Asm. Chris DePhillips

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts medical marijuana sales from New Jersey's state sales and use tax. It directly affects patients prescribed medical marijuana under the Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act for qualifying conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, or seizure disorders, who currently pay the tax on their medication. The bill amends the tax code to explicitly add medical marijuana as an exempt item - alongside prescription drugs and medical devices - by listing it as item (11) in the tax exemption rules. The exemption takes effect 90 days after enactment, applying to sales made on or after the first day of the first month of the following calendar quarter.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1111) requires commercial trucks over 26,000 pounds gross weight to have GPS systems that provide real-time alerts about low-clearance bridges and weight restrictions, plus route directions adjusted for the vehicle's specific height and weight. It directly affects most commercial freight haulers operating in New Jersey, excluding government vehicles, school buses, and religious/charitable transportation. The GPS must display infrastructure warnings and dynamically reroute based on the truck's size when entered by the driver. The Motor Vehicle Commission will create implementation rules, with the law taking effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to share certain payments in lieu of property taxes (PILOTs) with school districts when urban renewal entities receive long-term property tax exemptions. For residential projects, school districts would receive an amount calculated by multiplying the number of school-age children residing in the project by the base per pupil amount determined by the Commissioner of Education. For nonresidential or mixed-use projects, school districts would receive 5% of the PILOT amount or an equivalent in-kind contribution. The bill also mandates that municipalities provide school districts and the Department of Community Affairs with information about property tax exemptions, including posting applications and financial agreements on the DCA website.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A410) requires New Jersey public school districts to provide vouchers to parents who withdraw their child from public school due to objections about curriculum materials or activities they deem "harmful." The voucher covers 75% of the nonpublic school's tuition and fees, calculated based on the district's per-pupil spending and prorated for remaining school days. It specifically defines "harmful" objections to include conflicts with parental beliefs about sex, sexuality, gender identity, religion, or morality. The bill applies to parents of students enrolled in public schools who choose to enroll in nonpublic schools for these reasons.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 57) urges New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping activities off the New Jersey coast. It is prompted by the unexplained deaths of at least 12 whales (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphins recorded near offshore wind development areas since December 2022. The resolution calls for pausing these activities to allow for scientific study of potential links between sonar/mapping technologies and the marine life deaths. As a resolution, it does not create law but formally requests federal and state agencies to halt related operations pending investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1098) exempts New Jersey disabled veterans from admission fees at state parks and forests, and also removes fees for motor vehicle access to park beaches for fishing. It directly affects disabled veterans who are New Jersey residents and have been honorably discharged with a service-connected disability certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The bill amends existing law to add "disabled veteran" as a qualifying category for free admission (currently covering residents 62+, totally disabled individuals, and National Guard members with training completion) and specifically exempts this group from beach access fees. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that any legislative bill certified for a fiscal note or estimate cannot be released from committee until a complete fiscal note or estimate is prepared. It directly affects bills that have been formally flagged by the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer as needing budget impact analysis. The key provision mandates that committees must wait for the completed fiscal analysis before moving such bills forward. This procedural rule ensures budgetary impacts are fully assessed before bills advance in the legislative process.

Maddy summaryBill A2215 raises penalties for unlawfully taking a motor vehicle without the owner's permission. Currently a fourth-degree crime, the basic offense becomes a third-degree crime under the bill, increasing maximum penalties to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. For cases involving reckless operation that risks injury or property damage, the bill elevates the offense from third to second degree, with penalties of up to ten years in prison and a $150,000 fine. The bill directly affects individuals who commit unauthorized vehicle takeovers, such as joyriding, by making punishments more severe for both standard and reckless scenarios.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A437 provides civil liability immunity to first responders who forcibly enter property during emergencies. It directly affects volunteer and paid emergency personnel - including firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, hospital staff, and college police officers - when they enter homes, businesses, or structures without permission. The immunity applies only if responders have a good faith belief entry is needed for emergency medical care or to prevent imminent harm, and no property occupant responds to requests within a reasonable time. This protection does not cover willful or wanton acts and does not apply to vehicle operation during emergency services.

Maddy summaryThis bill would shift the administration of affordable housing obligations from municipalities to the state-level Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), requiring COAH to calculate the statewide affordable housing need rather than relying on municipal or regional calculations. Municipalities would submit housing elements to COAH detailing their current housing stock and potential for affordable housing development, and COAH would grant "substantive certification" to qualifying municipalities, shielding them from exclusionary zoning lawsuits. The bill would require COAH to develop fair share plans for each municipality based on the statewide need and establish a mediation process for disputes about these plans. This change would replace the current system where municipalities determine their own affordable housing obligations with a centralized statewide approach.