Asm. Chris Barranco

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey municipalities to exclude contributions to volunteer first aid and rescue squads from their budget appropriation limits and property tax levy caps. Currently, municipalities must limit budget increases to 2.5% or the cost-of-living adjustment, but this bill adds these contributions as an exception to that rule. It also permits municipalities to fund these services through property tax increases without being constrained by the usual tax levy cap. This change directly affects municipalities with volunteer emergency services, making it easier for them to secure funding for these essential community resources.

Maddy summaryThe Informed Consent for Vaccination Act (A1307) requires New Jersey health care providers to give patients (or parents/guardians for minors) at least 48 hours before a vaccine: the vaccine’s manufacturer insert and detailed information about the federal Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), including how to report injuries. Patients must sign a consent form confirming they received this information and understand the option to decline the vaccine, along with explanations of risks like disease transmission or school exclusion without a medical/religious exemption. The bill also prohibits providers from refusing care or transferring patients solely due to vaccine refusal and bans vaccine administration via standing orders except during declared public health emergencies. This applies directly to all health care practitioners administering vaccines in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition adopted in 2016. It requires state agencies, educational institutions, and others reviewing discrimination complaints to use this definition when determining if an act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. The definition explicitly states that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of any other country does not constitute anti-Semitism. The bill clarifies it does not override First Amendment rights or existing state/federal anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $10 million annually from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues for grants to support lake management activities focused on recreation and conservation. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the program, prioritizing projects in the Highlands Region and Pinelands area that improve water quality and increase recreational access, including efforts to prevent harmful algal blooms. Qualified entities, including the Greenwood Lake Commission and Lake Hopatcong Commission, will receive guaranteed minimum annual grants of $750,000 each, with additional funding available for local government units. The grants can fund stormwater management and pollution control to enhance lake use for recreation and conservation purposes.

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 allows public utilities in New Jersey to lease equipment from the National Guard during emergencies like storms or disasters. Specifically, it permits leasing for up to 48 hours after an emergency ends, subject to federal law. The Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs must create and publish a list of available National Guard equipment for such leases. The bill does not change existing utility responsibilities but provides a new resource option during crisis response.

Maddy summaryACR 102 is a non-binding resolution urging New Jersey's Department of Education to impose a two-year moratorium on developing or implementing new Student Learning Standards. It requests this pause due to recent adoption of standards in 2020, parent concerns about current standards, and pandemic-related learning loss. The resolution does not change existing standards but asks the Department to halt new standards development while the Legislature considers related bills addressing learning loss. This affects the Department's curriculum planning process during the moratorium period.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State Treasurer to sell 7.8 acres of surplus land and improvements (located at 15 Jean Street in Morris Township, Morris County) owned by the state to the Township of Morris. The property, formerly a Regional Day School operated by the Department of Children and Families, has been declared surplus and appraised at $580,000. The sale must follow terms approved by the State House Commission, with proceeds deposited into a state fund to reduce debt or fund capital projects. The sale will occur via direct sale or internet auction if needed, but the bill itself only authorizes the transfer.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey state grant program to preserve, extend, and manage Revolutionary War battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites threatened by development. The Department of State will award competitive grants to local governments and qualified non-profits based on specific preservation plans and administrative capability. It appropriates $50 million from the state's General Fund to implement the program, requiring grant recipients to report on fund usage and project outcomes. The initiative aims to protect New Jersey's significant Revolutionary War historical sites, which the bill notes hosted more battles than any other original state.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A398) makes knowingly making a false report of child abuse or neglect a crime of the third degree in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals who file false reports under state law, subjecting them to potential penalties including up to 5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The bill also adds a civil penalty of up to $10,000 payable to the state treasury for the Department of Children and Families. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.