Asm. Chris DePhillips

Maddy summaryThis bill requires group homes for individuals with developmental disabilities to install electronic monitoring devices (EMDs) in common areas when all residents and their authorized representatives consent. It also permits residents to install EMDs in private rooms with the consent of roommates in double occupancy rooms. The bill specifies that EMDs must be unobstructed and recording at all times, with common area footage retained for 90 days. Group home licensees must develop internal policies for EMD use, and residents can access footage related to incidents of abuse, neglect, or exploitation. The bill aims to balance resident safety with privacy rights through voluntary, consensual use of EMDs.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of refined precious metal bullion (like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars) and high-value numismatic coins ($1,000 or more) from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects buyers purchasing these specific investment-grade items, not jewelry or art made from them. The law defines "investment bullion" as unprocessed metals where value depends on metal content, excluding fabricated items like jewelry. It also excludes commemorative medallions and coins used in artistic works from the exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2812) exempts the sale of defined investment metal bullion (like refined gold, silver, platinum, or palladium) and investment coins (numismatic coins valued at $1,000 or more) from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects buyers purchasing these specific items for investment purposes, excluding jewelry, art made from coins, and commemorative medallions. The exemption applies to retail sales made after the bill's effective date, which is the first day of the fourth month following enactment. This policy change aligns the tax treatment of these items with other investment instruments like stocks, which are not subject to sales tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) from $50 to $140 for low-income residents in nursing homes, state psychiatric hospitals, and state developmental centers. The allowance is intended for residents to spend on discretionary items like phone calls, meals out, clothing, or hobbies. The new amount includes an automatic annual increase tied to the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment starting the year after enactment. It also ensures SSI recipients in these facilities receive the same $140 monthly allowance as Medicaid recipients, with the state covering the difference if federal supplements remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks following fertilization, with exceptions when the pregnancy threatens the woman's life, results from rape (requiring prior reporting to law enforcement), or results from rape or incest involving a minor (also requiring prior reporting). Physicians must determine the probable post-fertilization age before performing an abortion and document the specific exception being used. The bill requires specific informed consent forms, prohibits performing abortions in violation of these rules (which would be a third-degree crime), and mandates appropriate medical care if a child is born alive following an abortion under an exception.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Family Homelessness Fund" within the state Treasury, allowing taxpayers to voluntarily contribute to it when filing their New Jersey gross income tax returns. Taxpayers can choose to add a contribution to their refund or include a separate payment, with administrative costs deducted before deposits. The state would annually appropriate all collected funds to the Family Promise national organization, which would distribute them to local New Jersey affiliates providing homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, and housing stabilization services. The program directly supports families at risk of or experiencing homelessness in New Jersey through existing community-based services.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New Jersey municipalities from paying Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) permit fees when repairing flood damage or building flood control infrastructure after a natural disaster involving flooding. Municipalities must prove to the DEP that the work is necessary for disaster recovery to qualify for the fee waiver. The DEP must publish application instructions within 90 days via the New Jersey Register, its website, and by sharing details with the Department of Community Affairs and affected municipalities. The exemption applies to permits for repairing roads, buildings, or flood control facilities damaged by flooding.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $12 million from the General Fund to the Village of Ridgewood in Bergen County for drinking water infrastructure improvements addressing PFAS pollution. It directly affects Ridgewood Water, the public water system serving over 60,000 residents across Ridgewood, Midland Park, Glen Rock, and Wyckoff. The funding is a supplemental appropriation to offset costs of PFAS-related infrastructure upgrades, preventing the need for significant rate increases on residents. The bill takes immediate effect and is tied to the 2024 fiscal year appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring Tier A municipalities to adopt ordinances controlling tree removal and replacement as part of the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program. Tier A municipalities are defined as those located in urbanized areas meeting specific population density and stormwater discharge criteria (e.g., population over 1,000 in urbanized areas, population density ≥1,000/sq mile). The bill directly reverses a November 2023 DEP rule that mandated these tree ordinances for Tier A communities. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to earn extra credits toward their affordable housing requirements by reserving units for teachers. Specifically, for each low- or moderate-income housing unit reserved for a household with at least one teacher employed in preschool through grade 12 (public or private school), a municipality receives one standard credit plus a 1.5 bonus credit. The policy directly benefits teachers and their families in qualifying housing, defined as households where at least one member works as a K-12 educator. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.