Asm. Chris DePhillips

Maddy summaryACR 64 proposes a constitutional amendment to extend New Jersey's existing $250 annual property tax deduction for veterans to Gold Star families. This would allow parents, siblings, children, legal guardians, or legal custodians of service members who died while on active duty or from duty-related injuries to receive the same deduction. The deduction would be limited to one per family, with priority among eligible relatives determined by law. Unmarried surviving spouses of deceased veterans are already covered under current law and would not be affected by this change. The amendment requires voter approval to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) 2016 standard, which includes specific examples of anti-Semitic conduct. It requires state agencies, schools, and institutions to use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on violations of anti-discrimination policies or laws. The bill clarifies that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of other nations does not constitute anti-Semitism under this definition. It explicitly states that the definition will not override First Amendment protections or existing state/federal anti-discrimination laws. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents to deduct the full amount of state property taxes paid on their principal residence from their gross income tax obligation, removing the previous $15,000 annual cap. It directly affects homeowners who itemize deductions on their state tax returns, particularly those with property tax bills exceeding $15,000. Key provisions include clarifying deductions for co-owners, rental properties, and adjustments for high-income taxpayers (those earning over $250,000 annually may face reduced deductions). The bill amends existing tax code sections to implement these changes while maintaining income-based limitations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a special committee to investigate New Jersey's three veterans' memorial homes (Menlo Park, Paramus, and Vineland) and their operations. The committee will examine how state policies, laws, and federal regulations since March 2020 affected residents, families, and staff, focusing on changes made after federal inspections. It has broad investigative powers, including subpoena authority, holding hearings, and issuing public reports with recommendations. The 7-member committee, appointed with bipartisan balance by the Speaker, will report findings to the Legislature and the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New Jersey municipalities from paying state environmental permit fees when repairing flood damage or building flood control structures after a flooding disaster. Municipalities must prove the work relates to storm damage to qualify for the fee waiver. The environmental agency (DEP) must publish application details within 90 days via the state register, website, and direct outreach to municipalities. The exemption applies immediately to permits for repairing roads, buildings, or flood infrastructure damaged by qualifying natural disasters.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed mental health practitioners in New Jersey - including clinical social workers, psychologists, counselors, and therapists - to complete two hours of approved suicide prevention training annually. The training must cover suicide prevention, assessment, screening, treatment, and management in clinical settings, and practitioners must submit proof of completion to their licensing boards. The Division of Consumer Affairs will maintain a list of approved training programs, prioritizing those from national organizations like SAMHSA. The law applies to all professionals practicing under Title 45 of New Jersey’s Revised Statutes and takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 628) prohibits courts from awarding a "builder's remedy" in lawsuits challenging exclusionary zoning laws. It directly affects municipalities, developers, and affordable housing advocates involved in zoning litigation. The bill states that courts must instead impose other remedies if a municipality fails to provide a realistic opportunity for affordable housing development, banning court orders that require zoning changes to include market-rate housing as a condition for development. The Legislature states this remedy has historically produced excessive market-rate housing with little affordable housing, harming communities and the state. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of members in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It directly affects current and future retirees who are members of this system, restoring annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The key provision amends existing law to allow the retirement system's board of trustees to reinstate these automatic COLAs without requiring additional contributions from members, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't harm the fund's long-term stability. The bill does not create new benefits but returns a previously reduced feature of the retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases tax credits for investors in New Jersey's emerging technology businesses. It raises the base credit rate from 20% to 30% of eligible investments, and boosts the enhanced rate from 25% to 35% for investments in qualified opportunity zones, low-income communities, or businesses certified as minority/women-owned. The credit is capped at $500,000 per investment annually, with a total annual limit of $35 million across all credits. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority will administer the program, requiring applicants to demonstrate compliance with diversity or location criteria for the higher credit rate.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's "Daniel's Law" to specifically protect members of the state legislature (and their immediate family members living in the same household) by prohibiting the online disclosure of their home addresses and unpublished phone numbers. It requires anyone posting such information to remove it within 10 business days upon receiving written notice from an authorized person (like a family member or legal representative). Violating this prohibition can result in criminal charges, ranging from a fourth-degree crime for reckless actions to a third-degree crime for intentional violations. The law explicitly exempts news media from liability for previously published information and does not apply to telephone directories if the covered person requested non-publication.