Maddy summaryNew Jersey's "Design Professional Self-Certification Act" (A4360, now law as P.L.2024, c.58) creates a program allowing licensed architects and professional engineers to self-certify that certain construction projects comply with building codes. It directly affects qualified design professionals who can now submit construction permit applications with self-certification forms for eligible projects (like renovations under specific size limits for residential or commercial buildings), bypassing full code reviews by local agencies. Local building departments must then conduct a simple "supervisory check" to confirm all required documents are present and issue permits - same as before - within 1-5 days. This applies only to projects not excluded (e.g., structural alterations requiring special inspections, new kitchens, or electrical upgrades over 400 amps), with the Department of Community Affairs setting qualification rules.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to purchase retirement credit for prior service as a class two special law enforcement officer with a public employer in the state. To qualify, the member must have worked in that role and then started a PFRS-covered position within 120 days of ending that service. Members can purchase up to 10 years of credit by paying the cost, calculated based on their salary and an actuarial factor, with current members having one year from the bill's effective date to apply. This change aligns the process for purchasing such credit with existing rules for federal or military service.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates an independent "Office of the Learning Loss Czar" within New Jersey's Department of Education to address pandemic-related learning gaps. The office will identify effective educational strategies (especially for students of color, low-income students, and students with disabilities), build a public resource bank of these tools, and provide school districts with technical assistance, grant support, and partnerships to implement solutions. It does not create new funding but coordinates existing resources and research. The Learning Loss Czar, appointed by the Governor, will lead this effort while operating independently from the Department of Education. The bill directly affects all New Jersey public school districts and students impacted by pandemic learning disruptions.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to fund conservation and recreation projects through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection. The funds will be distributed as grants to 11 nonprofit organizations for land acquisition, 4 for park development, and 2 for stewardship activities across multiple counties. The $9,588,905 allocated for projects supports the acquisition, development, and maintenance of lands for public recreation and conservation purposes, while $479,000 covers administrative costs for the DEP. The funding comes from the Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund, which constitutionally sets aside CBT revenues for open space preservation.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill revises property tax lien foreclosure procedures to align with a recent Supreme Court ruling requiring property owners to retain equity beyond unpaid taxes. It allows property owners to protect remaining property equity by requesting a judicial sale (like mortgage foreclosures) or online auction through the county sheriff within 45 days of receiving foreclosure notice. If owners don't make this request, lien holders (municipalities or private investors) can take full property title without conducting a sale. Lien holders must clearly inform property owners about this option in bold text with foreclosure notices. The bill ensures any surplus funds from a sale would go to the property owner after lien holders are paid.
Maddy summaryThe bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $53,883,706 in low-interest loans for 14 specific transportation infrastructure projects in Fiscal Year 2025. These projects include bridge replacements, road improvements, and pedestrian safety initiatives in cities and counties across New Jersey, such as Bayonne's E. 25th Street Pedestrian Bridge Replacement and Atlantic County's Rte. 629 Pedestrian & Traffic Signal Improvement Project. The loans will be provided to local government units (municipalities and counties) and can be repaid over up to 31 years, with interest rates tied to the bank's bond rates. The program expires on July 1, 2025, and is limited to the specific projects outlined in the legislation.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program to include wages and salaries paid to workers not subject to New Jersey's gross income tax due to reciprocity agreements with other states. It expands the definitions of "qualified film production expenses" and "qualified digital media content production expenses" to cover these payments, including compensation paid to workers from states like Pennsylvania with which New Jersey has reciprocal tax agreements. The bill also updates the definition of "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include workers whose wages aren't subject to New Jersey tax due to reciprocity agreements. The changes apply retroactively to January 1, 2024, allowing taxpayers who haven't used their tax credit certificates to receive revised certificates under the new rules.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $65 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to purchase specific properties from New Jersey Transit (NJT). The EDA must buy these properties at appraised "highest and best use" value and can develop, lease, or sell them for commercial or residential use to maximize economic potential. NJT retains a 33% share of proceeds from any future sale or lease of these properties. The EDA must notify the Joint Budget Oversight Committee before purchasing or developing the properties, requiring a joint presentation with NJT about the transaction terms.
Maddy summaryThis bill phases out New Jersey's sales tax exemption for zero-emission vehicles (EVs) in two steps: a temporary 3.3125% tax applies to EV sales from October 2024 through June 2025, then the standard 6.625% sales tax applies starting July 2025. It also repeals the annual sales tax holiday for school supplies, computers, instructional materials, and sport/recreational equipment that previously exempted these items during a ten-day period each September. The bill directly affects EV buyers (who will pay tax instead of exemption) and retailers selling those specific school/sports items (who lose the tax holiday period). These changes implement policy adjustments proposed in the Governor’s 2025 budget.
Maddy summaryThis bill extends deadlines for submitting temporary certificates of occupancy for certain redevelopment projects under New Jersey's Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant program. Specifically, it pushes the deadline from June 30, 2026 to June 30, 2028 for mixed use parking projects and residential projects in Garden State Growth Zones with populations over 125,000 (excluding certain counties). The bill also modifies project cost definitions to include capitalized interest paid to third parties, debt service reserve funds, and up to 20% of total project costs for non-construction expenses. These changes apply to projects that were approved after specific dates and meet certain criteria related to municipal support and location.