Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryThis bill (AJR 233) designates May of each year as "Skin Cancer Awareness Month" in New Jersey. It directly affects all New Jersey residents by promoting public education about skin cancer prevention and early detection. The key mechanism requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with activities focused on skin cancer risks and protective measures like sun protection and regular skin exams. The resolution takes immediate effect and does not create new regulations or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) from issuing any form of financial assistance - including grants, loans, tax credits, or subsidies - to support wind energy projects. It amends several existing programs, including the Global Warming Solutions Fund and the Emerge Program, to remove wind energy projects from eligibility. The bill also repeals a provision that previously allowed tax credits for offshore wind projects. As a result, wind energy developers will no longer qualify for these EDA-funded incentives. The change applies to all applications submitted to the EDA on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts local governments (like cities or counties) from annual cleanup fees when they acquire contaminated property through specific involuntary means - such as bankruptcy, tax delinquency, eminent domain, or state takeover - or for redevelopment purposes. It applies to properties where contamination occurred before the government took ownership, removing a fee obligation under two environmental laws: the Site Remediation Reform Act (P.L.2009, c.60) and the Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act (P.L.1997, c.278). Local governments already exempt from liability for past contamination under the Spill Compensation Act would now also avoid these annual fees. The exemption covers cleanup costs tied to discharges that began prior to the government’s ownership.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission to establish stricter testing standards for cannabis laboratories, directly affecting licensed testing facilities and retail businesses. Key provisions include mandating consistent testing practices, quality control systems, and proficiency standards for labs; creating external audit programs using microbiologists and chemists to detect fraud; requiring public disclosure of all test results on the Commission's website; and establishing a whistleblower program with protections for employees reporting violations. Violations like falsifying test results or selling noncompliant products would face escalating penalties - first offenses as disorderly persons offenses (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine), repeat offenses as fourth-degree crimes (up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine). The bill also enables civil lawsuits for fraud victims to recover triple damages plus legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide a New Jersey gross income tax exclusion for distributions from both Roth and traditional individual retirement accounts (IRAs) that are made to qualified charitable organizations. It would exempt these charitable distributions from New Jersey's gross income tax calculations, benefiting taxpayers who support 501(c)(3) charities through their retirement accounts. The exclusion would apply to distributions that would otherwise be taxable under state law, potentially increasing the amount of funds available for charitable causes. The bill amends New Jersey tax code to implement this change, aligning with federal tax treatment for such distributions. This policy would specifically affect New Jersey residents with IRAs who make charitable contributions from those accounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May of each year as "Water Safety Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about preventing water-related accidents and drownings. It specifically encourages the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE), in consultation with the Department of Health, to provide resources to public schools for water safety education programs targeting students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Schools may partner with nonprofit organizations to hold presentations and activities during this month, focusing on age-appropriate safety practices. The bill cites CDC data showing drowning as a leading cause of death for young children to justify its purpose. It does not create new legal requirements but promotes educational outreach through existing state departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state agencies to extend the 60-day cure period for certain business violations by an additional 30 days, if the agency determines denial would be contrary to equity and good conscience. It applies to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent) facing first-time violations that don’t endanger public safety, harm the environment, or affect employee income. The extension applies only to violations not related to criminal activity, intentional acts, labor laws, or federal program requirements. Agencies must provide written notice of the violation to trigger the cure period, and must report waived infractions annually on their public websites. The bill amends existing law (P.L.2023, c.28) to add this extension provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey counties and municipalities to use funds from their existing open space trust funds to remediate collapsed mine shafts and sinkholes on public property. Currently, these funds are used for open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland, and historic preservation purposes. The bill expands the authorized uses to include mine shaft and sinkhole remediation, requiring local governments to adopt an ordinance and hold a public hearing before using funds for this purpose. There's a $100,000 limit per project, and funds would be moved to a new "Mine Remediation Trust Fund" for this specific purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create rules and regulations for small modular nuclear reactors, defined as reactors with up to 300 megawatts of capacity that require U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission licensing. It authorizes the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to use funds from the Global Warming Solutions Fund to incentivize construction and operation of these reactors. The BPU must consider whether proposed reactors will replace capacity lost from retiring coal or natural gas facilities and whether they will create job opportunities for workers displaced by those retirements. The bill also requires reactor owners to meet all federal requirements before storing spent nuclear fuel on-site.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires courts to inform victims and abusers about counseling services for children who were physically present during or witnessed domestic violence. It establishes a legal presumption that custody should be awarded to the domestic violence victim (the non-abusive parent) in appropriate cases. Courts can now order counseling for affected children as part of domestic violence protection orders. The bill also expands court authority to require psychological evaluations and other protective measures. These changes aim to better protect children and victims in domestic violence cases by addressing their specific needs.