Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2489 would permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) on lots with single-family homes, requiring municipalities to allow these second homes as long as they meet specific size and design standards (minimum 30% of the main home's floor area or 1,000 square feet, with independent living facilities including sleeping, cooking, and sanitation spaces). The bill prohibits municipalities from requiring passageways between units, more than one parking space for ADUs, familial relationships between occupants, or separate utility billing, while allowing local governments to opt out with a two-thirds vote and public hearing. It also specifies that ADUs built after January 1, 2022, would count as studio apartments toward municipalities' affordable housing requirements, and clarifies that ADUs shouldn't be considered new residential units for utility connection fees. This bill directly affects homeowners, developers, and municipalities in New Jersey by changing how accessory units can be developed and regulated.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (A3879) requires all emergency departments in New Jersey general hospitals and licensed satellite emergency departments to post visible signs and distribute pamphlets about the Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO). The Commissioner of Health, working with the Attorney General, must create clear, easy-to-understand materials listing VCCO services, contact details, and how to file a claim. These materials must be provided to individuals treated in emergency rooms following a crime. The law directly affects crime victims seeking compensation assistance after an emergency room visit. It takes effect four months after enactment.
Maddy summary# Summary This bill renames the Juvenile Justice Commission as the Youth Justice Commission and updates all statutory references from the "New Jersey Code of Juvenile Justice" to the "New Jersey Code of Youth Justice." The sponsor's intent is to better reflect the commission's mission to assist and rehabilitate court-involved youth and provide programs, support, and opportunities designed to help youth grow, thrive, and become independent, productive, and law-abiding citizens. The bill also includes numerous amendments to the laws governing the commission, including provisions related to mental health screening in juvenile detention facilities, room restriction policies, data collection requirements, education programs, and staffing standards.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who left school due to military service, including active duty in the Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve. Schools must reinstate these students with the same academic standing they held before their service interruption and grant readmission for the next available semester upon written request. The bill prohibits institutions from charging application or other fees for these readmission requests. It takes effect immediately, applying to the first full academic year after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A3791, the "New Jersey Online Foreclosure Sale Act") permits sheriffs and authorized officials to conduct foreclosure sales of real property through online auctions, replacing in-person sales. Key provisions require online sales to display bids publicly in real-time, cap vendor fees at $1,000 per sale (including a $50 processing fee), and mandate a non-electronic bidding option (e.g., paper bids). It affects homeowners facing foreclosure, lenders seeking recovery, and sheriffs managing sales by adding online sales as an authorized method while maintaining traditional notice requirements. The bill does not change foreclosure timelines but aims to increase bidder participation and potentially higher sale prices for debtors and creditors.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of seasonal rental units (like vacation homes rented for up to 125 days through platforms such as Airbnb) to inform prospective renters before booking if a pet is regularly present or will be present within two weeks of the stay. It directly protects renters with pet allergies or sensitivities by preventing unexpected exposure to pet-dander environments. If owners fail to disclose, renters can cancel their booking, leave within 12 hours of arrival, and receive a full refund of deposits or payments. The law takes effect January 1, 2025, and applies to all seasonal rentals excluding those for migrant or seasonal workers.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 3179 requires sports/entertainment facilities (over 5,000 seats), movie theaters (over 1,000 seats), and places of worship (now over 300 seats, down from 500) to submit annual electronic emergency plans to local law enforcement. The plans must include specific "emergency mapping data" like digital floor plans, aerial images, hazard locations, and access routes, formatted for public safety software systems. This replaces current requirements to submit paper copies of building layouts and explicitly excludes these plans from public record laws. The bill aims to improve law enforcement preparedness for mass casualty incidents at these venues by standardizing accessible emergency information.
Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the requirement for parents to pay past-due child support owed to New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) for children in its care. It specifically voids all existing child support arrears (over $3 million in 2023), related court judgments, liens, and warrants for these cases, making them unenforceable. The change aligns with a 2022 federal policy allowing states to reduce child support collection efforts for children in foster care, addressing that 90% of involved parents are indigent and collection costs often exceed amounts recovered. This directly affects parents legally responsible for children in DCPP custody, removing financial barriers to family reunification.
Maddy summaryS 3308 requires New Jersey electric utilities to accept and process interconnection applications for grid supply solar facilities up to 20 megawatts. Utilities must approve applications unless incomplete (with specific feedback provided) or unsafe (with modification suggestions), and must compensate approved facilities for electricity supplied in real time. Facilities must pay interconnection costs and comply with utility tariffs. This applies to commercial solar projects selling power to the grid, excluding net metered, on-site, or community solar installations. The bill streamlines grid access for mid-sized solar developers seeking to connect to the state’s electric system.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey telecom, cable, and internet providers to let customers pause or cancel service contracts without early termination fees when they move into a qualifying long-term care facility. It directly affects residents admitted to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, dementia care homes, or residential health care facilities for at least 90 days, as verified by a physician’s order or care plan. Providers must pause billing for a minimum 90 days upon admission, then cancel the contract if the resident remains in the facility beyond that period. The law mandates no fees for this pause/cancellation, though customers must provide physician documentation and typically give 45 days’ notice (or 48 hours in urgent cases).