Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 10% tax credit for New Jersey businesses that pay gross income tax, allowing them to reduce their tax bill by 10% of qualified research and development (R&D) expenses exceeding a base amount. It specifically covers R&D spending conducted within New Jersey and includes payments to energy research consortia for energy-related research. The credit applies to businesses subject to the state's gross income tax, including those that qualify as small businesses under federal rules. The goal is to incentivize in-state R&D investment, aiming to spur technological innovation and economic growth in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits urban renewal entities from claiming property tax exemptions for school purposes on new development projects. It amends New Jersey's Long Term Tax Exemption Law to require that all new projects funded through municipal financial agreements pay school property taxes, rather than receiving exemptions. Instead, urban renewal entities must pay an annual service charge (based on 10-15% of gross revenue or 2% of project costs) to the municipality. This applies to all projects seeking long-term tax exemptions after the bill's effective date, directly affecting developers and municipalities involved in urban renewal agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's state income tax forms and instructions to include clear notices about three property tax relief programs: the Homestead Benefit, Senior Freeze, and property tax deductions/credit. It directly affects residents who file New Jersey personal income tax returns by making information about these programs more visible during tax filing. The key mechanism is amending existing tax laws to mandate that the Division of Taxation include these notices in the instructions for all state income tax returns. This change aims to help taxpayers easily access available property tax relief without needing to seek additional information separately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that all New Jersey school districts receive a minimum geographic cost adjustment (GCA) of 1.0 when calculating state school aid, directly affecting districts across the state. Currently, 12 counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Monmouth, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Sussex, and Warren) have a GCA below 1.0, resulting in those districts receiving less state funding than the formula would otherwise provide. The GCA is used to adjust for regional cost differences in providing educational services that are outside a district's control. This change would increase state aid for districts in counties with a GCA below 1.0, while potentially decreasing aid for districts in counties with a GCA above 1.0. The bill amends the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 to implement this minimum GCA requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to conduct a "wanted person check" for all applicants seeking driver's licenses, permits, or identification cards. The check would determine if applicants have outstanding arrest warrants or pending criminal charges by accessing the New Jersey Wanted Person System and New Jersey Criminal Justice Information System. The requirement applies specifically to applicants for probationary or basic driver's licenses, motorcycle licenses, examination permits, special learner's permits, and non-driver identification cards. This policy change would add a new verification step to the MVC's application process to ensure applicants are not wanted by law enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Pension and Health Benefits Review Commission's mandate to review **all** legislation affecting public employees' pension and health benefits, rather than just most such bills as currently required. It directly affects **state and local government employees** whose retirement plans (including defined benefit, defined contribution, and deferred compensation plans) or health care benefits are modified by new laws. The key mechanism requires the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer to identify qualifying bills within 20 days, then the Commission must complete its review and provide written recommendations within 45 days (or an approved extension) before the bill can advance. This closes a current gap where certain pension/health benefit legislation was not automatically certified for review.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A165) updates New Jersey's definition of "endangered plant species" to include plants federally listed as endangered/threatened, rare worldwide, or with five or fewer populations in the state - while explicitly excluding invasive species. It requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a statewide list of endangered plants within one year, based on scientific data and public input. Crucially, the bill grants the DEP authority to control or eliminate invasive plant species without regard to the presence of endangered plants in the area, unless prohibited by federal law. This clarifies regulatory priorities and aligns state protections with federal definitions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state agencies and employees from joining or supporting any multi-state cap-and-trade program targeting carbon emissions from transportation fuels, such as gasoline and diesel combustion. It specifically bans entering agreements with other states to create such programs or adopting related rules. The law applies to all state entities and requires invalidating any prior participation in similar initiatives. It directly affects New Jersey's ability to collaborate on regional climate policies for transportation, without altering existing state emissions regulations. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces New Jersey's premium receipts tax for surplus lines insurance coverage from 5% to 3% of gross premiums. It affects insurers, surplus lines agents, and policyholders purchasing specialized insurance for high-risk or hard-to-cover risks (like unusual property or complex liability). The bill clarifies that for fire insurance policies in municipalities with firemen's relief associations, all 3% tax must now go directly to those associations (previously split between them and the state). This change reverts the tax rate to its level before 2009, as stated in the bill's summary.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's immunization registry enrollment process from automatic to requiring parental consent. Currently, newborns (born after January 1, 1998) are automatically enrolled in the New Jersey Immunization Information System unless parents opt out. The bill would require parents or legal guardians to actively provide written consent for any child under 18 to be enrolled, rather than having to opt out of automatic enrollment. It applies to all minors and newborns born after the bill's effective date, while maintaining the registry's purpose for health coordination and school/childcare requirements. The change shifts enrollment from default inclusion to explicit parental permission.