Asm. Alixon Collazos-Gill

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 14-member "Home Security Systems Anti-Burglary Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety. The task force will study home security systems (including keyless entry, cameras, and alarms) and make recommendations to manufacturers and installers to prevent residential burglaries. It includes representatives from law enforcement, industry groups (like the Electronic Security Association and Insurance Council), and public members with security business experience. The task force must submit a report with specific recommendations for improving security systems and any needed legislative changes within six months, after which it will expire.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers a state income tax deduction equal to the capital gain realized from selling certain real property interests to qualified conservation organizations. It directly affects landowners who sell property (either at full market value or for less than full value in a "bargain sale") to groups preserving land through programs like Green Acres, farmland preservation, or wildlife conservation. The deduction covers the profit from the sale portion, with specific rules for allocating costs in bargain sales where part is treated as a charitable donation. The policy aligns with federal tax treatment for conservation donations and applies to sales benefiting conservation programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3725, "Toxic Packaging Reduction Act") requires plastic packaging and certain single-use plastic product producers in New Jersey to reduce the amount of plastic they sell annually by weight. Producers must cut plastic use to 90% of baseline by 2028, 80% by 2030, 70% by 2032, 60% by 2034, and 50% by 2036. Additionally, starting in 2028, cardboard packaging must contain at least 75% postconsumer recycled content and achieve a 75% recycling rate. The law directly affects manufacturers and distributors of covered materials like plastic bags, straws, utensils, and food containers sold in New Jersey, excluding specific medical and regulated items.

Maddy summaryThis law makes it a crime to sell or possess parts designed to convert standard firearms into machine guns (known as "machine gun conversion devices"). It directly affects sellers and owners of these specific firearm components. The bill establishes criminal penalties for violating this prohibition, adding to existing firearm regulations. The law was enacted after being approved in P.L.2025, c.363, and is now part of New Jersey state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes pension benefits for New Jersey teachers by moving all current non-retired members of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) into a single benefit tier (previously called "Tier 1"), granting them the same retirement benefits as members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll teachers earning above minimum salary but not meeting work-hour requirements into TAPF within 60 days of enactment. Teachers in the separate Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) can automatically transfer their service credit to TAPF for retirement eligibility (but not pension amount calculations), with contributions staying in DCRP; they may opt out within six months of notification. The bill also allows TAPF members with long-term disability insurance to apply for disability retirement within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits businesses from charging higher prices for goods or services marketed to women compared to substantially similar products for men, addressing the "pink tax." It defines "substantially similar" products as those with no significant differences in materials, function, or design (excluding minor color or packaging differences). Businesses like tailors, salons, and dry cleaners must clearly disclose all standard service prices in writing, post visible price lists (14-point bold), and display a mandated sign about the law. Price differences based on legitimate factors like materials or tariffs remain permitted, and the law does not override existing anti-discrimination protections.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands the definition of "burglar's tools" to include devices or software designed to bypass keyless locking mechanisms (like smart locks or digital keypads). It makes manufacturing, possessing, or publishing instructions for such tools a crime: manufacturing or publishing is a fourth-degree offense (up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine), while mere possession is a lesser disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine). The law directly affects individuals who create, distribute, or possess tools specifically adapted to access premises without physical keys. It targets modern security vulnerabilities without altering existing burglary statutes for traditional methods. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey gas public utilities to develop and submit "utility innovation plans" to the Board of Public Utilities, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The plans must include specific technologies like biogas, carbon capture, renewable natural gas, hybrid energy systems, or deep energy retrofits, with measurable emissions reductions. Utilities can recover costs for approved initiatives through a defined cost recovery mechanism, including capital investments and research expenses. It directly affects gas utilities by enabling them to implement emission-reduction strategies while seeking financial recovery for qualifying projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires each New Jersey county to establish at least one drive-up ballot drop box accessible by vehicle, designed with features like curb cuts and handicap parking. It mandates that all ballot drop boxes (including the drive-up type) be secured, visible, and placed at specific locations such as county government buildings, large municipalities, and colleges with over 5,000 students. The bill also requires counties to post clear information at drop box locations, prohibits political materials within 100 feet of boxes during elections, and ensures accessibility compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These provisions apply to all mail-in ballots deposited by election closing time.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as second homes attached or detached from a main single-family dwelling, requiring them to be at least 30% of the main unit’s size or 1,000 square feet. It prohibits municipalities from banning ADUs on single-family lots or imposing restrictions like passageways between units, separate utility billing, minimum age requirements, or limits on occupants’ relationships. Homeowners and local governments are directly affected, as the bill standardizes ADU rules statewide while allowing municipalities to limit short-term rentals. The bill does not override building codes or require sprinklers in ADUs if the main house is exempt. (Bill A 3710, introduced 2026-01-13)