Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Administrative Procedure Act to require state agencies to prepare and publish detailed statements analyzing the socio-economic impacts of proposed rules. Specifically, agencies must include assessments of job creation or loss, effects on agriculture, housing affordability, smart growth development, and racial and ethnic community criminal justice outcomes. The legislation also mandates that these documents be made available online and distributed to the public alongside the standard notice of proposed rule-making. By formalizing these requirements, the bill aims to ensure that citizens and stakeholders receive clearer information about how new regulations might affect their communities before rules are finalized.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution asks the FBI to classify victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks as victims of hate-motivated murder in its annual Uniform Crime Report. The bill does not change any laws or create new penalties; instead, it formally requests that the federal agency include those deaths in hate crime statistics. The resolution is directed at the FBI and is intended to influence how crime data is categorized and reported for that specific historical event.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey election laws to regulate how individuals can assist voters with filling out mail-in ballots. It limits non-family helpers to assisting a maximum of three voters per election, while allowing up to five if they are immediate family members living in the same household. Additionally, the legislation requires that any non-family assistant must be a registered voter in the same county as the person they are helping. These changes aim to clarify the rules for ballot assistance and delivery without altering the fundamental right to vote by mail.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits individuals from harassing, bothering, or interfering with farmers who are engaged in lawful agricultural operations. The law specifically protects a wide range of farming activities, including the production of crops, livestock, dairy, poultry, and forest products, while explicitly exempting law enforcement officers performing their duties. Violators face criminal penalties ranging from petty disorderly persons offenses to disorderly persons offenses for repeat incidents, along with civil fines between $250 and $500 per day if the harassment continues. Additionally, the Secretary of Agriculture can seek court injunctions to stop violations, and affected farmers may sue for damages covering lost profits and harm to their property.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Parents' Bill of Rights Act, establishes new rules for public schools and school districts in New Jersey to ensure parents and guardians have specific access to information and decision-making power regarding their children's education. It requires schools to provide parents with access to curriculum materials, student records, teacher qualifications, and data-sharing details, while also mandating written consent before collecting biometric data, organizing field trips, or using photos and videos of students. Additionally, the law prohibits schools from forcing parents to sign nondisclosure agreements to review educational materials and grants parents the right to be notified of safety incidents near the school and to attend school board meetings. To enforce these provisions, the bill allows parents to file civil lawsuits if their rights are denied and gives the state Attorney General the authority to seek legal injunctions against schools that violate the act.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates the first full week in August each year as "Farmers Market Week" in New Jersey. The measure directly affects farmers, market vendors, and local communities by officially recognizing the importance of these markets to the state. Its primary mechanism is a formal resolution that requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging citizens to celebrate and support local food businesses during this time. The bill aims to align New Jersey's observance with the existing National Farmers Market Week, highlighting the role of these markets in providing fresh food and stimulating local economies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows property owners in New Jersey's Highlands preservation area to request removal from the protected zone if the state refuses to buy their land due to a lack of funds. The process requires the owner to first offer the property to the state at a fair market value based on 2004 appraisals and then submit a written request to state officials once the sale is rejected. If approved, the property will be excluded from preservation restrictions and regulated like land in the planning area, with the change recorded on the deed and updated on official maps. This provision applies only to owners who held the land continuously since the original 2004 preservation law was enacted or are their immediate family members.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the New Jersey Department of Agriculture from setting rules about how much land a property owner needs for each honeybee hive they keep. By removing this specific requirement, the legislation allows beekeepers to maintain hives on smaller plots of land without facing restrictions based on property size. The change directly affects individuals and businesses engaged in apiary activities by eliminating a particular regulatory hurdle. It does not alter other beekeeping regulations or address issues like hive placement or neighbor complaints.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution urges the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to stop companies from labeling plant-based products as "milk." The bill argues that the FDA's current definition of milk applies only to dairy from cows, goats, sheep, or other mammals, making non-dairy alternatives mislabeled. It requests that the FDA investigate and take action against manufacturers using the term "milk" for products that do not meet this definition. The resolution aims to prevent consumer confusion and protect dairy farmers by enforcing existing federal regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific water quality management structures from real property taxes if they are funded by federal or state grants. It directly affects property owners who have installed these structures, such as those built with money from the USDA or the State Agriculture Development Committee, to improve water quality. To qualify, the enforcing agency in the local municipality must certify the structure, a process that includes inspections and the submission of written applications. The exemption reduces the taxable value of the property by the amount attributed to the structure, and the agency retains the power to revoke the status if the structure is misused, abandoned, or obtained through fraud.