Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2962) gives educational support professionals (like cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and administrative staff) who served in the U.S. military and qualify for VA benefits up to four years of seniority credit. The credit counts military service completed before or during their school district employment, treating it as equivalent to actual work time for seniority purposes. It expands an existing benefit currently only available to teaching staff. The policy takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Farmers Improvement Grant Program within the Department of Agriculture to offer financial assistance to beginning farmers in New Jersey. Eligible recipients, defined as those with ten years or less of farming experience or who are first-time farmers, can receive matching grants of up to $50,000 to cover 50 percent of project costs. These funds are specifically intended for projects that diversify farm operations, implement sustainable practices like organic farming or water conservation, or expand partnerships for processing and selling agricultural products. To qualify, applicants must be at least 18 years old, actively participate in daily farm production, operate farms of 150 acres or less located entirely within the state, and have generated at least $10,000 in annual agricultural sales. The Department of Agriculture will request a minimum of $100,000 annually in the state budget to fund these grants and may also seek additional federal and private funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of New Jersey to provide annual financial aid to specific municipalities that host significant amounts of state-owned or county-owned property. To qualify, a municipality must have a population of 30,000 or fewer and contain at least 10 percent of its total land area as tax-exempt state or county property. Under the new rules, eligible towns would receive a payment of $500 for every acre of such property located within their borders. The process involves local assessors reporting property acreage to the State Treasurer, who then distributes the funds from the Property Tax Relief Fund by August 1 each year.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 158) requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to create and run a beginning farmer mentoring program. It directly affects new farmers seeking guidance and experienced farmers who will provide mentorship. The program, developed with partners like Rutgers University and the New Jersey Farm Bureau, will connect beginning farmers with seasoned mentors to share practical farming knowledge and advice through structured support and online resources. The bill addresses the state's trend of aging farmers (average age 59 in 2012) by aiming to help new farmers succeed and sustain agriculture in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific section of State Highway Route 35 in Laurence Harbor as the "James Francisco and Walter Schmidt Memorial Roadway" to honor two local men who served and died in the Vietnam War. The legislation requires the Commissioner of Transportation to erect signs marking the roadway, but it explicitly prohibits the use of state funds for this purpose. Instead, the bill authorizes the Department of Transportation to seek financial support from private sources, such as non-profit or charitable organizations, to cover the costs of producing, installing, and maintaining the memorial signs. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed charitable and community organizations in New Jersey to conduct raffles online and advertise them across the state. It removes previous limits on the value of prizes that can be offered and permits these online raffles to take place on Sundays. To ensure oversight, the law requires organizations to report the results of their raffles to regulators every quarter.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to waive interest charges on property tax payments that are submitted after the due date. It achieves this by amending state law to give local governments the authority to set specific rules for when interest is forgiven, particularly for taxpayers affected by natural disasters or federal government shutdowns. Under the new provisions, local officials must pass a resolution to grant these waivers, and in cases involving state supervision, the state director must approve the decision. The measure directly impacts homeowners and other property owners who face delays in paying their taxes due to circumstances beyond their control.

Maddy summaryAJR 59 designates May 15 of each year as "Water Safety Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about safe water practices and drowning prevention. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging state officials and residents to observe the day with activities promoting water safety. It does not create new laws, funding, or requirements, but serves as a ceremonial recognition of the importance of water safety education. This aligns with National and International Water Safety Day observed on the same date.

Maddy summaryThis joint resolution commemorates the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The bill asks the Governor to issue a proclamation honoring the victims, first responders, and the resilience of the American people. It also directs that copies of the resolution be sent to federal leaders and members of Congress from New Jersey. The measure serves as a formal state recognition of the event and does not create new laws or change existing policies.

Maddy summaryThis legislative resolution expresses support for pregnancy resource centers in New Jersey and condemns the state Attorney General for investigating these organizations. The document highlights the centers' role in providing free services like pregnancy tests, ultrasounds, and baby supplies to thousands of people annually. It specifically criticizes the Attorney General for issuing broad subpoenas to these groups, arguing that such actions infringe on their rights and constitute harassment. As a non-binding assembly resolution, it does not change laws or enforce penalties but serves to publicly record the legislature's stance on the issue.