Asm. Jay Webber

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new first-degree crime called "home invasion" for entering a residence with intent to commit certain serious crimes (like robbery, sexual assault, or kidnapping) while another person is present and using force, threats, or being armed. It mandates a 10-30 year prison sentence with 85% served without parole under the No Early Release Act. Additionally, it upgrades burglary of a residence to a second-degree crime if anyone other than the offender is present in the home (regardless of the offender’s knowledge), increasing the maximum sentence from 5 years to 10 years. These changes directly affect individuals committing such offenses in residential settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's unemployment insurance law to require individuals who fraudulently obtained benefits to repay those funds in full before receiving any future benefits. It increases fines for fraudulently obtaining benefits to $250 per offense or 50% of the amount obtained (whichever is greater), up from the previous 25% rate. The bill also raises penalties for employers who fraudulently prevent or reduce payments to employees or under-report contributions to 50% of the amount withheld or under-reported. These changes strengthen enforcement against unemployment insurance fraud and ensure proper repayment of improperly obtained benefits. The bill creates an investigative staff within the Division of Unemployment and Temporary Disability Insurance to enforce these provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's income tax code to re-establish 6.37% as the top marginal tax rate for high-income earners. It specifically sets this rate for taxpayers with taxable income over $150,000 for married couples filing jointly (or over $75,000 for single filers) for taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2023. The bill restores a tax rate that was in effect from 2004 to 2005, before being replaced with higher rates. This change affects the highest income brackets while leaving lower tax rates unchanged.

Maddy summaryThe School Children First Act requires New Jersey school districts to change how they determine compensation for teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals. Instead of prioritizing seniority, districts must base pay primarily on teacher effectiveness ratings, assignment to failing schools (as identified by the Commissioner of Education), and teaching in "difficult to staff" subject areas. The bill also requires principals to consent before teachers are placed in schools, with teachers unable to find a consenting principal potentially facing 12 months of unpaid leave. Additionally, school districts must publicly report teacher effectiveness ratings, and layoffs for these positions must be based on effectiveness rather than seniority.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's tax code to provide a $6,000 gross income tax deduction for surviving spouses of qualifying veterans. It directly affects spouses who were married to a veteran at the time of their death, were living together continuously (with limited exceptions), and have not remarried or cohabited with another person in a spousal relationship. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment and matches the existing $6,000 deduction available to veterans themselves. Eligibility requires the veteran to have died while on active duty, been honorably discharged, or been released under honorable circumstances from military service. The deduction remains available if the spouse remarries after age 57, or if the remarriage was void, annulled, or obtained without fraud.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2613) requires candidates for New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) positions involving school facility access to undergo criminal history background checks. Applicants must provide written consent, pay for the check, and submit fingerprints; the DOE will use existing public school employment standards (from P.L.1986, c.116) to determine disqualification for specific crimes. If a conviction for disqualifying offenses is found, the DOE cannot hire the candidate. The bill also mandates ongoing checks: if an employee later faces a conviction for disqualifying crimes, they lose eligibility for school-access roles. This applies only to positions requiring school facility entry, not all DOE employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes a portion of Medicaid-related income from New Jersey's state gross income tax for qualifying medical practices. Specifically, it excludes an amount equal to the proportion of Medicaid receipts to total practice revenue (e.g., if 30% of a practice's income comes from Medicaid, 30% of that income is tax-free). It directly affects physicians and medical practices (especially LLCs or partnerships) treating Medicaid patients, incentivizing them to accept more Medicaid-covered patients by reducing their taxable income. The exclusion applies to income from services provided to Medicaid recipients under state law, effective for taxable years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes investigation and security services from the list of taxable services under New Jersey's sales and use tax code. It deletes specific references to "investigation and security services" from the tax code, which previously included these services in the tax base. The bill directly affects consumers who purchase these services and the businesses that provide them, as they will no longer be subject to the 6.625% sales or use tax on such services. This policy change eliminates a tax that had increased costs for consumers and created financial burdens for service providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to give priority consideration to permit applications submitted by counties or municipalities that have entered into 10 or more shared services agreements under the Uniform Shared Services and Consolidation Act (P.L.2007, c.63). It directs the Department of Community Affairs to maintain and publicly post a list of qualifying jurisdictions on its website. The policy directly affects local governments with established shared services agreements and state agencies processing permits, streamlining their review process.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2661) prohibits part-time elected local government officers in New Jersey from using passenger vehicles purchased with public funds by municipalities, counties, or local government agencies. It directly affects part-time officials like mayors or council members who hold elected positions without full-time government employment. The key provision amends the Local Government Ethics Law (P.L.1991, c.29) by adding a new subsection requiring that no elected, part-time officer may accept or use such public vehicles. This change aims to prevent unnecessary public spending on vehicle assignments for part-time officials, as highlighted by a cited example from Atlantic City. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.