Asm. Al Abdelaziz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires construction permit applicants in New Jersey to disclose the anticipated funding sources and amounts for their projects. It applies to most construction projects but excludes single-family homes, routine renovations or repairs of dwelling units, and small-scale alterations (like individual units in buildings with fewer than three units). Applicants must provide this funding information when applying for a permit, and before receiving a certificate of occupancy, they must certify the accuracy of that information or submit updated details. The Commissioner of Community Affairs will develop specific rules within 180 days to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a faster court process for lenders to foreclose on residential properties deemed "vacant and abandoned," directly affecting mortgage lenders and owners of such properties. It defines "vacant and abandoned" through specific evidence (e.g., overgrown vegetation, disconnected utilities, neighbor reports), removes the requirement to serve a "notice to cure" for these cases, and mandates two documented service attempts on the property. The expedited process applies only to uncontested cases where the court confirms abandonment via clear evidence and no defense is filed. This change streamlines foreclosures for properties meeting strict criteria but does not override other foreclosure procedures or apply to timeshares.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1410) establishes new rules for New Jersey state agencies when purchasing firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories. It requires businesses bidding on state contracts to certify they don’t sell unserialized gun kits or firearm precursor parts, disclose past inspection violations, and provide annual documentation on trace requests, thefts, and compliance with firearm laws. State agencies must reject bids or cancel contracts from non-compliant businesses and develop processes to assess safety practices like preventing straw sales or prohibited transfers. The bill applies only to state procurement contracts and is pending legislative action (introduced January 2026).

Maddy summaryBill A 761 expands eligibility for enhanced retirement benefits under New Jersey’s Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) to include campus police officers who cannot enroll in the separate Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) due to age or medical requirements. Currently, these campus officers are enrolled in PERS but miss out on the special law enforcement officer (LEO) benefits available to other PERS members. The bill amends the definition of "law enforcement officer" to explicitly include qualified campus police officers, automatically enrolling them in the LEO retirement category unless they waive it. This change provides these officers access to higher retirement benefits they previously could not receive under PERS.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of members in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It directly affects current and future retirees who are members of this system, restoring annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The key provision amends existing law to allow the retirement system's board of trustees to reinstate these automatic COLAs without requiring additional contributions from members, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't harm the fund's long-term stability. The bill does not create new benefits but returns a previously reduced feature of the retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the age threshold for automatic jury service exemption in New Jersey from 75 to 70 years old. It directly affects residents aged 70 or older who would now qualify for an automatic excuse from jury duty, replacing the previous requirement of being 75 or older. The bill amends statute N.J.S.2B:20-10 to update this age requirement while maintaining existing exemption categories like recent service, severe hardship, or volunteer emergency roles. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment. The bill is currently pending referral to the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows purchasers of business assets (such as when buying a business in bulk) to submit required tax notifications to New Jersey's tax authority online, rather than only by mail. It requires the state to establish an electronic system for these submissions. The bill directly affects business buyers who must notify the tax director before finalizing certain asset sales. Key provisions update existing law to add electronic submission as a valid method and mandate the creation of the online system. The change streamlines the process for purchasers while maintaining the requirement to notify the state about potential tax liabilities tied to the seller.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates court filing fees for individuals defending against consumer debt lawsuits in New Jersey's Superior Court. It directly affects people sued for personal, family, or household debt - including medical and credit debt - as defined by current law. The bill removes fees for filing basic responses like answers, counterclaims, or appearances in the Special Civil Part or Civil Part of court. This aims to reduce financial barriers that often prevent defendants from responding to small debt claims (typically under $10,000), which frequently result in default judgments without defense.

Maddy summaryThis bill would limit annual rent increases for most New Jersey rental units to 5% plus the local cost-of-living change (capped at 10% total). It directly affects landlords and tenants in standard residential properties across the state, excluding new constructions (within 15 years), affordable housing units, dormitories, and certain single-family homes. Key exemptions include properties with deed restrictions for low-income housing, university dorms, and duplexes where the landlord lives in one unit. The law would require landlords to comply with this cap for all rent increases after the initial lease, with tenants able to use violations as a defense in eviction cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to reward employees who report tax law violations by employers in New Jersey's construction industry. Whistleblowers who provide specific, credible information leading to an administrative or judicial action against an employer can receive 15% to 30% of recovered taxes, penalties, and interest, or up to 10% if the tip came from media or government sources. It excludes employees who obtained information through their official duties or planned the violations themselves, and includes protections against retaliation under New Jersey's Conscientious Employee Protection Act. The program applies specifically to employers engaged in building, construction, repair, or maintenance work as defined in the bill.