Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill (A140) prohibits the Council on Affordable Housing from counting business relocations as generating affordable housing requirements within a municipality or within a 50-mile radius. It specifically prevents municipalities from imposing affordable housing fees on commercial or industrial businesses that move or transfer locations within the same municipality, housing region, or 50-mile area. The law directly affects businesses relocating within these boundaries and the municipalities that previously could have charged such fees. It modifies how affordable housing obligations are calculated for municipalities under New Jersey's Fair Housing Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the residency requirement for New Jersey residents to obtain a hunting license from six months to 60 days. It directly affects individuals who live in New Jersey but haven't met the current six-month domicile requirement. The change modifies Section 23:3-4 of the state code to update the residency period for all resident hunting licenses (including firearm, bow and arrow, and trapping licenses), making it easier for new residents to qualify. The bill does not alter fees, license types, or other provisions related to hunting or fishing.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities with certified affordable housing plans under the Fair Housing Act to prioritize specific groups for certain affordable housing units. It authorizes municipalities to give priority to corporate employees for employer-sponsored housing, migrant workers for farm housing, and family members for accessory housing units - all meeting low/moderate income requirements. The bill also removes the need for "affirmative regional marketing" for these units, allowing them to count toward the municipality's housing obligation without additional outreach. This creates a streamlined process for targeting housing access to specific eligible residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A251) changes New Jersey's affordable housing rules by raising the maximum percentage of a municipality's housing obligation that can be met with age-restricted units (like senior housing) from 25% to 50%. It directly affects New Jersey municipalities required to provide affordable housing under state law. The key provision removes a previous 25% limit imposed by the Council on Affordable Housing, allowing communities to count up to half of their required affordable units as age-restricted. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A143) requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to create an online system for submitting milk dealer license applications. Currently, applicants must print paper forms from the department's website, complete them manually, and mail them in. The bill would allow applicants to electronically submit their license applications through the department's website, streamlining the process for both applicants and the department. It directly affects milk dealers seeking new licenses or renewals in New Jersey. The change would take effect two years after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that licensed firearms dealers in New Jersey may provide firearms for display at fundraising events sponsored by tax-exempt organizations recognized under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue Code. The provision specifically applies to nonprofit, charitable organizations that meet federal tax-exempt status requirements. Dealers must provide timely and proper notice to the superintendent of the State Police when displaying firearms at these events. This amendment makes explicit what was previously unclear in New Jersey law regarding firearms displays at such events, without changing existing requirements for dealers to maintain proper licensing and follow safety procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county clerks to remove voters from mail-in ballot lists if the USPS returns election mail to the voter, the voter hasn't used mail-in ballots for two years, or the USPS indicates their address has changed or is undeliverable. Before removal, county clerks must notify voters in writing about the reason for potential removal and how to continue receiving mail-in ballots. Voters have 30 days to respond to the notice; if they don't, they're removed from the list and sent a notice with an application to re-apply. This affects voters who typically receive mail-in ballots but haven't used them or have changed addresses. The bill aims to maintain accurate voter lists while preserving voters' ability to continue receiving mail-in ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state funds from being used to pursue or support lawsuits against fossil fuel companies (coal, natural gas, and petroleum industries) that claim their activities caused or worsened climate change or related harms like public nuisance, negligence, or consumer fraud. It specifically blocks the use of money from the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations act for such litigation by the Attorney General’s office, Department of Law and Public Safety, or other state agencies. The restriction applies to cases alleging that fossil fuel emissions directly caused specific harms to the state or residents from climate change effects. This is a direct policy change limiting how state funds can be spent on climate-related legal actions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1091) allows commercial farmers in New Jersey to recover reasonable legal costs and attorney fees when they successfully defend against complaints deemed "unreasonable" under the state's Right to Farm Act. Specifically, farmers who win cases where a county agriculture board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) determines their operation qualifies for the Act's "irrebuttable presumption" (meaning it follows accepted farming practices and complies with laws) can seek reimbursement. To qualify, the board or SADC must first find the complaint was filed in "bad faith" and that the claimed costs/fees are reasonable. The bill directs the county board or SADC to issue orders requiring the complainant to pay these costs after a farmer submits a formal application.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow chiefs of part-time municipal police forces in New Jersey to issue firearms purchaser identification cards and handgun purchase permits, which are currently only issued by chiefs of full-time police departments. The change would streamline the application process by enabling local part-time police chiefs to handle these permits directly rather than requiring applicants to go through the State Police. This would facilitate more timely issuance of these permits while maintaining all existing requirements for obtaining them. The bill does not alter the eligibility criteria or application process for these permits, only expanding who can issue them.