businesses accepting cards) and consumers, as it would allow merchants to offer discounts for cash or debit payments and choose which payment systems to accept at different locations. Key provisions ban systems from blocking merchants from setting minimum/maximum credit card transaction values ($10 minimum), limiting payment system choices, or restricting how merchants display pricing. If passed, violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense and mandatory reimbursement of fees to affected merchants.

Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2.9 billion in state funding to ensure school districts receive aid equal to their "adequacy budget" as determined under New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act. It requires districts that receive increased state aid to reduce their property tax levies by the same amount, with specific provisions for districts where property taxes exceed 5% of district income. The bill also provides additional aid to districts that experienced funding cuts between 2018-2023 and repeals certain laws that contributed to reduced state aid and higher property taxes. The policy aims to align school funding with constitutional requirements for a "thorough and efficient" education system while reducing property tax burdens on residents.

Maddy summaryAJR 35 designates March of each year as "Women Veterans Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month with activities honoring women veterans. It does not create new programs, funding, or legal requirements. This commemorative resolution directly affects all New Jersey residents by establishing an annual observance to recognize women veterans' service. The bill focuses solely on ceremonial recognition, not policy changes.