Asm. John Azzariti

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits properties that received benefits under the Grow New Jersey Assistance Act (2011) or the New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009 from qualifying for property tax exemptions under two specific laws: the Long Term Tax Exemption Law (P.L.1991, c.431) and the Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law (P.L.1991, c.441). It directly affects property owners who utilized state economic development incentives, blocking them from receiving additional tax breaks on the same properties. The key provision states that such properties are ineligible for these exemptions or abatements, preventing dual benefits from public funding. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill gives New Jersey electric utility customers the right to decline having a smart meter installed at their home or business. Utilities must provide 90 days' written notice before installation and cannot charge fees for declining within the first 30 days. If a customer declines after 30 days but within 90 days, the utility may charge no more than $100 for the decision. The bill directly affects all residential and commercial customers of electric utilities in New Jersey who receive notice of planned smart meter installation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) rules to extend the time members can be out of service while maintaining their pension membership. It changes the cutoff from 2 years to 4 years for most members who discontinue service, and extends the return-to-service window from 10 to 20 years for those who were laid off or had 10+ years of service when they voluntarily left. The bill also ensures members who terminated employment before the bill's effective date but returned within the extended timeframe would be enrolled in their original membership tier without additional contributions. This affects current and former public school teachers who are members of the TPAF. The changes provide more flexibility for educators who leave teaching positions but may want to return later.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to prioritize current local residents for affordable housing units in new developments. Specifically, municipalities can agree with developers to reserve up to 50% of affordable units for residents who live in that municipality, giving them priority access during the first 90 days of a project's marketing period. After this initial window, remaining units are available to the general public. The policy aims to help low- and moderate-income residents stay in their hometowns by increasing local access to affordable housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault statute to upgrade simple assault to aggravated assault when committed against a registered security officer who is clearly identifiable as performing their duties or due to their status as a security officer. Currently, similar upgrades apply to assaults against law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, school employees, and other public safety workers. If bodily injury occurs, the assault becomes a third-degree crime (up to 5 years in prison), otherwise it's a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months in prison). The bill directly affects security officers by increasing penalties for assaults against them while in the performance of their duties. This change aligns security officers with other protected professions under New Jersey's assault laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3529) allows New Jersey taxpayers who move to the state to start a new job to deduct certain moving expenses from their gross income. It covers reasonable costs like moving household goods, travel (including lodging), and storage for the taxpayer and household members. To qualify, taxpayers must work full-time in New Jersey for at least 39 weeks within the first 12 months (or 78 weeks over 24 months for self-employed individuals), with exceptions for death, disability, or involuntary job loss. The deduction applies to expenses incurred when moving from outside New Jersey to establish a new principal workplace in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public agencies to redact personal identifying information of minors (people under 18) from government records before making them public. It specifically targets information such as names, addresses, social security numbers, and other identifying details that would reveal a minor's identity. The bill applies to all public records maintained by state and local government entities, with limited exceptions for government agencies, law enforcement, and child support enforcement purposes. This change directly affects all public agencies that maintain records containing information about minors, ensuring their personal information is protected from public disclosure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for Medicaid reimbursement rates paid to assisted living facilities, comprehensive personal care homes, and assisted living programs in New Jersey. Starting July 1 each year, the base daily reimbursement rates for these facilities will increase by the same percentage as the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the prior 12 months, as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor. The state will appropriate funds from the General Fund to cover these increased payments, and the Commissioner of Human Services must seek necessary federal approvals to secure matching funds. This directly affects facilities serving Medicaid beneficiaries by adjusting their payment rates annually to account for inflation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care facilities and professionals to provide parents and guardians with access to the medical records of unemancipated minor patients (under 18 years old) without needing the minor's authorization, except in specific cases like certain behavioral health treatments or when a minor appears to have been sexually assaulted. It amends existing laws to clarify that parents generally have the right to access their minor child's medical records, overriding federal privacy rules that might otherwise restrict this access. The bill provides legal immunity to health care providers who comply with this requirement, protecting them from civil, criminal, or professional disciplinary actions, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. It specifically clarifies that this law does not affect existing protections for reproductive health care records.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 in New Jersey. It changes the punishment for any trafficking of a child (for sexual activity or forced labor) from a minimum 20-year sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Convicted individuals must also pay fines of at least $25,000, which fund a survivor assistance program. The law applies to all forms of child trafficking, regardless of whether the perpetrator mistakenly believed the child was 18 or older.