Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts from imposing a "builder's remedy" in lawsuits challenging exclusionary zoning laws. It directly affects municipalities facing housing litigation and developers who previously sought this remedy. The key provision bans court orders requiring municipalities to use zoning tactics (like density bonuses) that prioritize market-rate housing development over affordable units. Instead, if a court finds a municipality failed to provide reasonable opportunities for affordable housing, it must choose an alternative remedy. The bill aims to shift focus from litigation-driven market-rate development toward other solutions for addressing affordable housing needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2416) would regulate credit card interchange fees in New Jersey by prohibiting electronic payment systems (like Visa/MasterCard networks) from imposing restrictive terms in contracts with merchants. It directly affects merchants (businesses accepting cards) and consumers, as it would allow merchants to offer discounts for cash or debit payments and choose which payment systems to accept at different locations. Key provisions ban systems from blocking merchants from setting minimum/maximum credit card transaction values ($10 minimum), limiting payment system choices, or restricting how merchants display pricing. If passed, violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense and mandatory reimbursement of fees to affected merchants.

Maddy summaryThis bill gradually reduces New Jersey's Corporation Business Tax (CBT) rate for businesses operating in the state. It lowers the rate from 9% to 2.5% over time, with specific reductions: 7% for 2021, 5% for 2022, 3% for 2023, and 2.5% for 2024 and beyond. The bill also provides accelerated reductions for smaller businesses, lowering the tax rate for those with less than $100,000 in income to 3.5% in 2021 and 2.5% starting in 2022. The tax rate applies to taxable net income for businesses with privilege periods ending on or after July 31, 2019.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program granting civil immunity to licensed physicians and dentists who volunteer at qualifying free clinics in New Jersey. To qualify, medical professionals must provide at least four hours per week of care at a free clinic (for four consecutive weeks) and maintain certification by completing 48 hours per quarter of such service. Certified volunteers are protected from lawsuits for injuries resulting from good-faith care within their scope of practice, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. The immunity applies only to those working at clinics meeting specific criteria, such as not charging patients or accepting third-party payments, and requires documentation from both the volunteer and the clinic's medical director.

Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2.9 billion in state funding to ensure school districts receive aid equal to their "adequacy budget" as determined under New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act. It requires districts that receive increased state aid to reduce their property tax levies by the same amount, with specific provisions for districts where property taxes exceed 5% of district income. The bill also provides additional aid to districts that experienced funding cuts between 2018-2023 and repeals certain laws that contributed to reduced state aid and higher property taxes. The policy aims to align school funding with constitutional requirements for a "thorough and efficient" education system while reducing property tax burdens on residents.

Maddy summaryAJR 35 designates March of each year as "Women Veterans Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month with activities honoring women veterans. It does not create new programs, funding, or legal requirements. This commemorative resolution directly affects all New Jersey residents by establishing an annual observance to recognize women veterans' service. The bill focuses solely on ceremonial recognition, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study whether microgrids and backup generators could shorten prolonged power outages. The BPU must complete a report within six months, comparing New Jersey's grid performance to other states, assessing how microgrids/generators reduced outages elsewhere, and consulting with utilities and experts. The study must also evaluate costs for ratepayers, municipalities, and utilities. The report will inform recommendations to improve the state's grid resilience and reliability.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans residing in New Jersey's state-run veterans' residential facilities (including memorial homes and Veterans Haven facilities) to have dogs certified as either service animals or emotional support animals. It permits these animals without requiring federal-level service animal training standards for emotional support animals, which federal VA policy does not cover. Facilities must verify documentation confirming the animal's training, task description, and current rabies/core vaccinations (distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus-2). Other animals are prohibited unless for law enforcement or specific VA research purposes, and facilities may restrict or remove animals only for safety reasons like aggression or health risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to submit copies of all property tax abatement and exemption agreements to their county chief financial officer and county counsel within 10 days of signing. It directly affects local governments that grant short-term property tax breaks to developers or businesses. The key change shifts filing from the state Division of Local Government Services to county-level officials, while maintaining the existing requirement for municipalities to annually report tax exemption amounts to county officials by October 1. The bill updates existing law (P.L.1991, c.441) to streamline county oversight of these financial agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes restrictions on motor vehicle registration fee exemptions for prisoners of war (POWs) and expands eligibility to include their spouses and surviving spouses. It eliminates the current limit of one vehicle per applicant, allowing POWs, their spouses (if married during captivity), and surviving spouses (who haven't remarried) to exempt multiple vehicles from MVC registration fees. The policy change applies to all active and reserve military members held as POWs, as certified by New Jersey’s Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs. Existing P.O.W. license plate provisions remain unchanged, but the fee exemption now covers registration costs for qualifying vehicles.