Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill adds rock climbing, bouldering, and ice climbing to the list of "sport and recreational activities" covered under New Jersey's Landowners' Liability Act. It clarifies that landowners who grant permission for these activities on their property - without payment - are not automatically liable for injuries that occur during them. The law already provides similar protections for activities like hiking, skiing, and snowmobiling. This change ensures consistent legal treatment for these climbing sports under the state's liability framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey taxpayers with corporation business tax (CBT) and gross income tax (GIT) credits for completing qualified construction projects on abandoned commercial building sites. The credits cover 25% of qualified costs (up to $1 million per project) for activities like demolishing abandoned buildings, constructing new commercial buildings on those sites, removing debris, or remediating environmental contamination. To qualify, taxpayers must apply for certification from the Division of Taxation, and the total credits awarded across all projects are capped at $5 million. The bill requires the Division of Taxation to report on the program's effectiveness in replacing abandoned commercial buildings with new construction within one year of the credits' expiration.

Maddy summaryACR 50 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would change how New Jersey funds public schools. It would require all net income tax revenue (from personal income taxes on individuals, estates, and trusts) to be allocated exclusively to school districts based on the number of students, rather than allowing some funds to go to counties or municipalities as under current law. The amendment specifies that this per-student funding would satisfy the state's constitutional obligation to maintain a thorough and efficient public school system for children aged 5-18. It also clarifies that the Legislature retains the right to provide additional school funding beyond this requirement. This proposal must be approved by voters to become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new "farm brewery license" allowing agricultural operations to produce up to 2,000 barrels of beer annually using locally grown hops or other brewing ingredients, with fees ranging from $100 to $300 depending on production volume. It also creates a "winery-brewery sublicense" for wineries (both plenary and farm wineries) that are actively farming on or adjacent to their premises to produce up to 3,000 barrels of beer annually for retail sale, with a $750 annual fee. Both licenses require the producer to use locally grown agricultural products in brewing and limit the number of licenses per entity (one farm brewery license per entity, one winery-brewery sublicense per winery). The legislation does not authorize direct sales of malt beverages to wholesalers and retailers, focusing instead on retail sales at the farm or winery premises.

Maddy summaryThis bill would reduce New Jersey's gross income tax rates by 10% over three years, applying a 3.33% reduction each year for taxable years beginning in 2013, 2014, and 2015. It would affect all New Jersey residents who pay state income tax by lowering their tax liabilities across all income brackets. The bill amends N.J.S.54A:2-1 to implement these rate reductions, maintaining the full 10% reduction for future taxable years after 2015. The reduction applies to all filing statuses, including single filers, married couples filing jointly, and heads of household.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A648) requires all New Jersey public school districts to include water safety instruction in health education for students in grades K-12, beginning with the 2018-2019 school year. The instruction must cover four key topics: proper use of flotation devices, recognizing water conditions, responding to rip currents, and swimming near lifeguard-monitored areas. It directly affects every public school district and K-12 student in New Jersey by mandating this curriculum as part of existing health education standards. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Commission to regularly analyze the financial impact of all state-mandated health benefits. The Commission must examine how these benefits affect costs for purchasers (like insurers and employers), whether they increase appropriate use of treatments, and if they save money through better preventive care access. Every two years after the bill takes effect (and every three years thereafter), the Commission must report findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, including whether any mandated benefits should be repealed and offered as optional coverage add-ons. The bill does not change existing health mandates but mandates ongoing cost and impact reviews to inform future legislative decisions.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill clarifies that municipalities must provide affordable housing based only on current and future housing needs ("present and prospective need"), not on needs that arose during a gap period between housing cycles. It amends the Fair Housing Act to eliminate court interpretations that required municipalities to account for housing needs from a 15+ year period without clear state guidance. The bill ensures municipalities' affordable housing obligations are based on planning for current and future needs rather than retroactive calculations. This affects all New Jersey municipalities required to comply with the Fair Housing Act's affordable housing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires creditors to accept electronic transmission of death certificates from estate executors after a creditor has filed a claim. It applies specifically to creditors in New Jersey estate proceedings who have already submitted a written claim to the executor. The law mandates that executors can send certified death certificates electronically (including required details like name, date of death, and cause), and creditors who refuse this method forfeit their right to file a claim. This change aims to resolve issues with lost paper documents or illegible faxes in current practice.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $350,000 from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) for the Council on Armed Forces and Veterans' Affairs. The funds are specifically designated to preserve military installations in New Jersey if the federal government initiates base realignment or closure (BRAC) actions. The provision enables the Council to take proactive steps to protect local military sites during federal review processes. This funding directly supports New Jersey's military installations and their communities by providing resources to counter potential closures.