Asm. John DiMaio

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts musicians who perform for payment (including for a fee or other compensation) from being classified as employees under New Jersey's unemployment compensation, temporary disability, workers' compensation, and wage and hour laws. As a result, these musicians would not qualify for benefits like unemployment compensation or workers' compensation, nor would they be subject to the employment taxes tied to those laws. The bill directly affects musicians earning income from live performances, changing their employment status under state regulations. It takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to submit an annual financial report by March 1 each year. The report must detail the status of special funding accounts under DEP's control - including funds from federal sources, dedicated fees, bond proceeds, and one-time appropriations - that are not typically part of the regular operating budget. The report will include statutory authority for each account, total funds used in the prior fiscal year, and year-end balances. This transparency measure ensures the Governor and Legislature can review how these specific funds are managed annually.

Maddy summaryACR 51 proposes a constitutional amendment changing New Jersey Supreme Court justices' term structure. It would shorten initial terms to 5 years (from 7 years) and require justices reappointed by the governor to win voter approval in a "tenure election" to gain permanent tenure. If rejected by voters, a justice could still be reappointed for another 5-year term but would not receive tenure. This directly affects current and future Supreme Court justices, maintaining the 70-year retirement age but adding a direct voter check on tenure. The change would apply to justices whose initial terms expire after the amendment's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 51) formally adopts four articles of impeachment against Robert Asaro-Angelo, the Commissioner of New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). It cites his failure to address the state's unemployment crisis, including delaying the reopening of in-person service centers (One-Stop Career Centers), backlog of unpaid claims, and lack of timely communication. The resolution, passed by the Assembly, impeaches Asaro-Angelo and directs the Speaker to submit the articles to the New Jersey Senate for consideration. It does not create new laws but initiates the constitutional impeachment process against the commissioner.

Maddy summaryAJR 55 designates March 16 each year as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey to recognize service dogs that assist veterans with conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and seizure disorders. The resolution directly affects veterans, service dog organizations (such as Paws Healing Heroes in Glassboro), and the public by raising awareness of these animals' role in veteran support. Its key mechanism is an annual designation requiring the Governor to issue a proclamation encouraging public observance. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a law with funding or regulatory changes, and it takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption from New Jersey's Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act for commercial or industrial development within designated "commercial corridors" in the Highlands Region. A commercial corridor is defined as land with frontage on a State, county, or rail thoroughfare that's zoned for commercial or industrial use, or that a municipality deems necessary for economic viability. The exemption allows municipalities to exercise their planning or zoning authority for development in these corridors without being deemed inconsistent with the regional master plan. This specifically exempts construction or reconstruction of commercial or industrial development in these corridors from the Highlands permitting review program. The bill aims to balance environmental protection with appropriate economic development in the Highlands Region.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A406 amends the "Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act" to strengthen protections against coercion and fraud. It upgrades two offenses to first-degree crimes: coercing a terminally ill patient to request end-of-life medication (previously a third-degree crime) or forging a patient's request (previously a second-degree crime). The bill imposes a mandatory 25-year prison sentence without parole eligibility for these offenses. It directly affects healthcare providers, family members, or others who might attempt to manipulate a patient's decision under the existing medical aid-in-dying law.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2018 surtax on non-public utility businesses with over $1 million in taxable net income. It eliminates the 2.5% surtax rate for 2018-2019 and the 1.5% rate for 2020-2021, removing this tax obligation for qualifying businesses. The repeal applies to all future tax periods starting January 1, 2019, and takes effect immediately. This directly affects businesses subject to New Jersey’s Corporation Business Tax that previously paid this additional surcharge.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA), South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA), and Palisades Interstate Park Commission to adopt regulations allowing drivers on their respective toll roads to choose their own towing company for towing and storage services. The law mandates that these authorities must permit driver choice in towing services, while still allowing them to contract with towing companies for vehicles deemed abandoned. The bill repeals previous provisions requiring NJTA and SJTA to register towing companies. This change applies to the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Atlantic City Expressway, and Palisades Interstate Parkway.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the income limit for certain sources of income that disqualify New Jersey taxpayers from claiming a retirement income exclusion. Currently, individuals aged 62+ cannot claim the exclusion if they earn over $3,000 from sources like wages or business income; the bill raises this threshold to $25,000. However, taxpayers with total gross income exceeding $100,000 remain ineligible for the exclusion regardless of this change. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents aged 62+ receiving retirement income who also earn income from other sources.