Sen. Brian Stack

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey municipalities with rent control ordinances to file detailed compliance forms with local clerks and mandates that these records be made publicly available online. It establishes a new digital system managed by the Department of Community Affairs to store and search these records, while also providing grants to help towns digitize existing paperwork. To enforce these rules, the bill creates a rebuttable presumption that rent control applies if records are missing and imposes a $150 penalty for knowingly submitting false information. Additionally, the legislation appropriates $2 million to fund the creation of this online system and to assist municipalities with record digitization.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey to clearly disclose when their rental properties are exempt from local rent control limits. Owners must provide prospective tenants with a written statement and specific documents proving the exemption before signing a lease, and the lease itself must prominently display the exemption status and its expiration date. Additionally, the law mandates that owners file detailed claims with municipal officials and maintain a public online registry of exempt properties to improve transparency. These measures directly affect property owners of newly constructed buildings and the tenants who rent from them.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires county and municipal clerks to post an unofficial list of candidates who have submitted nominating petitions for primary elections. The clerks must publish these names on their official websites within five hours after the petition filing deadline passes. This change directly affects local election officials and voters by making candidate information available more quickly than under current rules. The law does not change the filing deadline itself but accelerates when the public can see who has officially entered the race.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands a sales and use tax exemption in New Jersey's urban enterprise zones to include large common interest communities. It directly affects condominiums, homeowner associations, and similar organizations with at least 1,000 units that own or control shared areas. Under the new provision, these communities can purchase up to $300,000 worth of materials, supplies, and services annually for building or maintaining their properties without paying sales tax, an increase from the previous $100,000 limit. The law applies to purchases made by the community itself or by contractors hired to perform improvements on the real property.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal framework for courts in New Jersey to evaluate whether rent increases on residential properties are unconscionable. It requires judges to consider multiple factors, such as the landlord's expenses, local market rates, the property's condition, and the relative bargaining power of the tenant and landlord. The legislation places the burden of proof on landlords to demonstrate that a rent increase is fair and not excessive. Additionally, if a court finds a violation, tenants may receive lease reformation, treble damages for overpayments, and a $2,000 civil penalty. The rules do not apply to properties already covered by local rent control ordinances or affordable housing programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a pilot program in New Jersey that allows some municipalities to let voters cast their ballots electronically during local elections. To participate, voters would use a secure system that lets them receive, mark, and return ballots online while maintaining strict data protection measures like encryption and identity verification. The state will hire a vendor to build this system, and local election officials will ensure there are backup plans in case the technology fails. The program is designed to run for eight years, with officials required to submit detailed reports on how well it works after each election.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. It requires these rates to match the average reimbursement for Day Habilitation Services (Tiers D and E) under the Division of Developmental Disabilities program, raising payments from $3.65 to $9.09 per 15-minute service unit. The policy directly affects approved brain injury service providers and beneficiaries receiving structured day care for traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries. It expands existing Medicaid reimbursement rules, which previously only covered community residential services for brain injury care.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding for cancer research in New Jersey by directing $10 million in cigarette and tobacco tax revenues to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR), up from the current $1 million. It establishes a permanent, non-lapsing "Cancer Research Fund" in the state Treasury, ensuring these funds cannot be diverted to other state budgets. The fund must allocate at least $5 million annually to general cancer research and at least $5 million specifically to pediatric cancer research, with all spending requiring approval by the NJCCR. The State Treasurer manages the fund, and any interest earned is reinvested into the fund for ongoing research support.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the New Jersey Commissioner of Community Affairs to waive mandatory training course requirements for qualified candidates seeking positions on housing authorities or redevelopment agencies. Under the legislation, individuals serving as members or executive directors of these organizations could previously be required to complete specific coursework within a set timeframe or face resignation. The new provision gives the commissioner the discretion to approve or deny requests for these waivers based on an assessment of the candidate's relevant experience. This change applies to both current officials and future appointees, streamlining the qualification process for those with sufficient professional background.

Maddy summarySCR 16 proposes adding a new constitutional provision to New Jersey's state constitution explicitly prohibiting slavery and involuntary servitude in all circumstances, including as punishment for a crime. This would directly affect all residents, particularly incarcerated individuals who currently perform mandatory, low-paid labor in state prisons. The amendment would ban forcing anyone to work against their will for the state's benefit - even if compensated - but would not prohibit voluntary work programs for inmates. It requires voter approval via referendum after legislative passage, as the current constitution lacks any such prohibition.