Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryACR 27 is a concurrent resolution (not a bill) calling for a special legislative session to address property tax relief and reform. It requires the Legislature to convene within seven days of passage, dedicating the session solely to considering property tax policy changes. The resolution cites high property taxes as a burden on residents, particularly affecting low-income families, seniors, and homeowners. It does not propose specific tax changes but mandates that lawmakers introduce and vote on relevant bills during this session.

Maddy summaryThis procedural resolution creates a special six-member committee of the New Jersey General Assembly called the "Assembly Select Committee on the Executive Branch's Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic." The committee, appointed with equal representation from both parties, will examine how the governor's administration handled the pandemic response - including emergency measures like business closures and resource allocation - and develop recommendations to improve future emergency planning. It has authority to hold hearings, request documents, and issue subpoenas (with approval from leadership), but cannot enact new laws. The committee’s findings will inform the Assembly on strategies to better manage future public health crises or statewide emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2695) amends New Jersey law to limit political party representation on the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. It specifies that no more than four of the seven public members appointed by the Governor (from the general public) may belong to the same political party. This change directly affects the appointment process for these seven council members, ensuring broader political diversity. The provision applies specifically to the public members appointed under Section 5 of P.L.2004, c.120, without altering other council composition rules or responsibilities.

Maddy summaryACR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to change how certain municipal court judges are appointed. It would remove the requirement that the Governor nominate and the Senate confirm judges for courts serving multiple municipalities (like joint or central municipal courts), instead allowing the Legislature to establish a new appointment process through regular law. This change would not affect judges in courts limited to a single municipality, which are currently appointed locally. The amendment would give the Legislature the option to keep the current Governor/Senate process or create a different method, such as county or municipal selection. If approved, it would shift appointment authority from the executive branch to the Legislature for these specific courts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state agencies (including the Department of Community Affairs, Environmental Protection, and Board of Public Utilities) from mandating electric heating or water heating systems as the sole or primary option for buildings - such as homes or businesses - until a specific report is issued. It requires the Department of Community Affairs to hold at least six public hearings across the state within 24 months to gather input on costs, impacts, and environmental effects of electric systems, then submit a report within 30 months. The bill does not block voluntary adoption of electric systems, incentives for their use, or private choices to install them. It directly affects building owners, developers, and state agencies involved in energy regulations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill A253 prohibits state agencies from entering contracts for technology goods or services with companies owned, operated, or affiliated with the Government of China (including entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party). It requires all bidders for such contracts to certify they are not Chinese-government-affiliated, and imposes penalties - including a civil fine of $250,000 or twice the contract value, plus termination of the contract - for false certifications. The bill directly affects state procurement departments and technology vendors seeking New Jersey government contracts. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to create a program pairing experienced farmers with new farmers to provide guidance and support. It directly affects beginning farmers (those new to farming) and aims to address the state's aging farming population, where the average farmer age rose to 59 by 2012. The program will be developed in cooperation with organizations like Rutgers University, the New Jersey Farm Bureau, county agricultural boards, and the New Jersey Agricultural Society. Key mechanisms include establishing mentoring criteria, online resources, and allowing partnerships with other organizations to operate the program under the department's oversight. The goal is to help new farmers succeed and sustain agriculture in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A428 (A428) updates procedures for removing deceased voters from the Statewide Voter Registration System. It requires county clerks to receive monthly death records from health officers (in addition to the current commissioner of registration), and creates three new pathways for transferring voter records to the death file: (1) next of kin submitting a notarized form with a death certificate to county clerks or the commissioner; (2) veterans healthcare directors or nursing home administrators notifying the commissioner; and (3) funeral directors submitting forms with death certificates. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by streamlining how death information is shared with election officials. The bill directly affects county clerks, next of kin, veterans healthcare staff, nursing home administrators, and funeral directors.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits credit card companies from using a new merchant category code (a specific identifier for business types) to categorize stores selling firearms or ammunition separately. Instead, such stores must be classified under general merchandise or sporting goods categories, as they have been historically. Financial institutions and payment processors are barred from requiring or assigning a firearms-specific code, and any contract violating this is void. Violations can result in administrative fines up to $10,000 per incident, enforced by New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to conduct and publicly post cost-benefit analyses before approving long-term property tax exemptions for redevelopment projects. It mandates that urban renewal entities submitting exemption applications include a detailed analysis of the project's financial impact on the municipality, county, school district, and other taxing districts. Municipalities must post both the applicant's analysis and their own independent assessment on their website (or DCA's website if they lack one), and the Department of Community Affairs must create a statewide database compiling all approved exemptions and their financial findings. These requirements directly affect municipalities making approval decisions, urban renewal projects seeking exemptions, and local governments bearing financial impacts from such exemptions. The goal is to increase transparency and ensure local governments can evaluate whether tax exemptions generate sufficient revenue returns.