Asm. Bob Auth

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 10% tax credit for New Jersey businesses that pay gross income tax, allowing them to reduce their tax bill by 10% of qualified research and development (R&D) expenses exceeding a base amount. It specifically covers R&D spending conducted within New Jersey and includes payments to energy research consortia for energy-related research. The credit applies to businesses subject to the state's gross income tax, including those that qualify as small businesses under federal rules. The goal is to incentivize in-state R&D investment, aiming to spur technological innovation and economic growth in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and independent colleges and universities to provide specific support to students serving in the military, including active duty, National Guard, or Reserve members. It mandates institutions to notify students each semester of their academic rights, provide accommodations for missed classes (like lecture notes and five days per absence to complete work), and establish written agreements between students and professors to manage coursework around military duties. Schools must also accept up to 30 college credits for undergraduate military experience (and 12 for graduate studies) based on American Council on Education recommendations, and enforce these requirements through the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. These changes apply to all students unable to complete coursework due to military obligations, including routine drills and training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey gas stations to display the exact dollar amount of state and federal taxes charged per gallon of motor fuel on price signs at the pump. Currently, stations can simply state "Includes State and Federal Taxes" instead of showing specific tax amounts, but this bill eliminates that option. The law mandates that signs must now list the precise tax amounts for both New Jersey and federal taxes separately, replacing the previous vague statements. This directly affects all retail fuel dealers who must update their price displays to show these specific tax figures.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A391 requires internet service providers (ISPs) to keep subscribers' personally identifiable information confidential unless the subscriber provides written authorization to disclose it. This applies to residential and business subscribers in New Jersey using internet services with equipment located in the state, covering details like names, addresses, location data, browsing history, and communication contents. ISPs must provide written notice of this requirement to subscribers and cannot deny service for refusing to authorize disclosure. The bill excludes disclosures related to an ISP's "ordinary course of business" (e.g., billing) or investigations under New Jersey's Wiretapping Act. Violations would be deemed unlawful under the state's Consumer Fraud Act.

Maddy summaryACR 32 proposes a constitutional amendment to exempt the first $60,000 of assessed value on a senior citizen's primary residence from property taxation. This would directly affect New Jersey residents aged 65 or older who own their primary home. The amendment would change how property taxes are calculated by removing $60,000 from the taxable value of their home, lowering their annual tax bill. It requires voter approval after passing both legislative chambers, as it amends the state constitution. The exemption applies only to the primary residence of qualifying seniors.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2020 law that prohibited stores, restaurants, and food pantries from providing single-use plastic bags, paper bags, polystyrene foam containers, and plastic straws. It would allow these businesses to once again sell or provide these items without requiring customers to specifically request them. The repeal directly affects retail establishments, food service businesses, and food banks that currently face restrictions on these products. This change reverses specific environmental restrictions on single-use products implemented in 2020.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A428 (A428) updates procedures for removing deceased voters from the Statewide Voter Registration System. It requires county clerks to receive monthly death records from health officers (in addition to the current commissioner of registration), and creates three new pathways for transferring voter records to the death file: (1) next of kin submitting a notarized form with a death certificate to county clerks or the commissioner; (2) veterans healthcare directors or nursing home administrators notifying the commissioner; and (3) funeral directors submitting forms with death certificates. These changes aim to improve the accuracy of voter rolls by streamlining how death information is shared with election officials. The bill directly affects county clerks, next of kin, veterans healthcare staff, nursing home administrators, and funeral directors.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 22) commemorates Greek Independence Day, observed annually on March 25th, specifically recognizing the significance of this day for New Jersey's Greek-American community. It directly affects New Jersey residents of Hellenic (Greek) ancestry, particularly those in the New York City metropolitan area and Bergen County, which the bill notes has the largest Greek population in the U.S. The resolution has no binding effect; it simply expresses the state's recognition through a formal statement and directs copies to the New Jersey Hellenic American Heritage Commission and the Hellenic Federation of New Jersey. It does not create new laws or alter policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A386) allows parties involved in family court cases (like divorce or custody matters) to request a venue change if they publicly comment on a judicial nominee during Senate committee hearings. Specifically, if a party makes oral remarks about a Superior Court judge nominee’s qualifications before a Senate committee, they may file a motion to move their ongoing family case to a different judicial district (vicinage), provided the new venue avoids the district where the nominee would serve if confirmed. The court must consider whether the original venue would prevent a fair trial due to the party’s public remarks, applying the existing standard for venue changes. The bill applies only to family actions already filed and affects parties who directly engaged with the Senate’s judicial nomination review process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a minimum daily Medicaid reimbursement rate of $950 for pediatric special care nursing facilities (SCNFs) in New Jersey that provide specialized long-term care to medically fragile children and youth up to age 21. It directly affects four facilities currently participating in New Jersey Medicaid and FamilyCare: Pediatric Long Term Care Center (Mountainside/Toms River), Phoenix Center (Haskell), and Voorhees Pediatric Facility. The law requires the state to appropriate necessary funds from the General Fund to cover this increased rate, closing a 63.5% gap between the highest and lowest existing reimbursement rates among these facilities. This ensures SCNFs can sustain operations while meeting federal and state care standards.