Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes squatting in vacant homes by creating three new offenses: "housebreaking" (forcibly entering without permission to live there), "unlawful occupancy" (living in a vacant home without permission), and "unlawful reentry" (returning after being evicted via court order). It presumes people know they lack permission unless they have a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details. The law directly affects individuals occupying vacant properties without legal authorization, making these acts fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill aims to replace current eviction processes with criminal penalties for unauthorized occupancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new exclusion from New Jersey's gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain small business income. It directly affects qualifying small businesses by allowing them to exclude specific income from their taxable base under these two tax codes. The key mechanism establishes a defined exclusion for small business income while revising statutory definitions related to tax calculations, such as "net worth" and "taxpayer." The bill does not specify exact income thresholds but provides the framework for excluding qualifying small business revenue from state taxation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 203) renames the "Blue Star Memorial Highway Council" to "Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council" and the "Blue Star Memorial Highway system" to "Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system." It recognizes Gold Star families - immediate relatives of service members killed in combat - by updating the official names. The bill requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation to update all state highway signage within 90 days of the bill's effective date to reflect the new names. This is a procedural change with no new funding or policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1243) allows New Jersey municipal courts to charge court costs for traffic violations (Title 39) dismissed through plea agreements. It directly affects people charged with traffic offenses who resolve cases via such agreements. The key provision permits courts to assess specific fees: $2 per violation (to the Automated Traffic System Fund), $0.50 per fine (to the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund), and $3 per violation (to the Automated Traffic System Modernization Fund), up to a $33 total. These fees, previously only applied to unresolved cases, are now extendable to dismissed charges under the court's discretion. The change shifts some court funding responsibility from local taxpayers to those with dismissed traffic violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts fuel used to operate school buses for transporting students to and from school or school activities from two state taxes: the petroleum products gross receipts tax and the motor fuel tax. It specifically applies to school buses operated by public school districts, religious or charitable organizations, or contractors working with government agencies. The bill also clarifies how certain dyed fuel (used for non-highway purposes) is taxed and updates rules for determining taxable estates of some residents. These changes directly affect school districts, nonprofit organizations, and contractors managing student transportation services in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits students convicted of or adjudicated for certain sexual assaults (including aggravated sexual assault or sexual contact) from attending the same school building as their victim or riding the same school bus used by the victim. It directly affects public school students in grades K-12 who commit these offenses and are sentenced by a court. The key mechanism requires courts to mandate these prohibitions as part of sentencing, probation, or other legal dispositions. The policy change ensures physical separation between the offender and victim within school facilities and transportation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 946), now law as P.L.2025, c.177, requires mental health services to be provided in the communication method preferred by each deaf or hard of hearing individual - such as sign language or oral communication - based on their assessment. It mandates that mental health professionals be fluent in that method, trained in cultural needs, and able to collaborate with interpreters. The law also requires a state resource guide listing specialized mental health services and ensures individuals can help shape their own care plans. It directly affects all deaf or hard of hearing residents seeking mental health support in New Jersey, addressing long-standing barriers in access and care quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's gross income tax credit for family caregivers of veterans with service-connected disabilities. It allows caregivers to qualify if the veteran has any service-connected disability (not limited to post-9/11 conflicts), provided the veteran meets other existing requirements like honorable discharge, VA disability rating, and six months of residency with the caregiver in New Jersey. The credit equals 100% of the veteran's federal disability compensation, up to $675 per year, and is refundable if it reduces tax liability to zero. It directly affects New Jersey family caregivers (with income limits of $50,000 single/$100,000 joint filers) who support veterans with disabilities from any military service.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to publicly post on its website details of federal safety violations it receives and associated fines. Specifically, NJT must publish quarterly information about violations from the previous quarter (with data remaining online for five years) and also post all violations from the five years prior to the bill's effective date (with the same five-year retention). Additionally, NJT must establish a confidential toll-free hotline and email system for the public to report safety concerns that could endanger public health or safety. These provisions aim to increase transparency about NJT's safety record and provide accessible channels for public safety reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county clerks to remove registered voters from mail-in ballot lists under three specific conditions: if USPS returns their ballot mail, if they haven't used mail-in voting in two years, or if their address is undeliverable via USPS systems. Before removal, clerks must send written notice explaining the reason and providing steps to continue voting by mail, with a 30-day response window. Voters who don't respond within 30 days are removed and receive a notice with a reapplication form. The policy directly affects voters who miss mail-in ballots, go inactive for two years, or experience address changes, ensuring only active, valid voters receive mail-in ballots.