Sen. Jim Holzapfel

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 499) provides tax credits to employers who hire immediate family members (spouses, children, or parents) of U.S. military personnel killed in action. Employers receive a credit equal to 10% of qualified wages paid to these new hires, capped at $1,200 per family member per tax year, for full-time employment lasting at least nine consecutive months. The credits are nonrefundable but can be carried forward for up to 20 years, and employers cannot claim both this credit and other state employment tax incentives for the same wages. The bill applies to corporation business tax and gross income tax, effective for tax years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's school funding formula to include the value of certain tax-exempt properties (like religious or government buildings) when calculating a school district's "equalized valuation" for state aid. It directly affects all New Jersey public school districts by changing how their taxable property base is measured for state funding calculations. The key change adds exempt property values to the valuation used to determine each district's share of state school aid. This is a technical adjustment to the existing funding formula, not a new program or policy. The bill was introduced in January 2024 and refers to existing state law (P.L.2007, c.260).

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1491) reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to members of New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees in these systems by ensuring their benefits automatically increase each year to match inflation, without requiring new legislative action each time. The key mechanism is restoring a provision that had been removed, so benefits rise automatically based on the Consumer Price Index rather than relying on annual budget decisions. This change provides predictable income stability for retirees as living costs change. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 725) criminalizes squatting by creating three new offenses: "housebreaking" (forcibly entering vacant dwellings without permission to occupy), "unlawful occupancy" (taking up residence without permission), and "unlawful reentry" (returning to property after being evicted by court order). It presumes occupants know they lack permission unless they provide a notarized written rental agreement with the owner's current contact details. The law affects individuals occupying vacant properties without owner consent, making these acts fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. Currently, squatting isn't a criminal offense in New Jersey, requiring owners to seek court-ordered evictions instead.

Maddy summaryS 1608 removes specific date and location requirements for New Jersey veterans to qualify for civil service and pension benefits. Currently, veterans must prove service during defined conflicts (like WWII or Vietnam) with exact dates and minimum service periods. This bill broadens eligibility by replacing those restrictions with a simpler standard: any veteran honorably discharged from federal active military service. It directly affects all New Jersey veterans who served in any conflict, regardless of when or where they served, making it easier to access benefits. The bill is pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee after introduction on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates October 1 of each year as "New Jersey Diner Day" to commemorate the state's cultural and economic connection to diners. It recognizes New Jersey as home to approximately 525 diners - the most in any U.S. state - and highlights their historical significance as affordable, 24-hour dining destinations for commuters between New York City and Philadelphia. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance through awareness activities. It is a ceremonial measure with no new legal requirements or funding impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents reductions in state school funding for specific New Jersey school districts. It protects districts in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean counties (classified as fifth or sixth class) if their property value assessments fall below 2012-2013 levels. The law ensures these districts receive at least the same total state aid they received in the 2017-2018 school year, excluding preschool, special education, school choice, and debt service funds. The measure specifically targets districts still recovering from Superstorm Sandy's property damage.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's legislature passed SCR 15 to request Congress call a state-led convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution. The convention would propose constitutional amendments to limit federal spending, reduce federal government power over states, and impose term limits on federal officials and members of Congress. This is a continuing application, meaning New Jersey's request remains active until at least two-thirds of states join the same effort. The bill itself does not change laws but seeks to initiate a process for potential constitutional amendments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 58) provides property tax exemptions for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. It allows veterans with a 30% or higher disability rating (including specific conditions like blindness, amputations, or paralysis) to receive a tax exemption proportional to their disability percentage, up to 100%. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans or those who died in service also qualify for similar exemptions under defined conditions. Crucially, the bill requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the lost tax revenue from these exemptions, ensuring local governments aren’t financially burdened. The policy directly affects honorably discharged veterans with qualifying disabilities and their surviving spouses.

Maddy summaryThis bill's title mentions "plenary winery licenses," but the provided text actually revises **brewery license** requirements (specifically Class A "plenary brewery" licenses), not winery licenses. It modifies the acreage/production limits for breweries, changing the fee structure for plenary brewery licenses based on annual barrel production (e.g., $10,625 fee for up to 300,000 barrels). The bill does not directly affect wineries or wine production, as it exclusively addresses malt alcoholic beverage breweries. This is a procedural amendment to existing licensing rules, not a substantive policy change affecting consumers or new businesses. (Note: The bill title appears inconsistent with its actual content.)