Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1261 clarifies that law enforcement officers employed by schools, colleges, or universities may legally carry firearms on campus while performing their duties or commuting to/from work. The bill amends state law (N.J.S.2C:39-5) to explicitly exempt these officers from general prohibitions against firearms in educational settings, provided they have completed a firearms training course administered by the Police Training Commission. This policy change directly affects campus law enforcement officers who are already employed by educational institutions. The bill does not alter firearm possession rules for students, staff, or the public, nor does it address broader campus safety measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey local government units that follow civil service rules (Title 11A) to use a layoff plan instead of an employment reconciliation plan when entering into shared service agreements or joint meetings. The layoff plan must specify which employees will be transferred, retained, or terminated, and includes terminal leave payments of one month for every five years of service for those terminated. It also requires that employees with permanent civil service status who are terminated be placed on a special reemployment list. This change is intended to simplify the process for local governments entering into shared service agreements. The bill directly affects local government employees and civil service commissions in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow prosecutors to charge certain drug distribution offenses based on the number of "units" (such as individual pills, tablets, or packets) rather than the weight of controlled dangerous substances. It specifically changes the grading thresholds for heroin, LSD, methamphetamine, and cocaine, reducing the first-degree offense threshold for heroin from 5 ounces to 1 ounce and introducing unit-based measurements for all these substances. Under the bill, a person would face a first-degree charge for distributing 500 or more units of these substances, a second-degree charge for 100-499 units, and a third-degree charge for fewer than 100 units. This change aims to more accurately reflect the quantity of drugs distributed for substances commonly sold in discrete units rather than by weight. The bill applies only to distribution or possession with intent to distribute, not to simple possession offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New Jersey municipalities calculate their affordable housing requirements. It adds specific factors for adjusting these requirements, including population size, water and sewer capacity, school class sizes, public safety services, and transportation impacts. The bill also establishes a population-based cap, limiting affordable housing obligations to no more than a 5% increase in municipal population over a 10-year period. This applies to all municipalities required to meet fair share affordable housing obligations under state law, aiming to balance housing needs with local service capacity.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey homeowners to deduct the full amount of state property taxes paid on their principal residence from their gross income tax, removing the current $15,000 annual cap. It directly affects homeowners who pay state property taxes on their primary residence, as they would no longer be limited to deducting only up to $15,000 of those taxes. The key change eliminates the existing deduction limit, permitting full deduction of all qualifying property taxes paid in the calendar year. This applies to both homeowners and renters (who deduct "rent constituting property taxes"), but the bill specifically targets the property tax deduction cap for primary residences. The change would take effect for taxable years beginning January 1, 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1118) revises New Jersey's tax rates for married couples filing jointly, aiming to reduce the "marriage penalty" where joint filers pay more tax than if they filed separately. It increases the threshold for the lowest tax bracket from $20,000 to $40,000 for joint filers and changes the tax rate for income between $40,000 and $70,000 from 2.5% to 1.75%. These changes apply to taxable years beginning January 1, 2020, and directly affect married couples who file joint tax returns in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide transportation for public and nonpublic school students living along routes designated as "hazardous" by the state. The Commissioner of Transportation, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, will develop three definitions of hazardous routes for urban, suburban, and rural areas, considering factors like traffic volume, road conditions, and safety features such as blind curves or steep inclines. School districts must provide transportation for students on these designated routes and will receive 100% state funding to cover the costs. The bill repeals a previous law that allowed districts to independently designate hazardous routes for "courtesy busing" services.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's workers' compensation law to clarify that S corporations with only one owner (who is also the sole employee) are not required to provide workers' compensation coverage for that owner unless they specifically choose to do so. The corporation must elect coverage at the time of purchasing or renewing a workers' comp policy, and this election cannot be changed during the policy term. As a result, the sole owner of such an S corporation is not automatically considered an "employee" for workers' comp purposes. The change applies to all policies issued 180 days after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Fair Housing Act to prohibit urban aid municipalities (those eligible for state aid under P.L.1978, c.14) from receiving exemptions from their affordable housing obligations. It requires these municipalities to contribute to the regional need for low and moderate income housing rather than transferring their obligations to other municipalities. The bill aims to direct affordable housing development to urban areas with existing infrastructure, which minimizes urban sprawl and allows for more cost-effective development. By eliminating exemptions for urban municipalities, the bill ensures a more equitable distribution of affordable housing development across housing regions.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act to clarify when consumers can sue businesses for deceptive practices. It requires consumers to first send a written demand to the seller to resolve the issue before filing a lawsuit, and to have been aware of and relied on the fraudulent practice. The bill also prevents attorney fees from being awarded for minor "technical violations" (such as unintentional errors that didn’t harm products or cause financial loss) and limits the law’s scope to New Jersey residents or in-state transactions. Additionally, it ensures the law doesn’t apply to cases already regulated by the Federal Trade Commission or other state/federal agencies.