Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey grant program to help small businesses in low-income communities that suffer economic harm from prolonged state infrastructure or construction projects. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) must establish the "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" to award grants based on actual or projected revenue loss, using a $750,000 state appropriation. Eligible businesses must be independently owned, employ fewer than 100 people, be located in a municipality with under 10,000 residents and a poverty rate over 7.5%, and have experienced losses due to state or public entity projects. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis as applications are submitted, with the EDA administering the program and fund.
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Maddy summaryS 4146 requires New Jersey driver education programs, the driver's manual, and written knowledge examinations to include specific information about drivers' responsibilities when approaching and passing pedestrians, cyclists, and people using personal conveyances. The bill mandates that this information cover safe passing practices, recognizing bicycle lanes, navigating intersections safely, and the penalties for failing to comply with these responsibilities. This affects all new drivers in New Jersey, including those under 18 who are learning to drive, as well as driver education instructors and the Motor Vehicle Commission. The bill does not change existing traffic laws but requires this content to be included in all driver education materials. The goal is to improve road safety by ensuring new drivers understand their obligations toward vulnerable road users.
Maddy summaryS 4255 modifies New Jersey's Cultural Arts Incentives Program by expanding eligibility to include entities with any cultural arts component in their mission, allowing limited pre-application construction for environmental work and repairs, and changing the application process to a rolling basis. The bill eliminates the Community-Anchored Development Program (established in P.L.2020, c.156, sections 43-53) and removes a provision allowing tax credits for operating reserves. It also revises tax credit certificate usage rules, permitting transferees to use credits in the tax period issued or the next three years, with unused credits expiring after five years. These changes affect cultural arts institutions seeking tax credits and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority administering the program.
Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a $25 application fee for patients or healthcare providers appealing health insurance denials, reductions, or terminations of benefits. It directly affects New Jersey residents covered by health insurance plans who dispute carrier decisions after completing their insurer's internal appeals process. The key provision removes the fee requirement from the existing Independent Health Care Appeals Program, making the process more accessible without altering the program's structure. The change applies to all appeals reviewed under this state program, streamlining access to independent review. (3 sentences)
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year School Supervisor Mentorship Pilot Program to support new school supervisors in their first year of leadership. It directly affects "novice supervisors" - certified individuals newly assigned to oversee teaching staff - in public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools statewide. The program requires the Commissioner of Education to partner with a nonprofit to provide each participant with at least 15 hours of mentoring and additional professional development over one school year, while ensuring geographic and demographic diversity in participant selection. The state appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund to cover program costs, and the Commissioner must report to the Governor and Legislature on the program's effectiveness and recommendations for continuation after the pilot ends.
Maddy summaryThis bill redirects $2 million in fiscal year 2025 state funding currently allocated to Hudson County for asbestos remediation at the Old Courthouse to the City of Jersey City. The Old Courthouse (Hudson County Administration Building) is located in Jersey City, and the bill corrects the current allocation by changing the recipient from Hudson County to Jersey City in the appropriations act. The key provision amends the state budget line item to specify "City of Jersey City" as the recipient for the asbestos remediation project at that specific location. This is a procedural funding reallocation with no new policy changes or requirements.
Maddy summary# Summary of New Jersey Film and Digital Media Tax Credit Program Bill This bill significantly amends New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program (the "Garden State Film and Digital Media Jobs Act") with several key changes: ## Program Extension - Extends the program's availability until July 1, 2049 (10 years longer than current law) ## Increased Tax Credit Rates - Increases tax credits for New Jersey studio partners from 35% to 40% of qualified film production expenses when incurred at specified locations - Adds a new 4.5% promotional credit for qualifying film productions ## New Incentives - Creates a new 4.5% tax credit for television series that relocated to New Jersey (defined as scripted series with at least 6 episodes, $2.5M average production budget per episode, with all prior seasons filmed outside NJ) - For qualifying TV series, the promotional credit can increase to 9% if four specific promotional criteria are met ## New Definitions and Requirements - Replaces "independent post-production company" with "qualified post-production company" - Expands definition of "film" to include certain ongoing TV productions that relocated to NJ - Amends definition of "highly compensated individual" to remove distinctions between studio partners and others (now $750,000 threshold for all taxpayers) - Adds script costs to qualified film production expenses for studio partners and film-lease production companies ## Enhanced Diversity and Promotion Requirements - Requires diversity plans to focus on hiring from economically disadvantaged areas, distressed municipalities, or federal land (instead of focusing on minority persons and women) - Creates a new promotional credit requiring at least 2 of 8 specific criteria (including social media posts, location videos, promotional logos, etc.) - For TV series that relocated to NJ, requires 4 promotional criteria to qualify for the higher 9% credit ## Credit Availability and Recapture - Increases maximum cumulative awards for New Jersey studio partners from $150 million to $300 million - Reduces additional discretionary awards from $400 million to $250 million - Limits recapture of tax credits to the initial recipient (not the purchaser/assignee of tax credit transfer certificates) - Allows exceptions to recapture when failure to occupy facility is outside the company's control ## Other Key Changes - Extends deadline for submitting supplemental reports on deferred compensation from 2 to 4 years after production concludes - Allows deferred compensation payments made directly to labor unions to be included in qualified film production expenses - Requires the director to purchase unused tax credits for the film program at 95% of value (previously not required) - Expands the applicability of transferred tax credits to include insurance premium tax liability The bill aims to strengthen New Jersey's film industry by providing more generous incentives for production, encouraging relocation of TV series, and promoting local economic development.
Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) from $50 to $140 for low-income residents in nursing homes, state psychiatric hospitals, and state developmental centers. The allowance is intended for personal expenses like phone calls, meals, clothing, and hobbies, allowing residents greater autonomy over basic needs. The new amount will be adjusted annually by the same percentage as the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment, starting January 1 of the year following enactment.
Maddy summarySenate Resolution 135 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the New Jersey Senate to express support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). It directly addresses the 850,000 New Jersey residents - nearly 9% of the state's population - who rely on SNAP benefits, including vulnerable groups like children, seniors, disabled individuals, and veterans. The resolution condemns federal budget proposals (approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on May 22, 2025) that would cut $300 billion in SNAP funding over ten years, calling such cuts "unconscionable" for endangering food security. It urges the U.S. Senate to reject these funding reductions and maintain SNAP as a critical resource for food-insecure households.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's official Juneteenth Day holiday to be observed on June 19th each year, instead of the third Friday in June. It amends state statutes governing public holidays for state government employees and public business operations. The change aligns New Jersey's observance with the federal Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday. This affects state government offices and employees, who will observe the holiday on June 19th rather than the third Friday of June.