Sen. Owen Henry

Maddy summaryThis bill allows disabled veterans in New Jersey to claim a $5,000 deduction from their gross income for service animal expenses not already covered by medical expense deductions. It directly affects disabled veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-connected disability recognized by the U.S. Veterans Administration. Key provisions include deducting costs for purchasing, training, and maintaining service animals (such as food, grooming, and veterinary care), with "service animal" defined per the federal Americans with Disabilities Act. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning January 1, 2024, and requires taxpayers to submit proof to the Division of Taxation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school boards to publicly post specific financial information on their websites. Boards must summarize payroll, total accounts payable, and weekly accounts payable, plus provide a user-friendly breakdown of major spending categories and vendors selected through competitive bidding. The information must be placed prominently and in a format approved by the state education commissioner. This aims to increase transparency around school district spending without altering how funds are managed.

Maddy summaryThe "Stop Antisemitism on College Campuses Act" (S 3340) would withhold New Jersey state funding from colleges and universities that support antisemitic events or organizations, fail to enforce anti-harassment policies, or do not appropriately punish antisemitic behavior. It defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 working definition and requires institutions to address such incidents through academic, professional, or legal consequences. This law directly affects all New Jersey institutions of higher education receiving state aid, including public and private colleges. The bill aims to ensure campuses uphold safety for Jewish students, faculty, and staff by linking state funding to compliance with these standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds $500,000 in supplemental funding from the state General Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the Jersey Fresh marketing program. It directly supports New Jersey farmers by increasing their ability to promote locally grown produce to consumers through the Jersey Fresh brand. The key provision replaces the state's use of federal Specialty Crops Block Grant funds for this program, freeing up to $500,000 in federal funds for additional farmer support. This increases total available funding for the program beyond its current $100,000 annual allocation. The funding supports the state's long-running initiative to connect consumers with local agricultural products.

Maddy summaryBill S 3273 requires courts to order defendants convicted of reckless vehicular homicide while driving under the influence to pay financial support for minor children who lost a parent or guardian in the incident. The court sets the payment amount based on the child's needs, the surviving parent's resources, education, living standards, and other relevant factors, with payments required until the child turns 18 (or graduates high school, whichever is later) or until age 21 for children with disabilities, but for a minimum of five years. Payments are made to the court clerk, who forwards them to the surviving parent within 10 business days, and the obligation accrues during incarceration with a one-year repayment period after release. Any unpaid balance at the end of the support period must be paid in full.

Maddy summaryThis resolution condemns Rutgers University for accepting eight of ten demands made by student protesters during an April 2024 encampment on campus. The protesters had demanded actions including divesting from companies supporting Israel, ending partnerships with Tel Aviv University, and adopting a pro-ceasefire statement. The New Jersey Senate resolution states Rutgers' acceptance of these demands, which included anti-Israel actions and anti-Semitic rhetoric, created a hostile environment for Jewish students and staff. The resolution is addressed to Rutgers' leadership and serves as a formal expression of disapproval.

Maddy summarySCR 104 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the New Jersey Senate condemning hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing the religion's global significance and Hindu Americans' contributions to society. The resolution defines hinduphobia as "antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes" toward Hinduism and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes. Copies will be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's Congress members, and the Hindu American Foundation. It has no legal effect beyond expressing the state's stance.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores state school aid for certain New Jersey school districts that faced funding reductions in the 2023-2024 school year and would face further cuts in 2024-2025. It shifts $64.9 million from existing appropriations and adds $145.2 million in new funding from the General Fund, totaling $210.1 million to cover the difference between prior aid levels and proposed 2024-2025 amounts. The funding specifically targets districts that received Supplemental Stabilization Aid under prior law (P.L.2023, c.32) or have a positive "State aid differential" under P.L.2018, c.67. This ensures affected districts receive aid equal to their 2023-2024 funding level, preventing further reductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow online newspapers to be used for publishing required public notices and advertisements, which previously only permitted print newspapers. It maintains existing requirements such as being published in New Jersey, in English, with at least 35% news content, and having been published continuously in the municipality for two years. The bill removes the previous requirement that newspapers must be registered as second-class mail with the U.S. Postal Service. As a result, state and local governments can now choose qualified online newspapers to fulfill public notice obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey businesses with a tax credit for hiring workers who lost jobs due to automation. Companies headquartered in New Jersey can claim a credit equal to 10% of wages paid to eligible employees (capped at $2,500 per employee), provided they retain those workers for at least seven months. To qualify, the worker must have had prior employment terminated by automation, defined as systems replacing human labor without continuous human input. The credit applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, reducing tax liability but not below zero.