Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3404) requires New Jersey state parks, forests, recreation areas, historic sites, natural areas, and wildlife management areas to remain open to the public for up to seven days if a state of emergency is declared due to the legislature failing to pass the state budget by the constitutional deadline. The Environmental Protection Commissioner must develop a plan designating essential staff to maintain operations during such emergencies. The bill directly affects park visitors, park staff, and the state's ability to maintain public access during budget impasses, ensuring continuity without requiring new funding.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3405 eliminates three property transfer fees: the general purpose fee (applied to non-exempt sales over $350,000), the supplemental fee (added to most sales), and the "mansion" fee (1% on homes over $1 million). This bill directly affects home buyers and sellers in New Jersey by removing these costs from property transactions. The fees, which were calculated as percentages of property value, added significant expenses - such as $6,775 for a $750,000 home - compared to pre-2003 costs. The legislation repeals specific sections of New Jersey law that established these fees, reducing transaction costs for property transfers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3406) creates the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission within the Governor's Office to assess state rules, regulations, and executive orders. The commission, composed of nine members including Executive and Legislative branch representatives, will review all proposed or adopted rules to evaluate their economic impact on businesses, workers, and local governments, determining if costs outweigh benefits. It will hold two annual public hearings, solicit public input, and issue an annual report with non-binding recommendations to the Governor for amending or repealing burdensome rules. The commission’s findings are advisory only and cannot be used in legal challenges against state agencies.

Maddy summaryACR 107 is a concurrent resolution (not a law) expressing New Jersey's legislative support for a "Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights." It lists specific outdoor activities children should have opportunities to experience, such as exploring woods, building forts, playing in mud, planting gardens, and observing nature. The resolution directs copies to the Governor, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and the Commissioner of Children and Families for their awareness and consideration. It does not create new legal requirements but formally encourages state agencies to recognize the importance of outdoor experiences for children's well-being.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow for the early termination of terms for appointed municipal court positions (judges, public defenders, and prosecutors) when two or more municipalities enter into agreements to establish joint or shared municipal courts. Currently, municipal court judges serve three-year terms, while public defenders and prosecutors serve one-year terms under existing law. The bill modifies these terms to permit termination before their scheduled expiration date when municipalities form joint or shared court agreements. This change streamlines the transition process for municipalities that want to share court resources. The policy directly affects municipal court staff and the municipalities entering these joint or shared court agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how municipalities calculate impervious surfaces (like paved areas) for public parks within New Jersey's Highlands preservation area. Currently, parks must keep impervious surfaces under 3% of each individual park's area. The bill allows municipalities to combine all their municipal parks into one "lot" for this calculation, meaning the total impervious surface across all parks must stay under 3% of the combined park area. This adjustment makes it easier for towns to develop or maintain multiple parks without violating the 3% limit on each separate park. The change specifically excludes open waters and solar panels from the impervious surface calculation.

Maddy summaryACR 106 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the cap on certain retirement and disability benefits when calculating eligibility for New Jersey’s $250 property tax deduction for seniors (65+) and disabled residents. Currently, only benefits up to the maximum Social Security amount are excluded from the $10,000 annual income limit for qualifying this deduction. The amendment would allow all qualifying federal or state retirement/disability benefits to be fully excluded from the income calculation, enabling more seniors and disabled residents to qualify if their total income remains under $10,000. This change directly affects low-income seniors and disabled residents who rely on government benefits for housing affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools to integrate age-appropriate lessons about the September 11, 2001 attacks into Social Studies curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students. It mandates coverage of six specific topics: historical context, the timeline of events, first responder heroism, humanitarian aid following the attacks, global counterterrorism responses, and strategies for promoting tolerance and diversity. Additionally, every public school must hold an annual commemorative event focused on conflict resolution, diversity, and cultural tolerance. The New Jersey Commissioner of Education will provide schools with sample lesson resources to support implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new formula for distributing state school aid to New Jersey's public school districts. It calculates each district's aid by dividing the total projected state income tax revenue by the total projected student enrollment across all districts, then multiplying that per-pupil amount by the district's own projected enrollment. This method ensures state funding is distributed proportionally based on student population, directly affecting all public school districts in the state. The bill replaces previous funding mechanisms and takes effect immediately for the upcoming school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes overtime pay (for hours worked over 40 in a week) from New Jersey's state income tax for employees subject to the state's overtime pay requirement (1.5 times regular hourly wage). It does not apply to executive, administrative, professional, farm, motor vehicle sales, outside sales, hotel, limousine, or bus carrier employees. Employers must not withhold state income tax on this exempt overtime compensation. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.