Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to maintain current levels of state park and forest land available for public fishing, hunting, and trapping. The DEP must replace any closed land with equivalent acreage and cannot reduce total available land for these activities, except for public safety, wildlife protection, or land exchanges. It also mandates annual reports to the legislature detailing acreage availability, closures, and replacement efforts. The law applies to all state parks, forests, wildlife management areas, and public hunting grounds managed by the DEP.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-1271) reduces the taxable wage base for New Jersey employers paying unemployment and disability taxes. Starting in 2025, the wage base will be calculated as 14 times the statewide average weekly wage (down from 28 times), meaning employers will pay taxes on a smaller portion of employee wages. It directly affects private employers and nonprofit organizations subject to New Jersey’s unemployment compensation and disability tax contributions. The change modifies how the taxable wage base is determined annually under Section 43:21-7 of state law, effective for calendar years beginning January 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state fund to provide financial aid to New Jersey municipalities located in the Highlands preservation area, specifically compensating them for declines in vacant land property values caused by the 2004 Highlands Water Protection Act. To qualify, a municipality must be entirely within the Highlands area or have at least 60% of its land in the area and have updated its local plans to align with Highlands protection rules. The aid amount is calculated by comparing vacant land values between 2023 (the base year) and the current year, then multiplying the difference by the municipality's tax rate. The state will distribute payments twice yearly from the established fund, directly offsetting municipalities' local tax revenue needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3181) prohibits using cadaveric fetal tissue obtained from elective abortions for any research and bans using any cadaveric fetal tissue to research cosmetic treatments. It specifically allows research using tissue from miscarriages or stillbirths but does not affect existing bans on buying or selling fetal tissue. The bill also requires physicians treating infertility patients to provide written information about embryo disposition options and document patient acknowledgment in medical records. These changes apply to research institutions and healthcare providers in New Jersey conducting such studies.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3186) revises the Consumer Fraud Act to change how consumers can sue businesses for deceptive practices. It requires consumers to first send a written demand to the seller asking to be made whole before filing a lawsuit, and limits triple damages to courts' discretion (capped at three times actual financial loss). The law excludes minor, unintentional mistakes ("technical violations") from triggering attorney fee awards, unless the business has been previously notified of similar issues. It also restricts the law's application to New Jersey residents or in-state transactions and excludes activities already regulated by federal agencies like the FTC.

Maddy summaryAJR 43 is a ceremonial resolution designating The Growing Stage Children’s Theatre of New Jersey as the "New Jersey State children’s theatre." It does not create new laws, funding, or programs - it simply grants an official title to an existing theater. The resolution recognizes the theater’s 40+ years of work in arts education, community engagement, and producing family-focused performances for over 250,000 people. This designation affects no one beyond formally honoring the theater’s role in New Jersey’s cultural landscape. The resolution takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 318) modifies New Jersey's requirements for condominium and cooperative associations managing certain multi-story residential buildings. It expands the timeframes for associations to conduct required capital reserve studies - extending the deadline for first-time studies from five years to one year after the law's effective date - and mandates these studies be reviewed by licensed professionals every five years. The studies must assess funding for maintaining the building's structural components (like foundations and load-bearing systems) and include detailed cost projections for repairs, replacements, and future inspections. Associations with less than $25,000 in common-area assets are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A-214 prohibits state contractors and entities seeking state contracts, subsidies, or tax benefits from sharing data with "foreign adversaries" as defined by the state. It requires contractors to certify they aren’t on a state-created list of entities sharing data with such adversaries, and mandates the Department of the Treasury to develop and update this list using public information, after providing notice and an opportunity to respond. Entities listed face ineligibility for state contracts, registrations, or subsidies, and may face civil penalties up to $1 million for false certifications. The law includes due process steps before listing entities and exempts data sharing required by subpoenas or court orders. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Oversight Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1204) requires New Jersey building inspectors to complete construction inspections within three business days of a property owner's written request. It directly affects property owners, contractors, and building inspectors by mandating a specific 3-day timeline for inspections and restricting inspections to 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on business days unless an immediate safety hazard exists. Key provisions include requiring inspectors to notify owners in writing if they cannot meet the 3-day window and allowing owners to hire authorized private inspectors if delays persist. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was incorporated into an existing law (P.L.2025, c.173).

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A-3708 creates a new first-degree crime called "home invasion" for entering a residential dwelling with intent to commit certain offenses (like robbery or violent crimes) while someone is present, using force, threatening violence, or being armed with a weapon. It mandates a 10-30 year prison sentence with no early release under the No Early Release Act (requiring 85% of the sentence to be served). The bill also upgrades burglary of a residence to second-degree if a resident is present during the offense, applying the same mandatory 85% sentencing rule. This law directly affects individuals convicted of these specific home-related crimes, altering sentencing requirements for both new home invasion charges and certain burglary cases.