Asm. Cody Miller

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3434) allows New Jersey taxpayers with gross income of $85,000 or less to deduct certain tuition and fee expenses paid for themselves, their spouse, or dependents enrolled as matriculated students at accredited public or independent colleges or universities. The deduction applies to expenses paid during the taxable year for higher education at institutions recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education. It directly affects low-to-moderate income households with college students, reducing their taxable income. The bill takes effect immediately for taxable years beginning after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3353) creates a formal process for New Jersey county colleges to start offering four-year nursing degree programs. It requires county colleges to submit detailed proposals - including program descriptions, facility plans, cost analyses, curriculum details, and enrollment projections - to the New Jersey Presidents’ Council for review. The council must provide feedback within 30 days and forward approved proposals to the Higher Education Secretary, who must decide within 60 days. Programs cannot launch without accreditation from the New Jersey Board of Nursing. The bill directly affects county colleges (like those in Middlesex, Morris, Somerset, and Union counties) and aims to increase nursing education capacity to address statewide workforce shortages.

Maddy summaryThis bill, A3362, protects tenants by restricting how landlords use past court cases in rental screening and clarifies rent receivership procedures. Landlords cannot consider most housing court records when screening applicants - only judgments for possession within three years that are final and not under appeal - and must provide written explanations for rejected applications, including disclosed screening details. It also removes the requirement for tenants to pay a rent deposit to file a rent receivership action, allowing such cases to be based on violations of the implied warranty of habitability (meaning unsafe or uninhabitable housing). These changes directly affect landlords (through new screening rules and penalties) and tenants (by reducing unfair screening barriers and improving access to housing safety remedies).

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A3348 requires the State Planning Commission to create plain-language guidance for local planning boards reviewing warehouse development applications. The guidance must include examples of questions addressing community concerns like traffic, road safety, and environmental impacts, and will be published online. It also mandates that the Commissioner of Community Affairs incorporate this guidance into mandatory land use training courses for local planning and zoning board members. The bill directly affects municipal authorities reviewing warehouse projects (including distribution centers and flex-warehouses) and aims to standardize how communities evaluate such developments. The guidance must be finalized within three months of the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3344) requires developers to provide extended notice to property owners before building large warehouses (over 100,000 square feet) or high-density developments. It mandates that municipal clerks give at least 20 days' notice to property owners within the development municipality, and to owners in adjacent municipalities if the project is within 300 feet of a municipal boundary. For projects in rural Planning Area 4A, notice must extend up to 1,000 feet to adjacent municipalities. The bill defines "high-density development" as projects exceeding current master plan density limits and allows municipalities to recover notice costs from developers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes guidelines for how landlords assess creditworthiness when renting affordable housing. It prohibits using credit scores to deny housing to applicants with federal or state tenant-based housing subsidies (like Section 8 vouchers), except when an individualized assessment shows repeated failure to pay rent while receiving a subsidy. For other affordable housing applicants, landlords must conduct individualized assessments considering income, employment, payment history, health factors, and budgeting efforts rather than relying solely on credit scores. Landlords must provide written denial notices explaining their decision in English and Spanish, and submit annual reports to the Attorney General with demographic data on denials. The bill aims to prevent credit-based discrimination against low and moderate-income households seeking housing they can afford.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents with specific diagnosed special needs to voluntarily add a notation to their driver's license or state ID card. It covers individuals diagnosed with autism, severe anxiety, communication disabilities, PTSD, or Tourette syndrome by a licensed healthcare provider. The notation, displayed as a specific restriction code, is intended to help law enforcement and emergency responders communicate effectively and provide appropriate assistance during interactions. Cardholders can add or remove this notation at any time without penalty.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public school students aged 14 and older in New Jersey to receive an excused absence from school on general election day if they participate in approved election-related activities. Students must provide documentation including a supervisor's signature, activity details, time spent, and proof the activity was nonpartisan (not benefiting one political party). The activity must be organized by a school, nonprofit, or government entity and cannot involve political campaigning, with students receiving no more than $100 in expense reimbursement. School boards may deny the absence for students with below-standard academic performance as defined by the board.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county colleges to apply for permission to offer four-year bachelor's degrees in applied science fields facing regional labor shortages. County colleges must submit detailed proposals to the New Jersey Presidents' Council, including program descriptions, facility plans, cost analyses, and accreditation plans. The Council reviews proposals, gives feedback for corrections, and forwards approved proposals to the Higher Education Secretary for final approval, contingent on program accreditation. Colleges may offer no more than three such degrees under this process, and must report on program outcomes to the Legislature seven years after launch. The bill directly affects county colleges, students seeking these degrees, and employers needing skilled workers in targeted fields.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Commission on Human Trafficking’s existing duties to specifically address trafficking affecting women and children of color. It requires the commission to study racial disparities in trafficking vulnerability, identify prevention strategies for these groups, and improve support services for victims. The commission must then make legislative recommendations based on these findings. The bill does not create new programs but directs the existing commission to prioritize these issues in its annual work.