Rep. John DiMaio

Maddy summaryACR 93 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require all tax revenue from New Jersey's legal recreational marijuana sales to be dedicated exclusively to mental health, addiction recovery, and drug rehabilitation services. If approved by voters, this amendment would mandate that funds collected under the state's marijuana sales tax (per the Sales and Use Tax Act) must be used solely for these specific services and cannot be diverted to other state budget needs. The amendment would become part of the state constitution only after voter approval in a general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's Property Tax Relief and Education Empowerment Program, providing property tax relief to residents while offering educational grants to eligible students attending nonpublic schools. It directly affects low-income students (households earning ≤3.7x the federal poverty level for a family of four) who previously attended public school for at least 100 days and switch to a participating nonpublic school. The program provides grants equal to 50% of the public school district's per-pupil spending (capped at the nonpublic school's fees), paid directly to the nonpublic school by the student's resident district. This funding reduces the public school district's budget by the grant amount, with the savings used to lower local school taxes in the following year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and private schools in counties with high Lyme disease incidence to adopt a tick remediation policy. Within 12 months, the Environmental Protection Commissioner must develop county-specific, pesticide-free strategies to reduce ticks based on local factors like vegetation and deer populations. Schools must implement these measures within 18 months, prioritize non-chemical solutions first, and only use low-impact pesticides if needed. Schools must also designate a coordinator to educate staff and parents about tick prevention, habitats, and safe removal techniques.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows high school students in grades 10-12 who participate in school sports to substitute study hall for physical education during their sport's athletic season, provided they meet specific academic criteria. Eligible students must either be enrolled in advanced courses (like AP or dual enrollment) or need academic support due to low performance, as determined by the school. The substitution requires written approval from parents, coach certification of sport participation, and counselor approval confirming eligibility. Students retain full physical education graduation credit for their athletic participation, but the change only applies during the sport's season and does not affect PE requirements for non-athletes or younger grades.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands protections for agricultural land by broadening the definition of "lands" covered under trespass laws to include cranberry bogs, orchards, nurseries, appurtenant woodlands, and equipment storage areas. It now prohibits entering or remaining on such lands without written permission (including on foot, horseback, or with equipment), or damaging farm property like crops, equipment, or livestock. Violators face a $1,000 civil penalty plus costs for restoring damage, up from $100 under current law. The changes directly affect farmers (strengthening their property rights), land visitors (requiring explicit permission for more activities), and property owners (allowing higher recovery for violations).

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's 2019 "Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act" (P.L.2019, c.59), which allowed terminally ill patients to access physician-assisted medication under strict safeguards. By repealing sections 1-26 of that law, the bill removes the legal exception that previously protected healthcare providers and patients from criminal prosecution under N.J.S.2C:11-6 (aiding suicide) when following the act's procedures. The repeal means aiding suicide would again be punishable as a crime under state law, directly affecting terminally ill patients who could previously seek this option and healthcare providers who followed the repealed act's requirements. The change takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey state government to appropriate a minimum of $10 million annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding. It directly affects local health departments across New Jersey, which currently rely on property taxes and restricted state/federal funds for specific services like vaccines or environmental health. The funding would provide dedicated, unrestricted resources to cover operational costs and support core public health programs, rather than being tied to specific purposes. This establishes a mandatory annual appropriation starting July 1 after the bill's effective date, restoring a funding mechanism eliminated in 2011.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 59) commemorates the 75th anniversary of the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, established by the 1950 Dingell-Johnson Act. It formally recognizes the program’s role in funding conservation of U.S. aquatic habitats and fish populations through user fees on fishing and boating equipment. The resolution specifically highlights New Jersey’s benefits from this program, including restored habitats for species like striped bass and support for the state’s recreational fishing industry. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new funding or policy changes but serves as a formal acknowledgment of the program’s legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an exemption in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that previously allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, these venues could permit smoking in areas used for gambling (like slot machine rooms or table games), but the bill would eliminate that exception. After passage, all indoor areas of casinos and simulcasting facilities open to the public for gambling would be required to be smoke-free. This change aligns these venues with the state's general indoor smoking ban, which applies to most public workplaces and spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow producers of baked goods (like cakes, cookies, pastries, and pies, excluding bread) to sell their items at farm markets in wrapped or covered containers for health reasons, without needing to weigh them. Currently, most food sold at farm markets must be sold by weight or count, but this exception specifically covers baked goods in sealed containers. The change clarifies that producers do not violate the weight-measurement rule when selling wrapped baked goods directly to customers at farm markets. It applies only to fresh, made-on-site baked items and does not affect other food sales or require new weighing standards.