Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State Treasurer to sell two parcels of surplus state-owned property at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility in Clinton Township, Hunterdon County. Site A (about 10 acres) will be sold to Waste Management of New Jersey for $3.4 million "as is," with the buyer assuming all environmental responsibilities. Site B (about 17.8 acres plus an access easement) will be sold to Hunterdon County for $1, with the county solely responsible for environmental compliance. The sales require no further legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program. It lowers the base credit rate for most film producers from 35% to 30% of eligible production costs, while adding a new requirement that digital media credits (up to 40%) must be earned by spending on vendors primarily located in specific New Jersey counties. The bill also adjusts digital media credit rules to exclude qualified wage payments from eligible expenses and requires producers to include "Filmed in New Jersey" credits in final film credits. These changes directly affect film and digital content producers seeking tax credits under the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program. For film productions, it reduces the tax credit rate from 35% to 30% for eligible expenses incurred outside a specific New York City area (within 30 miles of 8th Ave/Central Park West), while maintaining the 60% New Jersey spending requirement. For digital media, it increases the credit rate to 35% for producers using vendors primarily located in seven specified counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Mercer, or Salem), with unchanged requirements for $2 million in New Jersey spending and 50% NJ wages. The changes directly affect film and digital media producers seeking tax credits under the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill phases in smaller employer coverage under New Jersey's family leave law by reducing the employee threshold from 30 to 5 employees over two years. Starting immediately, employers with 20+ employees must follow the law; one year later, the threshold drops to 10 employees; and after two years, all employers with 5+ employees must provide reinstatement rights after family leave. It directly affects workers at small businesses (5-20 employees) who previously had no legal right to return to their jobs after taking family leave. The law ensures these employees cannot be retaliated against for taking leave, aligning small business coverage with existing protections for larger employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes the New Jersey Council of County Colleges by requiring it to develop a biennial strategic plan for county colleges, serve as the primary advisor to the Governor, Legislature, and state agencies on college-related matters, and create a performance-based formula for distributing state operational funding. The Council will now lead statewide initiatives focused on student success, academic innovation, and workforce training while improving data sharing to help colleges, students, and employers make informed decisions. It also expands the Council's role in facilitating capital funding requests for county colleges and building partnerships with employers to align education programs with workforce needs. These changes aim to strengthen coordination and equity across New Jersey's community college system.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S3280 prevents colleges and universities from withholding student transcripts due to unpaid fees of $2,000 or less for non-mandatory charges (like campus activity fees or parking). It requires institutions to provide transcripts for transfers, graduate school applications, or job-related purposes (including internships and certifications) regardless of small outstanding debts, and prohibits charging extra fees or using transcripts as a debt collection tool. Institutions may still condition transcripts on repayment plans for unpaid tuition, room/board, or fees exceeding $2,000. The bill also protects students needing transcripts to apply for or refinance student loans and treats violations as consumer fraud under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey higher education and proprietary institutions from withholding student transcripts due to debts under $2,000 for non-mandatory charges (like activity fees). It requires institutions to release transcripts for transfer, graduate programs, or employment purposes regardless of such small debts, but allows them to require repayment plans for larger debts (over $2,000) or mandatory fees (tuition, room/board). Institutions cannot charge extra fees for transcripts or use transcript issuance to collect debt. Students needing transcripts for new or refinanced student loans cannot have their transcripts restricted. The law applies only to students residing in the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows wineries with plenary, farm, or out-of-state winery licenses to sell wine by the glass for on-premises consumption in their licensed salesrooms. Currently, these wineries could only sell wine in original packages, but this amendment adds the option to serve individual portions of wine (or wine mixed with nonalcoholic beverages) in open containers. The bill defines "by the glass" as selling an individual portion in an open container, which must be consumed on the premises. This change applies to wineries that already hold the appropriate licenses under New Jersey's alcohol licensing system and does not alter existing licensing requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill modernizes the New Jersey Council of County Colleges' role by expanding its responsibilities. It requires the Council to develop a biennial strategic plan for county colleges, serve as the primary advisory body to state agencies on college-related matters, and create a performance-based funding formula for state aid (capping operational support at 43% of colleges' base-year costs). The Council must also enhance data sharing, coordinate statewide academic initiatives, and build partnerships with employers to align programs with workforce needs. These changes directly affect all 19 New Jersey county colleges and their funding mechanisms, while strengthening the Council's role in guiding state higher education policy.

Maddy summaryBill A5258 allows plenary winery license holders, out-of-state winery license holders, and farm winery license holders to sell wine by the glass for on-premises consumption in their licensed salesrooms. The bill defines "by the glass" as selling individual portions of wine (or wine mixed with nonalcoholic beverages) in open containers. This change expands the sales options available to these wineries, permitting them to serve wine by the glass in their salesrooms without requiring customers to purchase full bottles. The bill modifies existing licensing provisions without changing the fees or other requirements for these winery licenses. The sponsor states this will provide additional purchase options for consumers and increase revenue for winery license holders.