Asm. Clinton Calabrese

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's limited brewery license rules to allow consumers to eat food on brewery premises. Currently, limited brewery license holders cannot sell food or operate restaurants on their premises. The bill would permit food consumption from outside vendors or restaurants not owned by the brewery, but prohibits breweries from bringing food onto premises that they directly own or control (defined as owning more than 5% of a business's profits, assets, or stock). This change specifically affects limited breweries that brew up to 300,000 barrels annually and sell products directly to consumers on-site.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey water companies from charging fire departments, fire districts, or volunteer fire companies more than one fee per fire hydrant for its use. It amends state law to require the Board of Public Utilities to disallow any billing structure allowing multiple charges per hydrant for these fire organizations. The law ensures these entities are billed only once per hydrant, preventing duplicate fees for the same fire hydrant. The change applies to all water companies regulated by the Board of Public Utilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a temporary 25% credit against New Jersey gross income tax for eligible first-time homebuyers (who purchased a home in 2019, 2020, or 2021) and seniors aged 65+ who are state residents. The credit covers up to $2,500 per year of property taxes paid on their primary home. If the credit exceeds the taxpayer’s income tax liability, the remaining amount is refunded. The credit applies only for tax years 2019 through 2021.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A125) establishes an annual grant program to support county 9-1-1 emergency call centers (PSAPs) in New Jersey. It redirects 10% of the $0.90 fee collected from telephone bills - currently deposited into the 9-1-1 Trust Fund - to provide financial aid for counties to purchase, maintain, and upgrade PSAP technology. The Office of Information Technology, with input from Emergency Management, will distribute the grants and report annually to the Governor and Legislature. This directly affects all New Jersey counties operating public safety answering points that handle emergency calls.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2335 creates a voluntary "Pollinator Pathway" designation for municipalities that meet specific habitat standards. To qualify, towns must provide pollinator habitat, include native host plants supporting butterfly species (like milkweeds), offer seasonal nectar sources, ensure water/shelter access, and implement at least five conservation practices (e.g., reducing pesticides, using native plants, rainwater harvesting). The Department of Environmental Protection will issue a standardized sign to qualifying municipalities after a statewide logo contest every decade. This bill directly affects New Jersey municipalities seeking to enhance local ecosystems and support declining pollinator populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires sellers of foreclosed residential properties (specifically mortgage lenders or entities that bought the property at a sheriff's sale under New Jersey's Fair Foreclosure Act) to provide marketable and insurable title to homebuyers in their sales contracts. If sellers fail to deliver such title, it constitutes a contract breach, obligating them to refund the buyer's deposit and reimburse expenses like surveys, title searches, and inspections. The bill invalidates any contract terms attempting to limit these seller obligations. It directly affects homebuyers purchasing REO (Real Estate Owned) properties and ensures greater protection against title-related issues after foreclosure sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-year pilot program for "creative crosswalks" in New Jersey, where public schools can submit student-designed crosswalks using colors and textures to improve visibility and beautify existing crosswalks. Public schools must apply with municipality approval, and up to 10 schools (with regional diversity) will be selected yearly to replace standard crosswalks with student-designed options. The program requires state officials to report on safety and participation after the pilot ends, focusing on low-cost, creative engagement for students.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges the federal EPA to use funds from New Jersey Superfund settlements **exclusively for cleaning up contaminated sites in New Jersey**, not for administrative costs elsewhere. It specifically requests the EPA limit settlement funds spent on agency overhead to **no more than 10%** of the total settlement value. New Jersey has **829 active Superfund sites** (including 115 on the EPA's priority list) and the highest number of sites needing cleanup in the U.S. as of 2023. As a non-binding resolution, it formally asks the EPA to prioritize NJ site cleanup using settlement funds, reflecting the state's significant environmental remediation needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Commissioner of Education from approving teacher certification tests that require candidates to wait more than 14 days before retaking them. It specifically targets tests for basic skills (reading, writing, math) and subject matter knowledge, currently including the Praxis test which mandates a 28-day wait. The bill does not affect alternative tests like the SAT, ACT, or GRE, which are already accepted for certification and have different retake policies. It directly impacts teacher certification candidates who would otherwise face extended delays in retaking required assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecommunications and cable service providers to remove abandoned lines (defined as lines not terminated at both ends, not maintained safely, not intended for future use, or not in operation for 24+ months) and to mark lines with their identifying information. It specifically targets retired copper telephone lines, requiring owners to submit removal plans within 12 months and complete removal within 10 years (with at least 10% removed annually). Entities must report on abandoned line requests to the Board of Public Utilities every 90 days and provide customers with information about their rights to request line removal. Failure to comply may result in fines up to $1,000 per day. The bill primarily affects telecommunications companies and utility providers across New Jersey.