Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $28.67 million in unused funds from New Jersey's 2003 and 1992 bond acts to provide low-interest loans for dam restoration and inland waters projects. The funds specifically support 13 projects under the 2003 bond act (e.g., $3 million for Mountain Creek Lake Dam repairs) and 4 projects under the 1992 bond act (e.g., $2.85 million for Lake Garrison Dam). These loans are available to private dam owners, lake associations, or local governments for repairing aging infrastructure and maintaining water systems. The funding comes from existing bond program savings, cancellations, and loan repayments - no new taxes or spending are required. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to disburse these funds for the listed projects only.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows specific New Jersey school districts facing state aid cuts or a 6% growth limit (as noted in the February 2025 state aid notice) to submit their 2025-2026 budgets after the state’s FY2026 budget is enacted. It applies only to districts where the aid reduction or eliminated growth exceeds their unused tax authority ("banked cap"). The Commissioner of Education must permit this delayed submission and adjust the budget calendar to a compressed timeline. The change is limited to the 2025-2026 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability retroactive to the date the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determined their total disability. It directly affects veterans who qualify under the law (e.g., those with paraplegia, blindness, or amputations) by requiring municipalities to refund property taxes paid since that determination date. The state must reimburse municipalities 102% of the refunded taxes to cover the cost of returning payments to veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a fee refund program for New Jersey businesses applying for state permits, licenses, or certifications. State agencies must submit detailed catalogs of their permit types, fees, and processing times to the Governor, who will then set recommended processing deadlines. If an agency exceeds these deadlines after receiving a complete application, it must refund the application fee (to the extent allowed by law), without affecting the application's outcome. The program applies to all state departments, boards, commissions, and authorities issuing such permits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5446) prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving electric or gas utility rate increases that would raise the average residential customer's annual bill by more than 2%. It directly affects residential utility customers across New Jersey by capping annual rate hikes. The key mechanism requires the BPU to reject any proposed rate increase projected to exceed this 2% annual limit on average residential bills. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of qualifying reusable carryout bags from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It defines a "reusable carryout bag" as one made from machine-washable materials (like polypropylene, cloth, or hemp), featuring stitched handles, and designed for multiple uses. The exemption applies to retailers selling these bags and consumers purchasing them, removing tax from such transactions. The law takes effect four months after enactment for all sales made after that date.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 181) formally recognizes the 150th anniversary of the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Festival in Hammonton, New Jersey, scheduled for July 16, 2025. The resolution honors the festival's origin in 1875 by Italian immigrants, its status as the oldest Italian-American festival in the U.S., and its role in celebrating cultural heritage. It does not create new laws or funding but symbolically acknowledges the event’s historical significance and its contribution to tourism and community identity in Hammonton. The resolution directs copies to the Hammonton mayor and the festival’s organizing society.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear timeframes for negotiating host community benefits between municipalities and solid waste facilities (sanitary landfills and transfer stations), requiring negotiations to be completed within 180 days (with possible 180-day extension) and mandating a 45-day public comment period on proposed agreements before submission to state agencies. It authorizes residents to petition state agencies (DEP or BPU) for benefit adjustments and gives these agencies authority to establish benefits if negotiations fail due to bad faith or lack of agreement. The bill aims to increase transparency and public input in the negotiation process while ensuring municipalities receive fair compensation for hosting waste facilities. It directly affects municipalities, waste facility operators, and residents in communities with solid waste facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric transmission facility owners in New Jersey (including utility companies) to join FERC-approved transmission entities and transfer control of their facilities to them. Transmission entities must meet specific standards, including separating transmission control from power generation, minimizing duplicate transmission charges ("rate pancaking"), ensuring fair grid access, and maintaining system reliability. The law applies immediately to all transmission owners operating in the state and mandates compliance through membership in entities meeting all nine specified operational criteria. It directly affects utility companies managing New Jersey's electricity transmission infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all teaching certification candidates who complete an approved educator preparation program to complete a youth mental health education course or online module starting with the 2027-2028 school year. It also mandates that out-of-state teaching certificate holders or those with a certificate of eligibility complete a state-developed online module within one year of the bill's effective date. The Department of Education must create an online module covering youth mental health dangers, safe classroom strategies, and cultural competence considerations. Educator preparation programs must update their curricula to include this training and submit revisions for approval. Candidates who completed comparable mental health training within the past five years may apply for an exemption.