Sen. Benjie Wimberly

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Equitable Outcomes in Child Support Collection Act," stops New Jersey from collecting past child support arrears for children in the care of the Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP). It voids all current and past court judgments, liens, and warrants related to unpaid child support obligations for maintenance costs incurred while a child was in DCPP custody. The law aligns with a 2022 federal policy change that discourages states from pursuing such collections due to high costs, low collection rates, and negative impacts on families. This directly affects legally responsible parents (typically parents) who previously faced penalties for unpaid child support in DCPP cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecom, cable, and internet providers in New Jersey to let customers cancel service contracts without early fees when moving to a long-term care facility for at least 90 days. It applies to individuals receiving a physician's referral or care plan for relocation to licensed facilities like nursing homes, assisted living, or dementia care homes. Customers must typically provide 45 days' notice (or 48 hours if a physician orders immediate relocation), and providers may request a physician's letter as proof. The bill does not relieve customers of equipment return fees or payments for equipment they already purchased.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2941 requires large sports/entertainment venues, movie theaters (over 1,000 seats), and places of worship (over 300 seats) to submit annual emergency plans to local law enforcement. The bill updates current law by mandating these plans include detailed digital "emergency mapping data" (like aerial building images, floor plans, hazardous material locations) in an electronic format compatible with public safety software. It lowers the required seating capacity for places of worship from 500 to 300 people and clarifies these plans are not public records. The goal is to improve law enforcement's preparedness for incidents at these venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric utilities to accept and process interconnection applications for grid supply solar facilities up to 20 megawatts in capacity. Utilities must approve applications unless they are incomplete (with feedback provided) or deemed unsafe (with modification recommendations), and facilities must pay interconnection costs while complying with utility tariffs. Approved facilities will be compensated in real-time for electricity supplied at the point of interconnection and remain eligible for state incentives with board approval. Utilities must also extend interconnection facilities at the applicant's cost to connect solar projects, following safety standards.

Maddy summary# Summary of New Jersey Aspire Program Act Amendments This bill amends and supplements the "New Jersey Aspire Program Act" (Aspire Program) and makes related changes to New Jersey's Gross Income Tax and Corporation Business Tax. ## Key Changes to the Aspire Program ### Program Definitions - Revised definition of "commercial project" to include warehouse/distribution centers - Amended "incentive area" definition to include endorsed plans (removing transportation requirements) - Defined "mixed-use project" as having residential and nonresidential components - Clarified that "project cost" applies to "total project cost" (replacing current "total development cost" definition) ### Residential Projects - Housing affordability controls now align with Fair Housing Act (excluding bedroom distribution requirements) - Residential tenants exempt from prevailing wage requirements for building services work ### Occupancy Requirement - Commercial projects must maintain at least 60% occupancy during eligibility period (residential projects exempt) - Tax credits forfeited if occupancy falls below 60%, restored upon return to 60%+ occupancy ### Eligibility Period - Reduced maximum duration from 15 years (commercial/mixed-use) to 10 years for all project types - Authority may establish shorter eligibility periods to enhance tax credit monetization ### Tax Credit Enhancements - Up to 10% increase for redevelopment of "stranded assets" (abandoned/vacant buildings) - Up to 5% increase for residential projects meeting three-bedroom distribution requirements - Up to 3% increase for meeting local first source hiring requirements - Total tax credits (with other programs) limited to: - 90% of project cost for LIHTC projects - 80% of project cost for all other projects ### Tax Credit Usage - Allows tax credits to be applied within three successive tax periods after receiving certificate - Permits transfer of tax credits to transferees who can use them within three successive tax periods ### Transformative Projects - Reduced commercial space requirement from 50,000 to 20,000 sq. ft. for residential projects with <700 units - Permits parking component to count toward square footage (subject to local requirements) - Requires entire parking component to count if project is in government restricted municipality ### Program Administration - Requires fees proportional to tax credit amount allowed - Establishes "Redevelopment Project Bridge Financing Program" for loans/guarantees to developers with financing gaps - Requires Department of Treasury to redeem unused tax credits (up to 10% discount) - Amends tax code to exclude gains from tax credit transfers from "entire net income" and "gross income" The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution expresses the New Jersey General Assembly's support for the "Breakfast Bowl," an annual football game between Montclair State University and Rowan University designed to raise awareness about food insecurity in New Jersey. The resolution recognizes the universities' existing food insecurity initiatives, including Montclair's Red Hawk Pantry and Rowan's SHOP food pantry, which provide fresh produce and food assistance to students and community members. The winner of the game will also determine whether New Jersey's signature breakfast meat is called "Pork Roll" or "Taylor Ham" until the next year's event.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) of the Office of Administrative Law within the Department of State to enroll in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) instead of the current Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). It mandates that ALJs currently enrolled in the DCRP be transferred to the Workers Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days of the bill's effective date, while those already in PERS will be moved into this specific part of the system. The bill also specifies that the unfunded liability for benefits provided by this transfer will be paid by appropriations from the State General Fund. This change makes PERS enrollment a condition of employment for ALJs, aligning their retirement system with that of Workers' Compensation Judges.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's affordable housing voucher program to cover homeownership costs, allowing low-income households to use state vouchers for down payments or monthly mortgage assistance instead of just rent. It specifically reserves funds for seniors aged 62+, veterans who completed the "Veterans Haven" program, and families participating in a self-sufficiency initiative. The program also creates a Home Repair Emergency Assistance Fund to cover necessary home repairs for participants. This change, now law as P.L.2024, c.98, directly affects eligible residents seeking homeownership support through the state's rental assistance framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey optometrists' scope of practice to include prescribing pharmaceutical agents (including controlled substances for eye conditions), administering immunizations for coronavirus, flu, and shingles (for patients 18+), and performing minor procedures like removing superficial foreign bodies, treating chalazions, and simple ophthalmologic treatments (e.g., trabeculoplasty) using topical anesthesia. It explicitly prohibits invasive eye surgery, orbital procedures, or general anesthesia. The law requires optometrists to report administered immunizations to the state's immunization registry and mandates they follow CDC guidelines for vaccine administration. This directly affects optometrists by broadening their clinical capabilities and patients by increasing access to certain eye care services within defined limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retailers from selling over-the-counter diet pills (for weight loss) or muscle-building dietary supplements to anyone under 18 without a parent or guardian present. It specifically excludes basic protein powders, drinks, and protein-fortified foods unless they contain additional muscle-building ingredients. Retailers violating this law face civil fines up to $750 per violation, collected by local health agencies or courts. The law does not apply to products prescribed by licensed healthcare providers.