Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) and New Jersey Transit (NJT) to study and report on transportation infrastructure needs in six coastal counties: Monmouth, Ocean, Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem. The study must examine repairs to existing roads and bridges, potential new infrastructure, evacuation planning for emergencies, traffic congestion solutions, estimated costs, and federal funding availability. DOT and NJT must submit a written report to legislative committees within six months, detailing findings and recommendations. The bill does not fund projects but mandates a review to inform future decisions about coastal transportation infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special "Community and Navigational Waterways Restorative and Maintenance Dredging Account" that will receive $5 million annually from state sales tax revenues. It directs the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to use these funds exclusively for dredging waterways outside the New York-New Jersey port region, including waterways providing boat access to coastal residential areas (even if not officially designated as navigational waters). At least 25% of the funds must be allocated to maintaining these residential access waterways. The DEP must annually update a prioritized list of eligible projects based on community input and report funding details to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes free hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses, as well as free admission to New Jersey State parks and forests, for specific military-affiliated individuals. It directly affects active-duty service members (regardless of residency if stationed in NJ), members of NJ National Guard units, organized reserve members stationed in NJ, disabled veterans, and retired NJ National Guard members. The bill expands current law by adding free park access for disabled veterans (previously only covered for licenses) and removes residency requirements for active-duty personnel. It amends existing statutes to implement these benefits through statutory updates to license fees and park admission rules.

Maddy summaryBreann's Law (A1763) requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program, and NJ FamilyCare to provide out-of-network coverage for children with catastrophic illnesses. The law defines catastrophic illness as an acute or prolonged life-threatening condition or one with risk of serious disability. Coverage must be provided to the same extent as in-network care when services are performed after a referral from an in-network provider. This applies to children diagnosed with such illnesses under applicable health insurance plans, directly affecting families seeking critical medical care. Named after Breann LaManna, a New Jersey child denied out-of-network coverage for a life-threatening illness, the law aims to remove financial barriers to necessary medical services.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the payment start date for annual compensation to surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans. Currently, payments begin from the date the spouse applies, which can be years after the veteran's death. The bill amends state law to make payments begin automatically from the veteran's death date instead, regardless of when the spouse files their application. This applies to spouses of veterans who were blinded or severely disabled due to wartime service (including WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam conflicts), ensuring they receive back payments for the time between the veteran's death and their application.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for state fuel taxes paid on motor fuel used for personal vehicle operation. It directly affects individual taxpayers (including single filers and married couples) who pay New Jersey motor fuel taxes for non-business vehicle use. The deduction is capped at $1,000 for 2020 and $2,000 annually thereafter, and excludes amounts reimbursed by employers or already deductible elsewhere. Taxpayers can claim this deduction when filing their NJ income tax return, reducing their taxable income by the eligible fuel tax amount paid.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Invest in New Jersey First Act," requires state agencies and local governments to give preference to New Jersey-based businesses that employ state residents when awarding contracts for critical infrastructure projects (such as roads, water systems, or school buildings) funded by the state. It defines "critical infrastructure" as projects promoted by the state as necessary for economic recovery during downturns. The Department of the Treasury will create rules to identify eligible businesses and set limits on the preference, though the preference won't take effect until these rules are finalized. The bill aims to boost local hiring and economic activity through state-funded infrastructure spending.

Maddy summaryBill A1738 exempts small businesses from needing to maintain a registered apprenticeship program when bidding on New Jersey state public works projects. It defines "small business" as an employer with 10 or fewer employees on most workdays for at least 48 weeks in the previous year (or during all weeks for newly established businesses). This change directly affects small contractors seeking government contracts, removing a requirement currently applied to all contractors under the Public Works Contractor Registration Act. The bill modifies existing law to create this exemption without altering other registration requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds the Vietnam Veterans of America to New Jersey's existing law granting paid leave for public employees to attend conventions of recognized veteran organizations. It specifically allows state, county, and municipal employees who are authorized representatives of the Vietnam Veterans of America to take up to five days of paid leave annually for convention attendance, with unused days not carrying over. The law already covered numerous other veteran groups (like the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans), and this bill also removes two defunct organizations from the list. The change applies immediately to all eligible public employees across New Jersey's government sectors.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey shore municipalities to adopt local ordinances providing free or reduced-cost beach access for the spouse and dependent children (over age 12) of qualifying veterans. It expands current law - which already offers similar access to active military personnel and National Guard members - to include veterans who served at least 90 days in active duty or were discharged due to a service-connected injury or disability. Municipalities would track usage of this benefit but are not required to implement it. The policy change directly affects veterans' families and applies only to beaches managed by shore municipalities under existing beach access regulations.