Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-1290) would amend New Jersey's tax code to exclude distributions from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) made to qualified charitable organizations from taxable gross income. It directly affects New Jersey residents who use IRA funds for charitable giving, allowing those distributions to be treated as non-taxable income for state tax purposes. The key mechanism is an amendment to the definition of "gross income" in New Jersey law, specifically adding that such charitable IRA distributions are not included in taxable income. This change aligns New Jersey's treatment of these distributions with federal tax rules for charitable IRA gifts. The bill is currently in committee referral.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires explicit permission (informed consent) before obtaining genetic information from DNA samples, directly affecting individuals, newborns, crime victims, and witnesses. Exceptions include law enforcement using DNA for criminal investigations (with strict limits on victim/witness DNA), existing newborn screening programs, paternity cases, and DNA database submissions. It also restricts sharing genetic data without consent, except in specific legal circumstances like court orders, criminal proceedings, or federal identification purposes. Additionally, it mandates that individuals must be notified when genetic testing occurs and outlines new regulations for consent procedures.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1887 proposes to remove specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for state benefits. Currently, eligibility depends on service during defined conflict periods (e.g., WWII service between September 1940-December 1946), but this bill would amend the definition of "veteran" to eliminate those time-bound criteria. It directly affects veterans who served in conflicts like World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or later missions but may not meet the current narrow date windows. The change would broaden eligibility by focusing on service-connected status rather than exact historical dates. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1201) revises how New Jersey allocates state aid to school districts for providing auxiliary and remedial services to students attending nonpublic schools. It requires districts to report annually the number of eligible nonpublic students needing specific services (like evaluations, speech correction, or supplementary instruction), using fixed dollar amounts per service type (e.g., $990.73 for evaluations). Districts receive 10% of the estimated annual cost monthly, must refund unspent aid by December 1, and can request additional funds. The bill was withdrawn after another bill (P.L.2025, c.252) was enacted to address the same issue.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts volunteer emergency service organizations (like fire departments and ambulance services) from New Jersey's charitable organization registration and reporting requirements. It modifies existing law to remove these groups from the obligation to file detailed "long form" registrations and annual financial reports with the Attorney General. The exemption specifically applies to organizations that would otherwise need to comply with the state's charitable solicitation rules. This change reduces administrative burdens for these volunteer groups without altering their tax-exempt status.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "NJ Highlands Tax Fairness Fund" to allow residents in eight specific municipalities (Bloomsbury, Byram, Califon, Glen Gardner, Kinnelon, Lebanon, Ringwood, and West Milford) to redirect 10% of their New Jersey gross income tax - after credits for taxes paid to other jurisdictions - to their local government. Funds collected through this designation must be used exclusively to reduce property tax levies for residents in those municipalities. The program ensures these funds are distributed proportionally based on contributions and count as additional state aid, separate from other funding streams. It applies only to municipalities where 95% or more of land lies within the Highlands preservation area.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes where juvenile delinquency cases must be heard in New Jersey. It requires that when a juvenile is charged with a delinquent act, the case must be prosecuted in the county where the incident giving rise to the complaint allegedly occurred. Currently, cases could sometimes be heard in the juvenile's home county unless a court found "good cause" to keep it in the incident county. The bill removes this exception, making the county of the incident the mandatory location for prosecution. This applies specifically to juvenile delinquency cases handled under New Jersey's juvenile court system.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bribery statute (N.J.S.2C:27-2) to clarify that receiving any unauthorized benefit - whether before or after an official act - constitutes bribery. It directly affects public officials, party leaders, and voters who might accept such benefits in exchange for decisions, votes, or official actions. The key change adds that "benefit as consideration" includes payments received at any time relative to the official act, not just before. This update responds to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited similar federal law to pre-act benefits. The amendment ensures New Jersey's law covers all bribery scenarios involving timing of benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 232) creates a 10% tax credit against New Jersey's gross income tax for businesses that spend money on research and development (R&D) activities conducted within New Jersey. It directly affects companies subject to New Jersey's gross income tax that incur qualified R&D expenses or make basic research payments, including those that previously couldn't claim the federal R&D credit. The credit is calculated similarly to the federal version but only applies to R&D done in New Jersey, and it cannot be used for expenses already covered by other tax benefits. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to seven years. The goal is to incentivize in-state R&D investment to support technological and economic growth.

Maddy summaryBill A-155 exempts public institutions of higher education in New Jersey from paying motor vehicle registration fees for vehicles not used for pleasure or hire. This applies to all public universities, colleges, county colleges, and junior colleges defined under state law, including Rutgers and state-funded institutions. The bill amends existing law (R.S.39:3-27) to explicitly add these entities to the list of exempt organizations, aligning them with other government and nonprofit groups already excluded. The exemption covers registration fees but does not affect other vehicle-related costs or requirements.