Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThe Manufacturing in Higher Education Act (A1828) creates a $10 million annual grant program to fund manufacturing education at New Jersey colleges and vocational schools. It requires state agencies to promote manufacturing career pathways for students and establishes a new Advanced Manufacturing Council to coordinate industry partnerships and workforce development. The grants will support new programs or expand existing ones in manufacturing fields, with 50% allocated to county colleges, 25% to four-year institutions, and 25% to vocational districts. Additionally, the bill designates a state liaison to assist manufacturing businesses with marketing, referrals, and workforce reskilling initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for New Jersey taxpayers who install solar energy systems on their homes or businesses. It allows a credit equal to 35% of qualified solar expenditures, with specific limits: $5,000 per residential property, $350 per residential unit in apartment buildings, and $500,000 for commercial or industrial properties. Taxpayers must apply for certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner, who has 90 days to review applications, and unused credits can be carried forward for up to seven years. The total credit amount is capped at $25 million statewide per year, with the program designed to encourage solar energy adoption through financial incentives.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds two student representatives to Rutgers University's Board of Governors. It requires the board to hold a public hearing within 90 days of the bill's effective date to decide how students will elect these representatives - either by the entire student body or through the student government association. The student representatives must be full-time, matriculated students in good academic standing, aged 18+ and U.S. citizens. For the first election, one student serves a one-year term as a voting member, while the second serves a two-year term starting as an alternate before becoming a voting member. Subsequent elections follow the same two-year term structure with the initial year as an alternate.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Garden State Grocery Liquor Licensing Act, would create a new license allowing supermarkets to sell alcoholic beverages manufactured in New Jersey for off-premises consumption. The license would apply to retail food stores where groceries and other foodstuffs make up at least 65% of annual sales, with alcohol sales being merely incidental. Stores would pay initial fees based on square footage ($5,000 for under 5,000 sq ft, $15,000 for 5,000-20,000 sq ft, $30,000 for over 20,000 sq ft) and an annual $1,000 renewal fee, with 25% going to the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control and 75% to the municipality. The license would not be subject to population-based limits that restrict other alcohol retail licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities, counties, and regional police and fire departments to require new hires to live in their jurisdiction for five years. It permits departments to adopt ordinances making residency a condition of employment, with new hires given six months after completing training to relocate. Exceptions are included if a member faces injury or threats related to their job, such as intimidation or attempts to manipulate investigations. The law directly affects police and fire personnel seeking employment in these public safety roles across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2237 requires restaurants to meet specific nutritional standards for children's meals sold as a single-price combination primarily for children. These meals must contain no more than 600 calories, 770mg sodium, 35% calories from fat/sugars, and 10% from saturated fat, while including at least 0.5 cups of fresh fruits/vegetables or a lean protein option (like whole grains or low-fat dairy). Restaurants must prominently display the meal's nutritional content on menus and offer only approved beverages like water, unsweetened juice, or low-fat milk. Violations carry civil penalties up to $3,000 per offense, with a $15,000 monthly cap for repeat violations. The bill directly affects restaurants serving children's meals and aims to promote healthier eating for New Jersey's youth.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a program encouraging owners or operators of closed landfills to convert these sites into habitats supporting pollinators like bees, butterflies, and bats using native plants. The DEP must develop guidelines for establishing and maintaining these habitats within six months of the law taking effect, and seek corporate or nonprofit partnerships to fund the effort. It directly affects landfill operators by providing a framework to repurpose closed landfill sites for ecological benefit. The bill defines "closed landfill" as legacy or closed sanitary landfills and "animal pollinator" as any species known to pollinate plants, such as bees, butterflies, or bats.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits non-electric vehicles and electric vehicles that are not actively charging or are fully charged from parking in designated electric vehicle (EV) charging locations. It requires these locations to have clear signage identifying them as EV charging spots only, with specific markings indicating that violations are subject to penalties. The law applies to publicly accessible parking spaces designated for EV charging and would allow enforcement against drivers who park in these spots under the prohibited circumstances. Violations could result in fines up to $50 or up to 15 days in jail, or both. The bill aims to ensure that EV charging spaces remain available for electric vehicle drivers who need to charge their vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey-based small businesses during their first three years of profitability. Qualified businesses (those registered in NJ, with no more than 50 employees in their first year, and under $100,000 net income) receive credits equal to 75% of their tax liability in the first year, 50% in the second year, and 25% in the third year. Businesses must obtain pre-approval from the Division of Taxation before applying for these credits, and the credits can only be used to offset tax liability for the specific year they apply to. The bill aims to reduce tax burdens during critical early years of business operation to support growth.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a single New Jersey Suicide Prevention Advisory Council within the Department of Health, replacing two existing councils (youth and elderly-focused) to streamline suicide prevention efforts. The council will examine prevention needs, make recommendations to relevant entities, and coordinate data collection across state agencies. The bill also requires school staff to complete suicide prevention training, creates a confidential reporting system for suicide attempts and deaths (with legal protections for reporters), and mandates annual reports on suicide data to guide prevention strategies. These changes aim to improve coordination, training, and data collection for suicide prevention across New Jersey.