Asm. Chris Barranco

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act (A1363) requires safety standards for existing bleachers at public venues like sports arenas, schools, and event centers. It directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to create safety standards within six months, using U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines, and mandates that all entities - governmental (e.g., school districts), private, and nonprofit - upgrade or retrofit bleachers to meet these standards. Governmental entities must comply within one year (or sooner if funding is available), while private and nonprofit entities have two years. Non-compliant bleachers must display warning notices and cannot be used after deadlines pass.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 28) urges the federal government to approve oil and natural gas pipelines within the U.S., including those previously denied or shut down (like the Keystone XL Pipeline, revoked by President Biden in 2021). It argues that approving such pipelines would enhance U.S. energy independence, reduce reliance on foreign energy sources (e.g., from Russia or Venezuela), and lower fuel costs while creating jobs. The resolution directs copies to federal leaders but does not create new law or directly affect residents. It focuses on advocating for pipeline approvals as a policy action, not on implementing specific regulations.

Maddy summaryACR 33 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing New Jersey municipalities to offer a partial property tax exemption on the primary residence of volunteer firefighters and first responders. The exemption would cover up to 10% of a home's assessed value, with each municipality setting the exact percentage through local ordinance. To qualify, the volunteer must be actively serving in a local fire company or first aid/rescue squad that serves the municipality and live in the home as their primary residence. The state would not provide reimbursement to municipalities for any lost tax revenue from this exemption.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A524 requires electric service providers (including utilities, power suppliers, and basic generation providers) to integrate energy storage systems into their long-term grid planning processes. The bill directs the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish rules for procuring these systems within 180 days, ensuring grid reliability, reducing peak demand generation needs, and avoiding unnecessary infrastructure investments. Providers must submit data on potential storage installations, include cost/benefit analyses in planning, and ensure systems do not compromise grid safety. The law allows private ownership of storage systems and exempts existing cost-effective projects approved before the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Citizen Involvement, Land Use, and Planning Advocate within New Jersey's Department of State, replacing the existing Office of Planning Advocacy. It requires local planning and zoning board members to complete a mandatory basic land use law course within 18 months of joining, and transfers all related programs, staff, and funding to the new office. The office will create a public database tracking large projects like warehouses, provide plain-language guidance to residents, and maintain resources for officials on development processes. It also mandates the office to coordinate between local governments and state agencies on land use matters.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey law to allow certain special law enforcement officers (SLEOs) and volunteer auxiliary police officers to carry firearms while performing their duties. It removes the current prohibition on Class One SLEOs (who typically handle traffic and crowd control) from carrying weapons and requires municipalities to authorize Class Two SLEOs to carry after completing firearms training. Additionally, it mandates that volunteer auxiliary police officers - previously unable to carry weapons on duty - complete the same basic firearms training required for SLEOs before being permitted to carry. All officers must pass certification through the Police Training Commission to carry firearms, aligning auxiliary police with SLEO standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new state fund to provide property tax relief to municipalities located in New Jersey's Highlands preservation area. Qualified municipalities must either be entirely within the preservation area or have at least 60% of their land in the preservation area while following regional planning standards. The aid amount is calculated based on the decline in true value of vacant land between 2023 (the base year) and the current year. The state will pay eligible municipalities in two annual installments from the fund, which will be funded by the existing "Highlands Protection Fund."

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 10% tax credit for New Jersey businesses that pay gross income tax, allowing them to reduce their tax bill by 10% of qualified research and development (R&D) expenses exceeding a base amount. It specifically covers R&D spending conducted within New Jersey and includes payments to energy research consortia for energy-related research. The credit applies to businesses subject to the state's gross income tax, including those that qualify as small businesses under federal rules. The goal is to incentivize in-state R&D investment, aiming to spur technological innovation and economic growth in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling membership from 13 to 15 members. It reduces public members from three to two, replaces the requirement for one licensed educator with two public school vocational program representatives and two private school representatives, and adds two members who own or operate hair braiding shops. The bill also broadens the six licensed professional slots to include any cosmetology-related profession the board licenses, rather than limiting them to specific roles. These changes aim to better represent New Jersey's diverse cosmetology and hairstyling industry stakeholders.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2020 law that prohibited stores, restaurants, and food pantries from providing single-use plastic bags, paper bags, polystyrene foam containers, and plastic straws. It would allow these businesses to once again sell or provide these items without requiring customers to specifically request them. The repeal directly affects retail establishments, food service businesses, and food banks that currently face restrictions on these products. This change reverses specific environmental restrictions on single-use products implemented in 2020.