Maddy summaryS 115 creates a three-year pilot program in Ocean County to transfer responsibility for nonpublic school student transportation from school districts to a local consortium of nonpublic schools. The program provides funding directly to this consortium (at $1,000 per student) to cover required transportation for pupils attending participating nonpublic schools, replacing the school districts' obligation under existing law. If transportation costs exceed the $1,000 amount, parents receive the difference directly from the consortium. School districts in Ocean County may no longer offer "courtesy busing" to students in the consortium, and any unspent funds must be refunded to the state. This applies only to Ocean County nonpublic schools currently requiring district-provided transportation.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for New Jersey employers who hire immediate family members (spouse, child, or parent) of military members killed in action. Employers receive a 10% credit on qualified wages paid to these new hires, capped at $1,200 per family member per tax year, provided the employee works full-time for at least nine consecutive months. The credit is nonrefundable but can be carried forward for up to 20 years, and employers cannot combine it with other state tax credits for the same wages. It applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, effective for tax years starting after the bill's enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public meetings of New Jersey's State Board of Education to be accessible both in person and virtually. It mandates that the Board provide a publicly available virtual meeting link on its website and allows members of the public to submit comments remotely during sessions that accept public input. The law directly affects the State Board of Education in how it conducts meetings and the public who attend or comment on education policy discussions. These changes ensure broader public participation by removing physical attendance barriers for meetings about education policy.
Maddy summaryS 105 requires New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to develop training materials and an online tutorial for law enforcement officers on interacting with pregnant women in labor or preparing for delivery during traffic stops. The training covers efficiently reviewing required documents (like licenses and insurance), assessing when to request emergency responders, and preparing for childbirth emergencies. This applies to all state, county, municipal, and campus police departments in New Jersey. The bill mandates the training be made available for officer use and takes effect four months after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $250 annual state income tax credit for homeowners within 1,000 feet of Barnegat Bay and its tributaries who replace grass lawns with stone, crushed shells, or similar non-maintenance materials. Property owners who already made this change before the bill's effective date also qualify for the credit. The credit aims to reduce chemical runoff from lawns - like fertilizers and pesticides - that flow into the bay, addressing a key factor in the bay's environmental degradation. It applies to taxable years starting January 1 after the bill takes effect, with tax credit rules to be established by the Division of Taxation.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's transportation funding law to specifically exclude passenger and freight rail projects from using revenue generated by increases in the petroleum products gross receipts tax (established by P.L.2016, c.57). It prevents state funds from this tax source from being allocated to any rail-related transportation projects, including passenger rail service or freight rail service. The change directly affects rail project funding by restricting the use of this specific tax revenue stream. The amendment is part of a broader update to the Special Transportation Fund rules, ensuring rail projects cannot access this particular tax revenue.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes fourth or subsequent drunk driving convictions a criminal offense (third degree) instead of a traffic violation, imposing fines up to $15,000 and 3-5 years in prison. It mandates a 10-year driver’s license suspension for repeat offenders, extending to 20 years if the offense occurs near schools (e.g., on school property, within 1,000 feet, or at school crosswalks). Additionally, offenders must complete alcohol education programs, mental health evaluations, and pay a $100 fee to fund these services.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 122) requires all motor vehicles in New Jersey to have mufflers and exhaust systems that do not amplify noise beyond the original factory level. It directly affects vehicle owners, auto repair shops, and mechanics who install or modify exhaust systems. The bill bans modifications that increase noise and adds noise inspections to standard vehicle safety checks during annual inspections. Violations carry fines up to $500, and the law applies to most registered vehicles except motorcycles, historic vehicles, and those over 8,500 pounds.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies New Jersey's criminal law around accessing password-protected electronic communications, such as emails stored online. It makes it a crime (fourth degree) to access such communications without knowing the password or having express consent from at least one party, even if the device was left unlogged. For commercial gain or malicious intent, the crime escalates to third degree, carrying harsher penalties (up to 5 years in prison). The law explicitly states that leaving a device unlogged does not create implied consent for others to access the communications.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 59) repeals the supplemental realty transfer fee established by P.L.2003, c.113 (C.46:15-7.1). It eliminates a graduated fee on real estate transfers - $0.25 per $500 for sales under $150,000, $0.85 for $150k-$200k, and $1.40 for amounts over $200k - that counties retained $0.25 of per $500 while remitting the rest to the state. The fee applied to most property transfers, including an additional $1.00 per $500 for new construction sales. This change directly affects buyers and sellers in real estate transactions subject to this fee.