Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThe "Road to Tax Relief Act" provides tax credits to small businesses (with 50 or fewer full-time employees) and their workers in areas affected by highway construction projects, such as the Interstate 80 repair project in Morris County. Businesses can claim credits against sales tax and income tax based on revenue losses calculated by comparing current sales to average sales from the previous four years. Employees can claim credits against income tax for lost wages resulting from reduced work schedules due to the construction. The credits are refundable and can be transferred to other entities, with the state appropriating funds to cover the costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish and publish best practices for electric utilities across six areas: generation, transmission, operations/maintenance, consumer education, business management, and affordability. The BPU must create objective benchmarks to measure utilities' progress toward these standards. During rate increase reviews, the BPU cannot approve any rate hike if a utility fails to demonstrate "adequate progress" toward meeting the benchmarks, and must provide a compliance assessment with remedial steps if denied. The law directly affects electric utilities seeking rate increases in New Jersey by linking their rate approval to demonstrated progress on these BPU-established standards.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $28.67 million in unused funds from New Jersey's 2003 and 1992 bond acts to provide low-interest loans for dam restoration and inland waters projects. The funds specifically support 13 projects under the 2003 bond act (e.g., $3 million for Mountain Creek Lake Dam repairs) and 4 projects under the 1992 bond act (e.g., $2.85 million for Lake Garrison Dam). These loans are available to private dam owners, lake associations, or local governments for repairing aging infrastructure and maintaining water systems. The funding comes from existing bond program savings, cancellations, and loan repayments - no new taxes or spending are required. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to disburse these funds for the listed projects only.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 184) urges Congress to examine the gap in pollution levels between U.S. and foreign manufacturers, particularly highlighting that goods produced in China and Russia generate 300-400% more carbon emissions than equivalent U.S. goods. It specifically points to China’s role as the world’s largest polluter (over 30% of global CO2 emissions) and argues that current U.S. trade policies disadvantage American manufacturers that adhere to stricter environmental standards. The resolution does not create new laws but requests Congress support policies that hold foreign polluters accountable through trade measures. It emphasizes that rewarding U.S. environmental performance could boost domestic manufacturing and reduce reliance on high-emission imports.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey public utility companies (like electricity, gas, and water providers) from adding extra fees ("surcharges") to customers who choose one-time payment methods instead of automatic billing. Specifically, it bans these fees when customers pay via online credit/debit cards, automated phone systems, or direct bank withdrawals. The law defines "surcharge" as an extra charge to cover costs of third-party payment processing. It directly affects residential customers who prefer flexible payment options without automatic enrollment. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryACR 161 proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the transfer of probation functions from the Judiciary to the State Parole Board. If approved by voters, it would allow the Legislature to create a Bureau of Probation within the State Parole Board, moving all probation duties, officers, and related staff without altering existing contracts or employee bargaining agreements. The amendment follows a 2006 court ruling that deemed prior probation-related laws unconstitutional due to separation-of-powers concerns. This transfer would shift operational responsibility for probation services from courts to the State Parole Board while maintaining current employment terms.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A5486) makes it a crime to knowingly harbor or help hide someone who is unlawfully present in the U.S. and has an outstanding arrest or immigration warrant. It specifically targets individuals who provide shelter, transportation, or other assistance to such people, imposing a fourth-degree crime penalty (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine). The law includes an exception: if the person being harbored was a victim of human trafficking during the time they were hiding, it cannot be prosecuted. This applies only to those with known warrants, not all undocumented immigrants, and does not affect individuals who aid their own apprehension.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability retroactive to the date the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determined their total disability. It directly affects veterans who qualify under the law (e.g., those with paraplegia, blindness, or amputations) by requiring municipalities to refund property taxes paid since that determination date. The state must reimburse municipalities 102% of the refunded taxes to cover the cost of returning payments to veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a fee refund program for New Jersey businesses applying for state permits, licenses, or certifications. State agencies must submit detailed catalogs of their permit types, fees, and processing times to the Governor, who will then set recommended processing deadlines. If an agency exceeds these deadlines after receiving a complete application, it must refund the application fee (to the extent allowed by law), without affecting the application's outcome. The program applies to all state departments, boards, commissions, and authorities issuing such permits.