Asm. Will Sampson

Maddy summaryAJR 25 designates the first full week of May each year as "Wounded Warrior Appreciation Week" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution aims to raise public awareness about the challenges faced by military veterans with physical or mental injuries sustained in service, including those with combat-related stress, PTSD, or traumatic brain injuries. It requests the governor issue a proclamation encouraging New Jersey residents and officials to observe the week with activities honoring wounded warriors. The bill does not create new programs, allocate funding, or impose obligations on state agencies - it is purely a ceremonial designation.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement (SSUTA) to amend its definition of "grooming and hygiene products" to exclude oral healthcare items like toothpaste, toothbrushes, and mouthwash. Currently, these products are taxed at New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax rate under the SSUTA's existing definition. The resolution requests two specific changes: (1) removing oral care products from the "grooming" category, and (2) creating a new "oral healthcare products" category to allow states to exempt these items from sales tax. As a non-binding resolution, it seeks to enable future tax exemptions for these essential health products by modifying the multistate SSUTA agreement, not by directly changing New Jersey law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 131) urges the federal government to update the poverty threshold used to determine eligibility for public assistance programs. It argues the current federal poverty line - based on 1960s food costs and unchanged for decades - fails to account for modern expenses like housing, healthcare, and transportation, leaving millions who struggle to afford basics ineligible for aid. The resolution states that 53 million households face hardship but only 37.9 million are officially counted as poor under the current measure. It directly affects low-income households excluded from programs like Medicaid and food assistance due to the outdated calculation, especially amid rising costs since 2020. The resolution has no binding effect but requests federal action to expand access to public assistance.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 165) urges the U.S. federal government to create legislation providing proportional property tax relief for veterans with service-connected permanent disabilities. It proposes that veterans receive tax relief based on their U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs disability rating (e.g., 30% disability would yield 30% tax relief), limited to their primary residence and veterans earning under $200,000 annually. The resolution highlights that New Jersey currently offers full property tax exemptions for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities, but this federal standard would extend similar proportional benefits to veterans nationwide. It does not create new state law but calls for federal action to ensure consistent support for veterans across all states.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows restaurants and licensed alcohol beverage retailers and manufacturers to expand their operations into designated outdoor spaces adjacent to their business locations, including public sidewalks. Businesses must apply for a "premises expansion permit" with their municipal zoning officer and the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control, providing detailed plans for outdoor space design, sanitation, and safety measures. Municipalities can set reasonable operating hour limits (generally allowing most hours except late-night on Sundays-Wednesdays and early morning on Thurs-Saturdays), but must follow state requirements for permit renewal. Restaurants without alcohol licenses must renew their outdoor permits annually, while those with alcohol licenses renew with their main business license. The bill specifies that municipal ordinances on sanitation, noise, and other matters still apply unless specifically modified by the municipality.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services and other state agencies that serve people with developmental disabilities to provide clear, accessible information about transportation options. Specifically, these agencies must create easy-to-understand pamphlets or materials (including details on services like the Access Link paratransit system) and post them on their websites with relevant links. The materials must include contact information, eligibility requirements, and whether caregivers can accompany individuals for each transportation service. This directly helps individuals with developmental disabilities and their families navigate available transit options more effectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's housing finance laws to expand financing opportunities for low and moderate income housing by directing the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to establish specific incentives and priority considerations for certified minority-owned, women-owned, and veteran-owned development businesses. It streamlines the approval process by requiring the agency to accept third-party verification of compliance and eliminate duplicative reviews, while allowing these businesses to satisfy bonding requirements through letters of credit rather than traditional performance bonds. These changes aim to increase participation from these business types in developing affordable housing, directly affecting housing developers and low/moderate income residents seeking housing.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A586 (A586) expands the state's affordable housing voucher program to cover homeownership expenses, such as mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance, instead of only rental assistance. It directly affects low-income households, seniors aged 62+, and veterans who qualify for the state's Rental Assistance Program (SRAP), requiring the Department of Community Affairs to reserve funds for this homeownership option. The bill mandates local housing authorities administering federal Section 8 vouchers to implement this homeownership program, which they currently aren't required to do. This change takes effect six months after enactment to allow time for implementation. The policy shift aims to help eligible residents transition from renting to homeownership using state-funded vouchers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public institutions of higher education in New Jersey to pay prevailing wage rates for construction, repair, and maintenance work intended for their use. It expands the definition of "public work" to include projects under agreement to be purchased by public bodies and work paid for through "take-out financing." The bill ensures that workers on these projects, including those employed by entities associated with public institutions of higher education, receive the prevailing wage rate determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development. This applies to construction, reconstruction, demolition, alteration, custom fabrication, and maintenance work done under contract with entities associated with public institutions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires rental car companies in New Jersey to delete renters' personal information from vehicle computer systems when a vehicle is returned. It defines "personal information" to include navigation history, phone data, and garage door codes, and mandates deletion using NIST-approved protocols or the vehicle manufacturer's factory reset option. Rental companies failing to comply face civil penalties of $500 for a first violation and $1,000 for subsequent offenses. The law applies to all businesses renting vehicles short-term to the public, including hourly or daily rentals. It directly affects renters whose data could remain in vehicle systems and rental companies responsible for implementing the deletion process.