Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2962) gives educational support professionals (like cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and administrative staff) who served in the U.S. military and qualify for VA benefits up to four years of seniority credit. The credit counts military service completed before or during their school district employment, treating it as equivalent to actual work time for seniority purposes. It expands an existing benefit currently only available to teaching staff. The policy takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill increases the state gross income tax deduction for honorably discharged veterans from $6,000 to $9,000. The change applies to veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces, reserve components, or the New Jersey National Guard and affects their calculation of state tax liability starting with the 2026 tax year. Additionally, the bill mandates that the $9,000 deduction amount be adjusted annually for inflation beginning in 2027 based on changes in the Chained Consumer Price Index. This adjustment ensures the tax benefit maintains its value over time without requiring new legislation each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to remove sales and use taxes on the repair and maintenance of residential septic systems in New Jersey. Currently, services related to maintaining personal property are generally subject to state tax, but this legislation would create a specific exemption for septic system work. The change would directly benefit homeowners and contractors who perform these essential repairs, reducing the cost of keeping these systems functional. By amending existing tax statutes, the bill clarifies that septic services are no longer taxable, distinguishing them from other maintenance tasks like heating system repairs which remain taxed.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Farmers Improvement Grant Program within the Department of Agriculture to offer financial assistance to beginning farmers in New Jersey. Eligible recipients, defined as those with ten years or less of farming experience or who are first-time farmers, can receive matching grants of up to $50,000 to cover 50 percent of project costs. These funds are specifically intended for projects that diversify farm operations, implement sustainable practices like organic farming or water conservation, or expand partnerships for processing and selling agricultural products. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, actively participate in daily farm production, operate farms of 150 acres or less located entirely within the state, and have generated at least $10,000 in annual agricultural sales. The Department of Agriculture will request a minimum of $100,000 annually in the state budget to fund these grants and may also seek additional federal and private funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of New Jersey to provide annual financial aid to specific municipalities that host significant amounts of state-owned or county-owned property. To qualify, a municipality must have a population of 30,000 or fewer and contain at least 10 percent of its total land area as tax-exempt state or county property. Under the new rules, eligible towns would receive a payment of $500 for every acre of such property located within their borders. The process involves local assessors reporting property acreage to the State Treasurer, who then distributes the funds from the Property Tax Relief Fund by August 1 each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new third-degree crime in New Jersey for knowingly filing a false report against a law enforcement officer with the intent to implicate them in a criminal offense or disciplinary infraction. It directly affects individuals who submit fabricated information to authorities specifically to harm an officer's professional standing, distinguishing this act from general false reporting or falsely accusing others. The legislation establishes that this specific offense will carry a separate penalty and will not merge with existing charges for falsely incriminating other people or making false reports about non-existent incidents. By adding this provision, the law aims to provide a specific legal consequence for targeting law enforcement personnel through false accusations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local governments in New Jersey to hold a public referendum before issuing general obligation bonds, which are loans used to fund major projects like schools or infrastructure. Under the new rule, a local unit must first publish details about the proposed debt and hold a hearing where residents can voice their opinions before a vote is scheduled. The legislation amends existing state laws to ensure that borrowing decisions are directly approved by the voters rather than solely by local officials. This change directly affects municipalities, school districts, and other local entities that currently have the authority to issue bonds without a direct public vote.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 158) requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to create and run a beginning farmer mentoring program. It directly affects new farmers seeking guidance and experienced farmers who will provide mentorship. The program, developed with partners like Rutgers University and the New Jersey Farm Bureau, will connect beginning farmers with seasoned mentors to share practical farming knowledge and advice through structured support and online resources. The bill addresses the state's trend of aging farmers (average age 59 in 2012) by aiming to help new farmers succeed and sustain agriculture in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "Fairness for Coastal School Districts in Development Restricted Areas Act," provides additional state funding to specific school districts located in New Jersey municipalities restricted by the Coastal Area Facility Review Act. To qualify, a school district must have a resident enrollment of over 500 students, be situated in an area where at least 20 percent of the municipality is coastal, and have experienced a net loss in state school aid between the 2017-2018 and 2024-2025 school years. The funding amount is calculated by multiplying $275 by the number of coastal acres in the municipality, with annual caps of $2.5 million for districts with fewer than 1,000 students and $5 million for those with more. The legislation applies to the first full school year following its enactment and aims to supplement existing state aid formulas for these eligible districts.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits any person or entity from releasing hazardous chemicals or physical agents into the atmosphere for the purpose of geoengineering, which includes activities like cloud seeding and aerosol injection. To enforce this rule, the Department of Environmental Protection will establish a public reporting program that allows citizens to submit evidence of suspected violations and investigate credible reports. Violators face civil penalties of up to $50,000 per day for each offense, with a formal hearing process available before fines are finalized. The legislation also requires the state to notify federal agencies if they attempt to conduct prohibited geoengineering projects within New Jersey airspace.