Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3026) clarifies New Jersey municipalities' authority to share construction code enforcement services through joint agreements with other municipalities. It allows municipalities to terminate agreements with the state Department of Community Affairs by providing 60 days' written notice if they plan to join a shared service agreement for code enforcement. The bill specifies that existing tenure and term rules for construction code officials no longer apply when a municipality participates in such a shared service agreement. This aims to reduce costs by enabling collaborative enforcement while maintaining certification standards for officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey municipalities' authority to license and inspect all residential rental properties, regardless of lease length (previously limited to leases under 175 days). Landlords must register properties with the municipality, and inspections can occur once yearly (or more often if complaints or safety hazards arise). Municipalities may charge fees, but these must cover only the costs of enforcement and cannot fund other services. The law takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to August 6, 2015, though no fees can be collected for licenses issued before the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Environmental Protection Commissioner (with the Agriculture Secretary) to create standards and a "pollinator-friendly" label for plants. It mandates that plants sold with this label must be native, non-invasive, and not treated with pesticides or chemicals harmful to pollinators like bees, butterflies, or hummingbirds. Retailers and distributors may only use the label if plants meet these standards, which prohibit harmful chemical treatments. The label applies specifically to plants marketed as safe for pollinators, defining "pollinator-friendly" based on these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey resident taxpayers to deduct 50% of their E-ZPass toll payments for New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) tolls - including Turnpike and Garden State Parkway tolls - from their taxable income. It applies to amounts paid through electronic toll systems like E-ZPass, excluding fines, administrative fees, or reimbursed amounts. Taxpayers cannot claim deductions for tolls already deductible under other business or partnership tax rules. The deduction takes effect immediately for taxable years beginning January 1 after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow winery license holders (plenary and farm wineries) to also hold plenary retail consumption licenses and operate restaurants directly adjacent to their winery premises, with a combined annual fee of $1,250 for both licenses. It would exclude land used for alcohol sales under these licenses from farmland tax assessment under the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964, and exclude related income from eligibility for farmland tax assessment. The bill aligns winery licensing more closely with existing brewery rules that permit restaurants on premises, but does not increase the total number of plenary retail consumption licenses a municipality can issue. The changes would apply to wineries that meet requirements for operating a restaurant with adequate kitchen and dining facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities with 30,000 or fewer residents to have their existing governing body (like a city council or township committee) serve as the local board of health, instead of requiring a separate board. It specifically amends state law to permit this structure for small municipalities and validates all prior health board actions taken by these governing bodies before the law was passed. The bill does not change how health boards operate but removes legal barriers that previously prevented small municipalities from using their governing bodies for this purpose. It applies only to municipalities under 30,000 population and retroactively confirms all previous health-related decisions made under this arrangement.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's alcohol beverage laws to clarify delivery and shipment privileges for retailers with specific licenses. It allows retailers holding plenary retail consumption, seasonal retail consumption, or plenary retail distribution licenses to accept alcoholic beverage deliveries at public warehouses and deliver products directly to consumers from those warehouses. The bill also clarifies that warehouse operators can assist customers by collecting, preparing, and packaging alcoholic beverages for delivery. These changes primarily affect liquor stores, supermarkets, and other retailers selling alcohol for off-premises consumption. The legislation makes the delivery process more explicit in the state's regulatory framework without changing existing license types or fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 1% tax on purchasers of controlling ownership stakes in Class 4A commercial properties when the transfer value exceeds $1 million. It directly affects buyers of large-scale commercial real estate (such as office buildings or retail spaces, excluding residential, farm, industrial, or vacant land) in transactions over $1 million. The key change removes the "controlling interest transfer tax" (CITT) for these specific high-value transactions, reducing the cost for such purchases. The repeal takes effect after a two-month delay following enactment, applying to transfers occurring on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities, public utilities, and the State to install or replace street lights with LED technology when new installations occur or bulbs burn out. It mandates that all such installations must meet minimum illuminance standards while prioritizing energy conservation, reduced glare, minimized light pollution, and preservation of natural night environments. Limited exemptions apply for temporary emergency use, safety concerns, historic properties, or federal conflicts. The law affects all public street lighting systems across the state, with public utilities allowed to recover costs through existing societal benefits charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time $100,000 grant for a New Jersey four-year public university to study and recommend effective methods for increasing youth involvement in government. The university must submit a proposal detailing its study plan and budget, then produce a report within one year identifying existing best practices and suggesting the most effective approaches. The report will be shared with the state education department and all school districts within 60 days, aiming to provide actionable guidance for schools and officials.