Rep. Dave Bailey

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits unauthorized drone operations near schools in New Jersey. It makes it a disorderly persons offense to fly a drone below 250 feet over school property for surveillance, to hover over school grounds without permission, or to use school buildings/grounds as a drone takeoff or landing site. School administrators must provide written authorization for any drone activity within this zone. Violations carry penalties of up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The law specifically exempts authorized public employees and first responders operating drones for official duties.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly resolution urges the U.S. Congress to permanently fund the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which provides discounted broadband internet and device subsidies to low-income households. The ACP currently offers up to $30 monthly for internet service (or $75 for Tribal lands) and a one-time $100 discount for devices like laptops, helping over 20 million households nationwide - including 335,079 in New Jersey as of January 2024. The resolution notes the program is set to expire in April 2024 due to a $14.2 billion budget exhaustion, risking the loss of $8.3 million monthly in broadband cost savings for New Jersey households. It calls for permanent congressional funding to maintain these benefits, which support essential activities like education, work, and healthcare access.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3991) directs New Jersey's State Board of Education to create a new "general science" endorsement for teaching certificates. This endorsement would allow certified teachers to teach any high school science course (grades 9-12), rather than being restricted to specific subjects like biology or chemistry. To qualify, teachers must hold a science-related degree (biology, chemistry, physics, or equivalent), maintain a 3.0 GPA, pass basic skills and subject matter tests, and meet other commissioner requirements. Existing science teachers with specialized endorsements (e.g., biology, chemistry) can apply for this general endorsement if they meet the new standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $2 million in state funding to New Jersey's Department of Labor to support county prosecutors in enforcing wage payment laws. It requires each county prosecutor's office to assign a dedicated assistant prosecutor to investigate and prosecute cases where employers fail to pay wages or violate wage-hour laws. The funding covers both financial resources and training for prosecutors to handle these cases more effectively. This directly affects workers who are owed wages and county prosecutors who will now have dedicated staff and resources for wage enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill would impose annual registration fees of $300 for passenger electric vehicles and $450 for commercial electric vehicles, starting in 2025, while reducing gasoline and diesel fuel taxes by about one-third (to 7 cents and 9 cents per gallon, respectively). It requires the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on alternative revenue sources for transportation funding, including mileage-based fees and carbon taxes, with a report due by August 2026. All revenues from these fees and tax changes would be directed to the Transportation Trust Fund, which supports transportation infrastructure projects. The study aims to address potential revenue shortfalls as electric vehicle adoption increases and fuel consumption decreases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to automatically stop collecting tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway east of the Garden State Parkway whenever U.S. Route 40 is closed at any point east of that parkway. It directly affects drivers traveling between Atlantic City and areas like Pleasantville who would otherwise face tolls if U.S. Route 40 closures force them onto the expressway. The key mechanism is an automatic toll suspension triggered solely by the closure of U.S. Route 40 east of the Garden State Parkway. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for businesses constructing buildings in New Jersey that meet high environmental performance standards certified under the LEED Green Building Rating System. The credits apply to eligible residential multi-family buildings (with at least 4 stories and 10,000 square feet of interior space, or 20,000 square feet aggregate for phased projects) and commercial or industrial buildings that achieve silver, gold, or platinum level certification. The credit amount is based on building size and certification level, with a total cap of $10 million across both corporation business tax and gross income tax systems. To claim the credit, businesses must obtain certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner verifying the building meets the required standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts from motor vehicle registration fees certain vehicles owned by nonprofit organizations that provide essential community services in New Jersey. Specifically, it covers local Meals on Wheels programs for seniors (as Meals on Wheels America members) and nonprofits focused on social services like addiction treatment, mental health care, and support for individuals with developmental disabilities. The exemption applies only to vehicles not used for pleasure or commercial hire, and these vehicles must still be registered with special certificates or plates instead of standard fees. This change directly affects qualifying nonprofits by reducing their operational costs for necessary transportation services.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public schools and approved private schools for students with disabilities to count virtual or remote instruction days toward their 180-day school year requirement when schools close due to inclement weather, hazardous transportation conditions, or specified emergencies like public health emergencies. Currently, schools could only use virtual instruction for closures lasting more than three consecutive days; this bill expands eligibility to include single-day closures and weather-related closures. Schools must submit their virtual instruction program to the commissioner for approval within 30 days, and approved virtual days will count as full school days for attendance, graduation requirements, and course credit. The commissioner will establish guidelines addressing technology access, virtual day length, and impacts on school meals and assessments.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires municipalities to conduct regional impact assessments before approving "large warehouse" developments. Host municipalities must prepare a detailed report assessing how the warehouse will affect retail, jobs, traffic, public services, and local master plans, which must be reviewed by county or state planning boards. Adjoining municipalities can express concerns within 20 days, and the host municipality must update its master plan if it hasn't been updated in the past year. Additionally, municipalities must reassess all property values within 24 months after approval if they haven't done so in the past 60 months.