Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a voluntary resume bank for New Jersey residents with disabilities seeking appointments to state boards, commissions, authorities, or similar entities. It requires the Governor to maintain an online system where individuals can submit resumes, contact details, disability-related information, and preferred appointment types. The resume bank will be confidential and accessible only to state agencies and the Legislature, not the public. This policy directly affects people with disabilities who wish to serve on state-appointed bodies, aiming to streamline their access to these opportunities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Summer Termination Program" that prevents utility disconnections for eligible residential customers during extreme heat. It prohibits local authorities, municipal utilities, rural electric cooperatives, and public utilities from cutting off electric, water, or sewer service if a 72-hour heat forecast shows temperatures reaching or exceeding 85°F for 24+ hours. Eligibility includes customers receiving assistance under the existing Winter Termination Program or those facing financial hardship due to unemployment, illness, medical expenses, or family emergencies. The program requires departments to establish a self-certification process for customers claiming hardship, ensuring service continuity during dangerous heat events.

Maddy summaryS4503 allows New Jersey individual taxpayers to deduct capital gains from selling qualified small business stock (QSBS) held for over five years from their state gross income. The deduction amount depends on the percentage of the company's payroll attributable to New Jersey: up to $10 million (or 10x the stock's adjusted basis) if 80%+ payroll is in-state, or up to $8 million (or 8x the basis) otherwise. To qualify, the stock must be in a C corporation meeting strict criteria (under $50M assets, fewer than 225 employees, active business operations in non-excluded sectors like services or farming), and held for five years. This deduction is modeled after federal tax treatment but applies specifically to New Jersey income tax.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey individual taxpayers to deduct certain capital gains from selling qualified small business stock held for more than five years. It applies to stock in C corporations that meet specific requirements, including having no more than $50 million in assets at issuance, using at least 80% of assets in active qualified businesses (not service industries like law or finance), and having 80% of payroll in New Jersey. The deduction is limited to the greater of $10 million (reduced by prior years' deductions) or ten times the stock's adjusted basis. The bill aims to encourage investment in New Jersey-based small businesses by reducing capital gains tax on qualifying stock sales after a five-year holding period.

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 (SJR 167) is a symbolic resolution passed by the New Jersey Senate and Assembly recognizing Sanskrit as a world language. It cites Sanskrit's historical significance as an ancient proto-Indo-European language (over 3,500 years old), its influence on 97% of global languages, and its cultural importance in Hindu traditions and literature. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any individuals or groups; it is purely a formal acknowledgment. It directs copies to be sent to Samskrita Bharati New Jersey, a cultural organization. The bill has no binding effect on policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes new privacy protections for consumers' health data. It requires businesses (called "regulated entities") that collect health information to get explicit consent from consumers before collecting, sharing, or selling that data. Consumers gain new rights to see what health data is collected, withdraw consent, and request deletion of their data. The bill also prohibits businesses from using location tracking (geofencing) around health care facilities to collect health data. Certain entities like government agencies and healthcare providers already covered by federal laws like HIPAA are exempt from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill permits municipalities to allow single exit stairwells in new residential buildings classified as "Group R-2" (residential buildings with more than two permanent dwelling units) that are six stories or shorter. It requires that non-residential first-floor uses (like retail) must be non-hazardous, served by separate entrances, and approved by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. The change applies only to new development applications submitted after the bill's effective date, not to existing buildings. The Commissioner must also create and publish a model ordinance to help municipalities implement this rule.

Maddy summaryS 4638 establishes a three-year pilot program for Integrated Domestic Violence Courts in Camden, Essex, Hudson, and Middlesex counties. These courts would combine domestic violence cases with related family, custody, and criminal matters under one judge, using the "one family, one judge" approach to provide integrated services to victims. The program requires judges to have specialized knowledge of domestic violence law and would provide resource coordinators, victim advocates, and social workers. The Administrative Office of the Courts would monitor the program and report to the legislature on its effectiveness after 12 months and at the program's conclusion.