Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryACR 17 is a proposed constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey’s legislature to hold four quarterly meetings each year solely to vote on bills certified as providing property tax relief. To qualify, bills must lower property taxes (not increase revenue) and address specific areas like education funding, pension reforms, or local government savings. If a bill passes in one legislative chamber, the other chamber must vote on it within 60 days. The amendment does not force the legislature to pass all such bills or prevent consideration of property tax legislation outside these designated meetings.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits all New Jersey state employees, agencies, and state contractors from downloading or using the TikTok app or visiting its website on any state-issued or state-leased electronic device (including phones, computers, and tablets). It directly affects state workers and contractors who use government-provided technology, with exceptions for law enforcement using TikTok during investigations under guidelines set by the Attorney General. The bill aims to address security concerns raised by the FBI regarding TikTok's data collection practices and potential access by Chinese entities under Chinese law. The prohibition takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to teach students in grades 6 through 12 about the responsible use of social media and cell phones, including risks like addiction, cyberbullying, and negative impacts on mental health. It expands current requirements (which only covered grades 6-8 in technology classes) by mandating this instruction within the health education curriculum for all grades 6-12. The curriculum must cover responsible platform use, cyber safety, and the specific consequences of irresponsible use, such as harm to mental health and relationships. School districts must use resources provided by the state education commissioner to implement these lessons.

Maddy summaryThis bill phases out New Jersey's inheritance tax over two years. It reduces the tax to 50% of current rates for inheritances received in the first full year after the bill takes effect, then eliminates the tax entirely for all inheritances in the second year. The tax primarily affects non-family inheritances (such as transfers to siblings, nieces/nephews, or unrelated individuals), as the law already exempts transfers to spouses and direct descendants. The change applies to all estates of New Jersey residents and nonresidents with property in the state, following the tax's 1892 origin and 1985 revisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 215) requires New Jersey public schools with grades 9-12 to hold two annual events. First, a 30-minute assembly in November (coinciding with Veterans Day) providing age-appropriate content about the U.S. military structure, veterans' contributions, ROTC, and service academies. Second, a separate veterans appreciation event, such as honoring veterans, featuring veteran speakers, or participating in military-focused educational activities. Schools must consult local veterans' associations to help plan the appreciation event. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment for the first full school year after passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $17 million from the General Fund to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for fiscal year 2023. It establishes a grant program to assist qualified entities - including lake commissions (like Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong), local governments, and nonprofits - focusing on lake management for recreation and conservation. Grants prioritize projects improving water quality, preventing harmful algal blooms, increasing public access, and controlling pollution that affects lake use. The DEP must develop application criteria and administer the program, with funds limited to eligible lake management activities.

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 summaryAR 37 is a non-binding resolution urging all New Jersey institutions of higher education to protect freedom of expression and open debate on campus. It directly addresses colleges and universities, encouraging them to foster environments where students, faculty, and speakers can engage in robust dialogue without fear of censorship or punishment. The resolution recommends that institutions prioritize open debate to support students' educational development and preparation for democratic citizenship, referencing concerns about self-censorship and campus speech restrictions. It does not create new legal requirements but directs copies to the Governor, Higher Education Secretary, and campus governing boards for consideration.

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 summaryThis bill (A 820) requires New Jersey’s Director of the Division of Taxation to study how state business income taxes affect businesses leaving the state, starting new businesses, and hiring workers. The study will analyze tax return data from eight years before and after the bill’s effective date (covering 2026-2034). It mandates two reports: a retrospective analysis of pre-effective-date data by January 2028, and annual reports for eight years afterward, all submitted to the Governor and Legislature by January 15 each year. The goal is to assess whether tax policies should be adjusted to improve New Jersey’s business climate and reduce tax burdens on businesses operating in the state.