Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates funds to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide zero-interest loans or principal forgiveness for clean water and drinking water infrastructure projects. It authorizes funding for 156 specific clean water projects and 72 drinking water projects across the state, totaling approximately $2.6 billion in estimated loan amounts. The funding is intended to help municipalities and public water utilities finance infrastructure improvements that reduce pollution, improve water quality, and address environmental challenges. The bill includes specific provisions for varying levels of principal forgiveness based on project type and community need, with a focus on making these projects more affordable for local governments.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4632) lowers the financial threshold for prohibiting state agencies from contracting with entities investing in Iran's energy sector, from $20 million to $10 million. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, and public institutions by restricting contracts with businesses providing $10 million or more in goods/services (or extending $10 million+ credit) for Iran's oil, gas, or nuclear energy projects. The key change modifies the definition of "persons engaging in investment activities" under existing law, aligning with federal sanctions policy to limit Iran's energy sector funding. The law takes effect immediately but applies to contracts awarded 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 145) urges Congress and the President to pass the "Social Security Fairness Act," which would repeal two federal rules affecting Social Security benefits. Specifically, it seeks to eliminate the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), which reduce or eliminate Social Security benefits for public employees - like police, firefighters, and some local government workers - who also receive government pensions (e.g., from New Jersey’s Police and Firemen’s Retirement System). These rules currently prevent affected retirees in New Jersey from collecting full Social Security benefits they earned through payroll taxes, with 4,126 NJ retirees impacted by GPO and 22,689 by WEP. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action to address these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow expectant mothers in New Jersey who are in their third trimester of pregnancy to receive a temporary parking placard. The $4 placard, valid for up to three months, permits mothers to park longer at metered spots or use disability parking spaces without needing a separate disability permit. To qualify, a mother must provide written certification from a doctor, nurse practitioner, or other qualified healthcare provider confirming her third-trimester status. The placard must be displayed on the vehicle and clearly show an expiration date.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exclude up to $50,000 of gross income from taxation for qualified small businesses under New Jersey's gross income tax and corporation business tax. To qualify, businesses must be independently owned with management owning at least 51% ownership interest, have principal operations located in New Jersey, be registered to do business in the state, earn gross revenues under $2 million annually, and employ no more than 20 full-time or part-time employees (with most being New Jersey residents). The exclusion applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. This provision would reduce the tax burden for eligible small businesses meeting these specific criteria. The bill provides targeted tax relief to small businesses operating within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public high schools to offer the ASVAB-AFQT (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test) as an approved alternative to the standard graduation proficiency test. It directly affects high school students who need to demonstrate mastery of state standards to graduate, by adding ASVAB-AFQT back to the list of accepted substitute assessments. The key provision reinstates a test previously approved but removed from the list by the State Board of Education in 2023, allowing students to use their ASVAB-AFQT score instead of the state test. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3301 creates a new criminal offense called "victimization" for intentionally committing certain crimes (like assault, burglary, or theft) against senior citizens (60+ years old) or persons with disabilities. The bill defines a "person with a disability" as someone with a pre-existing medically determinable impairment substantially limiting resistance, including those receiving Social Security disability benefits. If the victim is a senior or person with a disability, the perpetrator faces a separate charge one degree higher than the original crime (e.g., a fourth-degree offense becomes a third-degree crime), with harsher penalties like 10-30 year sentences for first-degree underlying crimes. The law mandates separate sentencing for both the original crime and the victimization charge, and defendants cannot claim they did not know the victim’s status.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Works Act provides tax credits to businesses that fund pre-employment training programs with educational institutions or nonprofits. Businesses can receive a tax credit equal to 100% of the financial assistance they provide for approved programs that offer at least 12 weeks of paid training at minimum wage to low- and moderate-income individuals. These programs must include training in basic skills, communication, critical thinking, and job readiness. The bill appropriates $3 million from the General Fund to implement the program and requires a two-year evaluation of its effectiveness, excluding construction businesses from participation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4609) requires school boards to adopt policies preventing obscene material in school libraries. The policy must prohibit obscene content (defined by existing state obscenity law), set library material standards, mandate employee compliance with laws against distributing obscene material to minors, and create procedures for investigating staff violations. The state education commissioner will provide schools with guidance on identifying prohibited material and recommended disciplinary actions, including termination for violations. Noncompliant school districts risk state funding sanctions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4012) establishes a minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. It requires that these services be reimbursed at the average rate currently paid for Day Habilitation Services Tiers D and E under the Division of Developmental Disabilities program - approximately $9.38 per 15 minutes, compared to the current $3.65 rate for brain injury day programs. The policy directly affects licensed brain injury service providers and Medicaid beneficiaries requiring brain injury treatment. The change applies to services provided on or after the bill's effective date, aligning brain injury service reimbursement with rates for comparable developmental disability services.