Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3406) creates the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission within the Governor's Office to assess state rules, regulations, and executive orders. The commission, composed of nine members including Executive and Legislative branch representatives, will review all proposed or adopted rules to evaluate their economic impact on businesses, workers, and local governments, determining if costs outweigh benefits. It will hold two annual public hearings, solicit public input, and issue an annual report with non-binding recommendations to the Governor for amending or repealing burdensome rules. The commission’s findings are advisory only and cannot be used in legal challenges against state agencies.

Maddy summaryACR 107 is a concurrent resolution (not a law) expressing New Jersey's legislative support for a "Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights." It lists specific outdoor activities children should have opportunities to experience, such as exploring woods, building forts, playing in mud, planting gardens, and observing nature. The resolution directs copies to the Governor, the Commissioner of Environmental Protection, and the Commissioner of Children and Families for their awareness and consideration. It does not create new legal requirements but formally encourages state agencies to recognize the importance of outdoor experiences for children's well-being.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how municipalities calculate impervious surfaces (like paved areas) for public parks within New Jersey's Highlands preservation area. Currently, parks must keep impervious surfaces under 3% of each individual park's area. The bill allows municipalities to combine all their municipal parks into one "lot" for this calculation, meaning the total impervious surface across all parks must stay under 3% of the combined park area. This adjustment makes it easier for towns to develop or maintain multiple parks without violating the 3% limit on each separate park. The change specifically excludes open waters and solar panels from the impervious surface calculation.

Maddy summaryACR 106 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove the cap on certain retirement and disability benefits when calculating eligibility for New Jersey’s $250 property tax deduction for seniors (65+) and disabled residents. Currently, only benefits up to the maximum Social Security amount are excluded from the $10,000 annual income limit for qualifying this deduction. The amendment would allow all qualifying federal or state retirement/disability benefits to be fully excluded from the income calculation, enabling more seniors and disabled residents to qualify if their total income remains under $10,000. This change directly affects low-income seniors and disabled residents who rely on government benefits for housing affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new formula for distributing state school aid to New Jersey's public school districts. It calculates each district's aid by dividing the total projected state income tax revenue by the total projected student enrollment across all districts, then multiplying that per-pupil amount by the district's own projected enrollment. This method ensures state funding is distributed proportionally based on student population, directly affecting all public school districts in the state. The bill replaces previous funding mechanisms and takes effect immediately for the upcoming school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Community Affairs to add a mandatory module on warehouse development and high-density development to the existing basic land use law and planning course for local planning and zoning board members. The course, already required for current and prospective board members, will now include specific content about large-scale warehouses (like distribution centers) and high-density projects. This aims to better prepare local officials to address regional impacts from such developments, as noted in the bill's statement referencing a 2022 state planning document. The requirement applies to all relevant board members starting when the updated course launches.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipal courts to assess court costs for traffic violations (Title 39 of the Revised Statutes) that are dismissed through a plea agreement. Courts may collect up to $33 per violation, including $2 for the Automated Traffic System Fund, $0.50 per fine for the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund, and $3 for the Statewide Modernization Fund. These costs are mandatory and cannot be waived, with payments directed to specific state programs supporting traffic systems and emergency medical services. The change applies directly to individuals charged with traffic offenses whose cases are dismissed via plea agreement.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow certain large food waste generators (businesses producing 52+ tons annually) to continue sending food waste to sanitary landfills that capture landfill gas for Class I renewable energy, instead of requiring recycling. It applies only if the generator was already disposing of waste at such a landfill as of April 14, 2020 (the effective date of prior law). The exemption remains valid only while the generator maintains this disposal method. This provision modifies the existing requirement for source separation and recycling, creating a specific alternative pathway for eligible businesses already using landfill gas-to-energy facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's emergency response capabilities by allowing municipal emergency management coordinators to request assistance from other municipalities during emergencies, including from volunteer first aid, ambulance, fire, and police departments. It specifically authorizes requests for help beyond normal territorial boundaries, provided the assisting entity is contiguous and has agreed to mutual aid through existing agreements. The bill ensures that personnel providing out-of-jurisdiction assistance receive identical benefits - such as workers' compensation, pensions, and salary coverage - as if they were working within their home municipality. It also clarifies payment rates for services: $3 per member and $35 per fire apparatus per hour for fire assistance, or $3 per member and $5 per vehicle per hour for police support, unless mutually agreed otherwise.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2701 prohibits cannabis retailers from operating within 200 feet of any school or place of worship. It defines "school" as any public or private school under state law and "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used regularly for religious services by a registered nonprofit. Existing retailers that already secured municipal approval and made significant investments to open near these locations are grandfathered for five years. The law directly affects cannabis retail businesses seeking new licenses or renewals, requiring compliance with this buffer zone requirement.