Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryThis bill (A668) requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools. The fact sheet must include practical tips for parents to prevent child drowning, highlight the importance of swimming lessons, and list free/reduced-cost water safety courses by county. Public school districts must distribute this fact sheet to parents when a child is first enrolled, while nonpublic schools are encouraged but not required to do the same. It directly affects parents of newly enrolled students in New Jersey schools and aims to improve access to water safety resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts fuel used for school buses transporting students to or from school or school activities by religious, charitable, or public agencies from New Jersey's petroleum products gross receipts tax and motor fuel tax. It clarifies that dyed fuel (unless used on public highways) is exempt from the gross receipts tax, aligning with existing motor fuel tax treatment. The bill also clarifies estate tax determination for New Jersey resident decedents dying between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018, by removing the deduction for taxes paid to other states. To claim the school bus fuel exemption, purchasers must pay tax at purchase and file a refund claim with the Division of Taxation. The school bus exemption applies to fuel used starting the first day of the month following enactment, while the estate tax clarification applies retroactively to estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2017.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's firearm background check system to prioritize applications from individuals who have obtained domestic violence restraining orders against their abusers. The bill amends state law to ensure that when an applicant has a restraining order in effect under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991, their background check takes precedence over other applicants' checks. The application forms for firearm permits and identification cards will now include a question about whether the applicant has such a restraining order to flag these applications for priority processing. This change aims to help domestic violence victims more quickly obtain necessary documentation to legally possess firearms for their protection. The bill does not change who is prohibited from owning firearms, but rather streamlines the process for those who have legal protections in place.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts the New Jersey Commissioner of Education's authority to reject school district budget proposals solely because a district proposes a lower general fund tax levy or total budget than in the previous year. It directly affects school districts that wish to reduce property tax rates or overall spending without facing commissioner intervention for that specific reason. The key provision amends state law to explicitly state the commissioner "shall not reject" such budgets based on lower tax levies, while preserving other commissioner powers related to educational standards and budget adjustments. The change takes effect immediately for the next school year.

Maddy summaryACR 16 proposes adding a specific right to keep and bear arms to New Jersey's state constitution, explicitly stating "the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed." Currently, the state constitution protects rights like life, liberty, and property but does not explicitly include firearm ownership. If approved, this amendment would align New Jersey's constitution with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the federal Second Amendment (applied to states via the Fourteenth Amendment), making state-level firearm rights protection explicit. The proposal requires voter approval at the next general election following legislative passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A146) prohibits New Jersey state agencies from requiring or considering whether municipalities in the Highlands planning area comply with the regional master plan when making decisions about grants, loans, permits, or other approvals. It specifically blocks agencies like the Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, and Highlands Water Protection Council from mandating that local governments revise their master plans to match the regional plan or using compliance as a factor in funding or permit decisions. The bill directly affects municipalities in Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties (the Highlands planning area) by reducing state oversight of their local land-use regulations. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt volunteer emergency service organizations in New Jersey from paying registration filing fees under the state's Charitable Registration and Investigation Act. It specifically applies to non-profit organizations providing emergency medical care, rescue services, patient transport, or fire protection, including part-paid fire departments and fire districts. Currently, charitable organizations raising $25,000 or less must pay a $30 fee for short form registration, while those raising more must pay higher fees for long form registration. The exemption would apply regardless of an organization's revenue amount, removing these administrative costs for these volunteer groups. This change would reduce the financial burden on these organizations that serve critical community safety needs.

Maddy summaryACR 18 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand the Council on Local Mandates' authority in New Jersey. Currently limited to reviewing laws enacted after 1996, the amendment would allow the Council to examine *all* existing state laws, rules, and regulations - regardless of when they were adopted - to identify unfunded mandates on local governments. The Council would then advise the Legislature on eliminating or modifying these mandates and review pending bills to flag potential unfunded mandates before they become law. This directly affects school districts, counties, and municipalities facing costs without dedicated state funding. The amendment does not change the Council's structure or exempt specific mandate categories like federal compliance requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3349) prohibits local governments from approving new warehouse construction on active farmland until New Jersey preserves 500,000 acres of farmland through existing preservation programs. It specifically targets "speculative development" (warehouses built without tenant or buyer commitments) and requires developers seeking approval to instead commit to preserving farmland equal in size to their proposed development. The State Agriculture Development Committee must track progress toward the 500,000-acre goal and report to the Governor and Legislature upon reaching it. The bill expires immediately after that report is submitted. As of January 2023, only 248,009 acres had been preserved under these programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires cemetery companies established before December 1, 1971, to maintain a minimum of $37,500 in their Maintenance and Preservation Fund. Currently, these older cemeteries must transfer all existing maintenance funds into the fund but lack a specified minimum balance. The bill mandates that any funds exceeding $37,500 must be used directly for cemetery maintenance and preservation. This change aligns the requirement for pre-1971 cemeteries with the existing $75,000 minimum for newer cemetery companies.