Asm. Chris DePhillips

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Red Tape Review Commission to evaluate state regulations and executive orders for their economic impact on businesses, workers, and local governments. The commission, composed of eight members including the Lieutenant Governor (as chair), department heads, and legislative leaders, will review all proposed or adopted rules and executive orders to determine if their costs outweigh benefits. It must solicit public input, require state agencies to provide data, and issue annual recommendations to the Governor for repealing, rescinding, or amending burdensome rules. The commission’s findings are advisory only and cannot be used in legal challenges against state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to create written policies for emergency use of nasal seizure rescue medication and manual vagus nerve stimulators on students with seizure disorders. School nurses must develop these policies with training for designated staff, obtain parental written consent and liability waivers, and ensure hospital transport after emergency use. Schools must also provide age-appropriate epilepsy education at least once between kindergarten-third grade and grades six-12. The policy takes effect 12 months after enactment to allow time for training development.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the portion of rent that qualifies as a property tax deduction for eligible renters from 18% to 30% for tenants with annual gross income of $150,000 or less. It directly affects renters in residential rental properties who use the unit as their primary residence. The key change raises the deduction percentage for lower-income renters while maintaining the 18% rate for those earning over $150,000 annually. The policy adjusts how much rent can be subtracted from taxable income under New Jersey's Property Tax Deduction Act.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's bill A1342 requires the Department of Health to establish uniform standards for nursing homes and assisted living facilities within 180 days of the law taking effect. The bill mandates biennial (every two years) on-site inspections of these facilities to verify compliance with the standards, and allows for additional periodic reviews as needed by the Commissioner of Health. All inspection reports must be posted online by the Department for public access. This directly affects all licensed nursing homes and assisted living facilities operating in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require the involuntary commitment of individuals who have been administered opioid antidotes, such as naloxone, for emergency treatment of an apparent opioid overdose. It amends the legal definition of "dangerous to self" to automatically include anyone who has received an opioid antidote, meaning they would be deemed a danger to themselves without further assessment. The bill defines "opioid antidote" as naloxone hydrochloride or other FDA-approved drugs for treating opioid overdoses. This change would apply to anyone who has recently received such treatment, subjecting them to involuntary commitment procedures under New Jersey's mental health laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $5,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance for eligible military service members purchasing primary residences in New Jersey, on top of existing state homebuyer programs. It specifically targets members of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve who served at least 90 days of active duty after 9/11 or during the 1990-1991 Gulf War period, were honorably discharged, or were discharged due to service-connected injuries. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency would administer the program, with funds limited to available appropriations. Surviving spouses of eligible service members also qualify if they meet all other eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county election boards to begin counting early voting ballots 24 hours after the early voting period ends and to count mail-in ballots as they are received, rather than waiting until election day. It requires election boards to follow security and secrecy measures during this process and keeps all early vote and mail-in ballot results confidential until polls close on election day. The bill also extends existing criminal penalties for prematurely disclosing ballot results to cover both early votes and mail-in ballots. These changes apply directly to county election boards and the voters whose ballots are processed under these new timelines.

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 prohibits mandatory mask-wearing for staff, volunteers, and attendees at youth camps in New Jersey. It specifically states no person working at, volunteering at, or attending such camps may be required to wear a mask on camp premises, though individuals may still choose to wear masks voluntarily. The law defines "youth camp" according to existing state law (P.L.1973, c.375) and takes effect immediately upon enactment, with an expiration date of December 31, 2022. This policy change directly affects youth camp operations and participants, removing a requirement for mask use during camp activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change New Jersey's tax code to provide greater relief for residential tenants who rent their primary residence. It increases the portion of rent that counts toward tax relief from 18% to 30%, and converts the tax deduction for renters into a refundable tax credit. The credit would be capped at $15,000 per taxpayer for rent paid on their primary residence. This change would directly benefit renters who use their rental unit as their main home, potentially providing them with a tax refund even if they don't owe income tax.