Asm. John Allen

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2494) requires counties containing cities of the first class (Newark and Jersey City, each with over 150,000 residents) to impose a $3-$10 surcharge on real property documents filed in county offices. The funds collected are deposited quarterly into each city’s municipal affordable housing trust fund. The money must be used solely to create or rehabilitate affordable housing units in those cities, addressing housing affordability challenges noted in their high poverty rates. The surcharge applies to documents related to real property but excludes assignments of previously recorded deeds of trust.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program, adjusting credit percentages for three producer categories: 35-40% for New Jersey studio partners (who commit to large production facilities), 30-35% for film-lease production companies (who lease space in designated facilities), and 30-35% for other producers. It establishes annual spending limits ($100 million-$150 million for studio partners, $100 million-$150 million for film-lease companies, and $30 million for digital media) and allows tax credits to be transferred or sold to other taxpayers. The bill also clarifies reporting requirements, including verification by independent accountants and documentation of expenses incurred within New Jersey. These changes aim to maintain New Jersey's competitiveness in the film and digital media industry while ensuring responsible use of public funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all electric power sold to customers in New Jersey by electric power suppliers and basic generation service providers to come from zero-carbon sources by energy year 2050. It directs the Board of Public Utilities, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to establish a multi-year schedule for gradually reducing carbon emissions in the power sector. The standard would include provisions to prevent "leakage" (where emissions might simply move to other jurisdictions) and would exempt existing contracts for basic generation service. This requirement would affect all electricity providers in New Jersey, mandating a transition to zero-carbon energy sources over time.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2493) makes court records from landlord-tenant disputes confidential after five years. Starting on the first day of the sixth year following an eviction filing, these records become unavailable to the public, except if a court determines publication serves a public interest while removing tenant identifiers. Landlords cannot consider these old cases when screening new tenants, and sharing such records is prohibited with penalties of $1,000-$5,000 per violation. The law applies retroactively to all landlord-tenant actions filed after March 9, 2020.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $2 billion School Property Tax Relief Trust Fund to provide one-time grants to New Jersey school districts. The fund, financed by state and federal pandemic recovery funds, allows districts to use grant money for capital projects, hiring teachers, or covering wage/benefit increases. To receive funds, districts must agree not to raise property taxes for five years after receiving the grant and must follow specific spending rules, including prioritizing districts with cost-saving plans or affordable housing compliance. The grants are one-time only, with districts ineligible for another grant for five years after receiving funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to create a single, standardized form that healthcare providers (like doctors' offices and pharmacies) must use to request insurance approval for prescription drugs. Insurance companies must accept this uniform form in both paper and digital formats when providers seek coverage for medications. The key change eliminates the current patchwork of different forms used by various insurers, aiming to simplify and speed up the approval process for patients needing covered prescriptions. This directly affects healthcare providers submitting requests and insurers processing those requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill would raise the minimum age to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card (required for purchasing rifles and shotguns) from 18 to 21 years old. It would not affect the existing requirement that handgun purchasers must be at least 21 years old. Under the bill, people under 21 could still possess firearms for specific purposes like hunting with a valid license and safety certification, military training, or target practice under supervision. Active duty military members, reservists, and National Guard members would remain eligible for the card before age 21. Those who already had the card before the bill's effective date could continue to use it.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's firearms regulations by requiring that firearms purchaser identification cards be valid for four years (expiring on the holder's birthday in the fourth year after issuance), rather than indefinitely as under current law. It also requires applicants to complete a firearms safety training course approved by the State Police within four years prior to application (with exemptions for law enforcement and veterans). Additionally, the bill revises inheritance procedures for firearms, requiring heirs or legatees to possess a valid firearms purchaser identification card or permit to purchase a handgun before taking possession of inherited firearms, with specific procedures for transferring firearms to law enforcement if the heir doesn't qualify for a permit.

Maddy summaryThe Liberty State Park Protection Act establishes a Liberty State Park Advisory Committee and sets requirements for the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regarding actions at Liberty State Park. The bill prohibits the DEP from considering proposals to commercialize, develop, or privatize the park except for limited small-scale commercial activities that enhance visitor experience, such as bike rentals or food concessions. It restricts the DEP from transferring property rights within the 235-acre natural restoration area and Caven Point Peninsula, and requires the DEP to develop a management plan within five years after enactment. The DEP must consult the Advisory Committee before entering into any concession agreements or property transfers, and hold public hearings with 30-day comment periods for proposed changes. The Advisory Committee, composed of park advocates, environmental experts, and community representatives, will review proposals and make recommendations to the DEP.