Asm. Greg Myhre

Maddy summaryThis bill (A260) excludes certain military reenlistment and voluntary extension bonuses from New Jersey's gross income tax. It directly affects active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces who receive these specific bonuses while serving. The key provision amends New Jersey tax code (N.J.S.54A:6-7) to add subsection (d), explicitly excluding such bonuses from taxable income. The change applies immediately to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment. This is a tax code adjustment, not a new benefit or program.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish the New Jersey Animal Abuser Registry, requiring individuals convicted of animal abuse offenses to register with law enforcement. Registered offenders must provide personal information, verify their address annually, and report changes in residence or employment. The registry would make certain information publicly available online for offenders deemed to have a moderate or high risk of re-offense, while restricting access for low-risk offenders. The registry aims to protect public safety by providing information about animal abusers to law enforcement and the public, based on research linking animal abuse to potential violence against humans.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1273) would require all New Jersey employers to verify new employees' work authorization using the federal E-Verify program before hiring. Employers with 100+ staff must comply by December 31, 2020; smaller employers must comply by December 31, 2021. It prohibits knowingly or intentionally employing unauthorized aliens, with penalties including civil fines ($100-$1,000 per violation) and potential business license suspensions for repeated violations. The law also mandates random state audits for compliance and requires employers to terminate unauthorized employees upon court order, with probation periods and quarterly reporting for first offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises the rules for determining the "base year" used to calculate homestead property tax reimbursements after a qualifying resident relocates within New Jersey. It eliminates the requirement for eligible claimants (seniors or disabled homeowners meeting income thresholds) to wait an additional tax year after moving to a new homestead to qualify for reimbursement. Instead, they can immediately qualify following relocation, with the reimbursement based on property taxes from the year prior to moving into the new home. The change applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and does not affect the base year calculation for new construction properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2.9 billion in state funding to ensure school districts receive aid equal to their "adequacy budget" as determined under New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act. It requires districts that receive increased state aid to reduce their property tax levies by the same amount, with specific provisions for districts where property taxes exceed 5% of district income. The bill also provides additional aid to districts that experienced funding cuts between 2018-2023 and repeals certain laws that contributed to reduced state aid and higher property taxes. The policy aims to align school funding with constitutional requirements for a "thorough and efficient" education system while reducing property tax burdens on residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New Jersey's 9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund distributes money. It explicitly allows the fund to cover costs incurred by counties and municipalities for 9-1-1 services - including training, operating expenses, and equipment - expanding current eligibility. The bill also adds a prioritization rule: funds must first go to county, regionalized, or large centralized 9-1-1 centers before other local providers. This ensures critical 9-1-1 operations receive funding first, without creating new taxes or spending.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill 5390 requires hotels, motels, rooming houses, boarding houses, and similar lodging facilities to verify guests' identities by physically checking or scanning a valid government-issued ID card at check-in. Acceptable forms of identification include driver's licenses, passports, state ID cards, and REAL IDs. The bill also mandates that these businesses maintain a register containing each guest's name, residence, arrival and departure dates, and room number for at least one year after the guest leaves.