Asm. John Azzariti

Maddy summaryThe "Innovate New Jersey Act" creates tax-free business incubators at public and private colleges and universities, allowing qualifying new businesses to operate without paying certain state taxes for up to 10 years. To qualify, businesses must be in early development stages or focused on technology innovation (like biotechnology or information technology), align with the institution's academic mission, and create new jobs. The program requires approval from an Innovate New Jersey Board (appointed by legislative leaders) and prohibits certain businesses like retail stores, restaurants, law firms, and financial services from participating. The bill also establishes a grant fund to help institutions cover startup costs for these incubators, with grants limited to $125,000 annually for the first three years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey nursing homes and assisted living facilities (licensed under state law) to maintain an on-site supply of COVID-19 antiviral treatments. It mandates that these facilities provide such treatment to any resident who tests positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms. The law applies directly to long-term care facilities operating in New Jersey and takes effect immediately. The requirement focuses on ensuring timely access to antiviral treatment for symptomatic residents, without specifying which antiviral drugs must be stocked.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts local utilities from specific reporting requirements related to the pandemic's impact on utility services. It would change existing law so that only public utilities, not local utilities, must submit detailed reports on service impacts, customer data, revenue, and infrastructure projects affected by the coronavirus pandemic. Local utilities are defined as sewerage authorities, utilities authorities, or municipal, county, or regional utility entities providing electricity, gas, sewer, or water service. The exemption would remove the need for these local entities to file quarterly reports on metrics like customer disconnections, arrears, assistance programs, and rate structures. This change would reduce reporting burdens for local utilities while maintaining reporting requirements for public utilities.

Maddy summaryBill A1316 exempts New Jersey volunteer fire companies from paying the annual charitable registration fee required under state law. Currently, these organizations must pay fees ranging from $30 to $250 annually based on revenue, but they are not automatically exempt like some other nonprofits. The bill amends Section 6 of New Jersey’s Charitable Registration Act to specifically remove this fee requirement for volunteer fire companies. This change does not eliminate their obligation to register as charitable organizations but reduces their annual administrative costs. The exemption applies immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1350) exempts protective face coverings from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It adds "protective face coverings" to the list of tax-exempt medical items under the Sales and Use Tax Act, including medical masks, respirators, and other face coverings designed to protect against infection spread. The exemption applies directly to consumers purchasing these items for personal health protection, removing the tax burden from such purchases. This change modifies existing tax code provisions without altering other medical exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 13-member "COVID-19 Learning Loss Study Commission" to study how pandemic school closures affected student learning in New Jersey. The commission, appointed by legislative leaders and the Governor to include education stakeholders and public members, will analyze academic data from March 2020 (when schools closed) through the bill’s effective date. It must examine impacts on overall student outcomes, disaggregated by school size, grade, and subject, and analyze pre-existing achievement gaps. The commission must submit a final report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within six months, and dissolve 30 days after submission.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission" to examine New Jersey's housing policies. The commission, composed of seven members including agency representatives and appointed officials, will study the state's affordable housing history, analyze past guidance to municipalities, assess population growth and housing needs, and hold public hearings. Its key task is to produce a report within one year with recommendations for municipalities and state agencies on meeting housing obligations. The commission will expire immediately after publishing its final report. This is a procedural study commission with no direct policy changes; it focuses on analysis to inform future housing strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that if a first responder (such as an EMT, police officer, or emergency medical technician) administers an opioid antidote (like naloxone) during an overdose and has contact with the person's bodily fluids (e.g., via needle exposure), they may request the local public health officer to seek voluntary testing for HIV, hepatitis, and other bloodborne diseases. If the person refuses consent within 24 hours, the public health officer can seek a court order for mandatory testing, which must be granted if the court finds a risk of disease transmission. Test results are confidential, shared only with the tested person and the requesting responder, and cannot be used for law enforcement or civil cases. The person tested may be ordered to reimburse the state for testing costs, but healthcare providers performing tests under this law are protected from liability.

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes occupying an empty or vacant home without the owner's permission, addressing what the bill calls "squatting." It creates three specific offenses: forcibly entering a vacant dwelling (housebreaking), taking up residence without permission (unlawful occupancy), and reentering after a court-ordered eviction (unlawful reentry). All are classified as fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill presumes a person knows they lack permission unless they provide a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details, changing the current process where owners must seek civil court eviction.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require the New Jersey State Board of Education to cancel the current health and physical education curriculum standards adopted in 2020 and prohibit the board from creating future standards or mandating similar requirements in these subjects. Instead, each local school district must establish Parental Advisory Committees made up of parents and guardians to help develop their own health education standards. These committees must hold public meetings and post their recommendations online for community review. School districts would have 180 days after the bill's enactment to adopt their new health education standards. The bill also removes previous requirements for the Department of Education to provide sample materials for specific health topics like suicide prevention and consent education.