Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1737 prohibits real estate sellers from requiring buyers to pay the realty transfer fee that state law already mandates sellers pay. The bill directly affects home sellers and buyers in real estate transactions, ensuring sellers cannot shift this financial responsibility through contracts. If a seller violates this rule, buyers can sue for a refund of the fee paid, $1,000 in damages, and their legal costs. The bill reinforces existing law (P.L.1968, c.49) by explicitly banning the transfer of fee liability to buyers, which is currently common in some contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to study challenges faced by service members returning from deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, including those in the New Jersey National Guard. The task force, composed of state agency leaders and five public members with relevant expertise (such as mental health support or veteran homelessness), will hold public hearings statewide and review current programs affecting veterans' physical, mental, and social well-being. It must issue a final report with recommendations - including potential legislation - within six months of organizing, with the task force dissolving 30 days after the report is submitted. The bill does not enact new laws but creates a structured process to identify solutions for veterans' needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's property tax law to require that spent nuclear fuel stored at decommissioned nuclear power plants be taxed as business personal property. Currently, such fuel is exempt from property taxes under state law. The change would obligate owners of decommissioned nuclear facilities to pay annual property taxes on the spent fuel, which is now classified as taxable business property. This directly affects nuclear energy companies operating or managing decommissioned plants in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 28) urges the federal government to approve oil and natural gas pipelines within the U.S., including those previously denied or shut down (like the Keystone XL Pipeline, revoked by President Biden in 2021). It argues that approving such pipelines would enhance U.S. energy independence, reduce reliance on foreign energy sources (e.g., from Russia or Venezuela), and lower fuel costs while creating jobs. The resolution directs copies to federal leaders but does not create new law or directly affect residents. It focuses on advocating for pipeline approvals as a policy action, not on implementing specific regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires candidates for any elective public office in New Jersey to disclose at the time of filing their nomination petition whether they have been convicted of a criminal offense. If convicted, they must provide specific details including the offense type, dates, conviction date, penalties (like fines or jail time), and involved parties - either in a signed statement or via an official document. The disclosure applies to all candidates, including those on multi-candidate petitions, and covers convictions under New Jersey law or in any other U.S. jurisdiction or country. It does not disqualify candidates but mandates transparency about criminal history at the initial filing stage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a formal process for the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs to recover overpayments of Superstorm Sandy disaster relief funds (from the RREM and LMI programs) from affected homeowners. It requires the department to send detailed "Notices of Over-Disbursement" explaining the debt, repayment options (lump sum or flexible 60-month payment plans), and appeal rights. Low-to-moderate income homeowners unable to pay may request debt compromise based on income, assets, and living expenses, with decisions considering hardship factors. The bill also sets a 3-year limit for recovery actions and appropriates General Fund money to cover administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide a discounted fee for senior citizens (65 and older) on New Jersey resident trapping licenses. Currently, seniors receive discounted fees for resident fishing, firearm hunting, and bow hunting licenses, but trapping licenses lacked a similar discount. The bill would reduce the fee for a senior resident trapping license from $31.50 to $16.50, plus a $1 issuance fee. This change applies specifically to New Jersey residents aged 65 or older who purchase a trapping license for activities like fur management or wildlife control.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program to surviving spouses who would otherwise be ineligible. It allows a surviving spouse to claim a pro-rata reimbursement for the number of days the deceased spouse lived during the tax year (including the date of death), even if the surviving spouse doesn't meet the full eligibility requirements. Currently, surviving spouses cannot claim any reimbursement if they don't qualify themselves, but this bill creates a partial claim based on the deceased spouse's living period. The change applies to claims filed for tax years where the deceased spouse was eligible but the surviving spouse is not.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's parking law to allow disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to use designated disability parking spaces by displaying their valid disabled veteran or Purple Heart license plate or placard. It directly affects veterans and Purple Heart recipients who hold these specific plates issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The key provision removes the requirement for these individuals to obtain a separate disability identification card or additional special plates to park in disability zones. The change takes immediate effect and ensures they can access these parking spaces using only their existing veteran or Purple Heart credentials.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's driving under the influence (DUI) law to prohibit operating a vehicle while impaired by any substance that affects driving ability, not just alcohol or specific drugs. It requires drivers to submit to evaluations by certified drug recognition experts when requested by police to determine impairment from any substance, similar to current requirements for alcohol testing. Drivers who refuse these evaluations would face license suspension penalties matching those for refusing alcohol tests: 7 months for a first refusal, 2 years for a second, and 10 years for a third or subsequent refusal. The bill does not change penalties for actual impairment but broadens the definition of what constitutes DUI.