Sen. Jim Holzapfel

Maddy summaryS 443 exempts senior citizens, blind persons, and disabled persons from certain real estate transfer fees when buying or selling one- or two-family residential properties. It removes the State portion of the basic transfer fee and the general purpose fee for sales by these individuals, and exempts the transfer fee for purchases by them. The exemption for sales requires the property to be owned and occupied by the seller (with no joint ownership by non-exempt parties, except for spouses). The bill amends two existing laws to implement these changes and is pending in the Senate.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 466) modifies New Jersey's eminent domain law to ensure beachfront property owners receive fair compensation when their land is taken for dune construction or beach replenishment projects. It requires that compensation include the increased property value from added safety and protection provided by the dunes or replenished beach, rather than just the value lost from the condemned portion. The bill also clarifies that public access rights gained through these projects cannot be used to reduce the overall property value for compensation purposes. These changes apply immediately to all ongoing cases and aim to better reflect the true economic impact on property owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to maintain and display an online list of all registered ticket brokers on its website. It directly affects ticket brokers, who must register with the division to operate, and consumers, who gain access to verify brokers' legitimacy. The key provision mandates the division to update and publicly post the list within 120 days of receiving registration applications. This change replaces a prior "may" with a "shall" requirement, ensuring transparency in the ticket industry. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summarySCR 18 is a New Jersey concurrent resolution urging the federal government not to ban natural gas-powered appliances in homes and businesses. It specifically asks Congress and the President to avoid restricting appliances like cooktops, ovens, furnaces, and water heaters. The resolution cites New Jersey data showing 73% of households use natural gas for heating and 69% for cooking, alongside national statistics on widespread gas appliance use. As a non-binding resolution, it expresses the state's position but does not create new law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 504) would require the state to pay business owners just compensation for losses caused by mandatory closures during public health emergencies (like the 2020 pandemic). Owners could claim lost income during or after a closure or compensation if the business permanently closes due to the order. To qualify, owners must prove their losses were directly caused by the emergency order and provide evidence of the compensation amount. Claims must be filed within one year of the emergency order ending, and the bill applies to emergencies starting January 1, 2020. The bill is pending in the Senate Commerce Committee.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 519) prohibits ticket resellers from selling tickets they do not currently possess, ending "tentative ticket" sales where resellers promise tickets they haven't secured. It requires resellers to provide full refunds - including all fees - if events are canceled or tickets fail to grant admission (e.g., counterfeit or canceled events). The bill also bans resellers from selling the same seat to multiple people and restricts the use of bots or fake identities to buy excessive tickets. These changes directly affect ticket resellers and consumers, aiming to prevent fraud and ensure fair access to events.

Maddy summaryS 654 clarifies New Jersey's pretrial release rules by creating a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with specific violent crimes must be detained before trial. It directly affects individuals facing charges like murder, life imprisonment offenses, first/second-degree violent crimes (e.g., under N.J.S.2C:43-7.2), domestic violence, or human trafficking involving minors. The bill requires courts to detain these defendants unless the defendant proves that conditions (like monetary bail or other restrictions) would reasonably ensure court appearance and community safety. It also mandates a detention hearing within three business days of a prosecutor's motion, with defendants entitled to legal representation and evidence presentation. This bill aims to standardize detention decisions for serious offenses while maintaining due process protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 834) expands New Jersey's riot and disorderly conduct laws. It makes rioting a more serious crime (third degree) when property is damaged or people are injured, and increases penalties for destroying public monuments during riots (now a fourth-degree crime). The bill also creates a new offense for promoting violent or disorderly assemblies and clarifies that refusing to disperse during public safety threats (like highway obstructions) is a punishable violation. These changes directly affect individuals participating in protests or riots, public safety officials enforcing dispersal orders, and communities protecting monuments.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents utilities from directly charging customers for infrastructure upgrades needed due to customer-led disaster mitigation projects. It requires customers who complete such projects (e.g., flood-proofing homes) to provide a contractor certification within 90 days to the utility and the Board of Public Utilities. Utilities cannot bill customers for these specific upgrade costs, but they may recover the expenses through standard rate increases shared by all customers. The bill applies to New Jersey public utilities and ensures costs from qualifying disaster-prevention work are handled through regulated rate mechanisms, not individual customer bills.

Maddy summaryBill S 1704 reinstates fines for underage possession or consumption of alcohol and cannabis in public places (like schools, parks, or vehicles), making it a "disorderly person offense" punishable by a minimum $500 fine for first-time violations. It directly affects individuals under the legal age for purchasing alcohol (21) or cannabis (21), who are caught possessing or consuming these substances in restricted areas. The bill establishes a tiered approach: first offenses receive written warnings (with parent notification if under 18), second offenses include community service referrals, and third or subsequent offenses trigger service referrals without fines. Crucially, refusing offered community services does not lead to further legal action.