Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to establish a voting integrity task force within the Division of Criminal Justice. The task force will investigate and prosecute crimes involving voting fraud, using a coordinated strategy across state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. It directly affects law enforcement agencies participating in the task force and the state's election integrity processes. The task force must be created within the specified division, and the law takes effect six months after enactment. (3 sentences)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electronic voting system vendors to disclose any owners or shareholders with a 5% or greater ownership stake in the company, its subsidiaries, or its parent company before the Secretary of State can approve their systems. It directly affects vendors seeking certification to provide voting technology in New Jersey elections. Vendors must also report any future changes exceeding 5% in ownership structure. The disclosure requirement applies prior to system approval, aiming to enhance election security transparency. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a loan program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to help beginning farmers purchase essential assets. It directly affects new or limited-experience farmers (defined as those with ≤10 years of farming in NJ, low/moderate net worth, or first-time farmers under federal rules) who need capital for agricultural land, farm buildings, or equipment. The program requires applicants to prove farming experience, residency, and plan to use loans solely for farming activities, with NJEDA setting interest rates and eligibility criteria. Loans must finance purchases within New Jersey, and NJEDA may require financial reviews to ensure borrower viability.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates three specific fees on commercial real estate transactions: a supplemental realty transfer fee, a one percent fee on transfers of certain commercial properties, and a tax on the sale of controlling interests in certain commercial real property. It directly affects commercial property buyers and sellers by removing these costs for transactions meeting defined criteria under New Jersey law. The bill achieves this by amending and repealing sections of existing statutes (P.L.1968, c.49 and P.L.2004, c.66) that established these fees. This change reduces financial burdens for commercial real estate transfers without altering other property tax structures.

Maddy summaryACR 52 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit annual increases in the assessed value of primary residences in New Jersey for property tax purposes. It would cap annual increases at the lower of 3% of the prior year's value or the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The amendment requires a full property tax exemption for the first $25,000 of a home's assessed value and an exemption from non-school district property taxes on the next $25,000. These changes would apply to homeowners using their property as a principal residence and require voter approval before implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every New Jersey public school with a library to post a complete, up-to-date list of all library resources - such as books, magazines, DVDs, and digital databases - on its public website in an easily accessible location. Schools must add any newly purchased or ordered resources to the list within 10 days. The school library media specialist is responsible for maintaining the list, or if no specialist exists, the principal must assign a staff member to handle it. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThe "Transparency in Government Act" (A-3147) would require New Jersey's State Treasurer to create and maintain a public website showing detailed state financial data. The website must display annual spending (like salaries, vendor payments, and bond debt), revenues (taxes, grants, and fees), and bond information starting from fiscal year 2000, all in a searchable format. State agencies must provide this data from existing financial systems within 45 days after each fiscal year ends, and the site must be updated annually without removing historical data. This bill directly affects all state agencies, which must supply the data, and benefits the public by making government finances accessible online.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits foreign governments and certain foreign persons from acquiring or owning land within 10 miles of military facilities in New Jersey. Existing foreign owners of such "protected land" must sell or transfer ownership to a U.S. entity within five years of the law's effective date. Limited exceptions allow temporary ownership for debt-related acquisitions (requiring sale within two years) or inheritance, but not for new purchases. The law does not apply to foreign entities covered by U.S. treaties.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 1921 regulates credit card interchange fees by prohibiting payment networks like Visa and MasterCard from restricting merchants' flexibility. The bill directly affects merchants (businesses accepting credit cards) and payment networks, banning them from: forcing specific pricing displays, blocking discounts for cash/debit cards, limiting where cards are accepted, restricting minimum/maximum transaction values ($10+), or limiting which payment systems merchants can use. It requires payment networks to reimburse merchants for fees collected during violations. The law aims to increase transparency and competition in credit card fee pricing, which currently inflates consumer prices as merchants pass costs to all shoppers.

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes squatting in vacant homes by creating three new offenses: "housebreaking" (forcibly entering without permission to live there), "unlawful occupancy" (living in a vacant home without permission), and "unlawful reentry" (returning after being evicted via court order). It presumes people know they lack permission unless they have a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details. The law directly affects individuals occupying vacant properties without legal authorization, making these acts fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill aims to replace current eviction processes with criminal penalties for unauthorized occupancy.