Sen. Paul Sarlo

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to reinstate the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test (ASVAB-AFQT) as an approved alternative test for high school graduation. It directly affects students in New Jersey public high schools who need to meet graduation proficiency requirements but haven't passed the standard state test. The key mechanism adds ASVAB-AFQT back to the list of substitute assessments (alongside options like SAT or ACT) that students can use to demonstrate required skills. The bill takes immediate effect, reversing a 2023 decision that had removed ASVAB-AFQT from the approved list.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey counties to use property tax revenue for debt payments without counting those payments toward the 2.5% annual limit on property tax increases. It amends existing law to explicitly include all debt service (such as bond payments) as an exception to the tax levy cap, removing this cost from the calculation that determines allowable tax hikes. The policy directly affects counties by giving them greater flexibility to fund outstanding bonds and loans without triggering the cap. This change simplifies budgeting for debt obligations while maintaining the overall tax increase limit for other spending.

Maddy summaryThe John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey establishes new protections for voters in racial, color, and language-minority groups. It requires that all voting policies be interpreted in favor of protecting voting rights and prohibits policies that burden these voters. The law creates a preclearance process for certain political subdivisions needing Attorney General approval before implementing voting changes. It also mandates language assistance for limited English proficient voters and establishes a New Jersey Voting and Elections Institute to maintain public voting data.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill extends the Transportation Trust Fund Authority's bond issuance capacity from $12 billion to $15.6 billion through 2029 and establishes an annual fee of $250 for zero emission vehicle owners starting July 1, 2024 (increasing by $10 annually to $290 by 2028). It also modifies the gas tax rate calculation to gradually increase annual revenue targets from $2.032 billion in 2025 to $2.366 billion in 2029. The fee revenues and adjusted gas tax collections will be credited to the Transportation Trust Fund to support transportation infrastructure projects, with the zero emission vehicle fees specifically going to the fund's capital reserves.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changes to New Jersey's transportation funding system. It revises how the state calculates the gas tax rate and establishes an annual fee for zero-emission vehicles (like electric cars). The fee would apply directly to owners of these vehicles, while the gas tax adjustment affects all drivers purchasing gasoline. These changes aim to generate revenue for transportation infrastructure projects without specifying particular projects or outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets minimum payment rates for ambulance services under New Jersey's Medicaid program. It requires $300 per emergency ambulance transport and $8.94 per loaded mile for ground ambulance services, with annual adjustments tied to Medicare rates. These changes directly affect ambulance providers serving Medicaid beneficiaries. The rates take effect July 1, 2024, and require state rule updates for implementation.

Maddy summaryS 2958 establishes a nine-member Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission within the Governor's Office to evaluate state rules, regulations, and executive orders. The commission, including representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches (such as the Chief Innovation Officer, business center director, environmental commissioner, and legislative leaders), will review all proposed or adopted regulations to assess their economic impact and determine if costs to businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh benefits. It must hold annual public hearings, solicit public input, and submit an annual report with recommendations to the Governor for amending or repealing burdensome rules. The commission’s findings are advisory only and cannot be used for legal challenges against state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 83) creates a bipartisan task force to review New Jersey's state laws, regulations, and executive orders. The task force will assess whether these rules impose excessive costs on businesses, workers, schools, and local governments compared to their intended benefits. It must hold public hearings, gather input from affected groups, and submit annual reports with recommendations to repeal, amend, or rescind burdensome regulations. The resolution focuses on improving economic efficiency through systematic regulatory review, without proposing specific policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's rules for how much counties can increase their annual tax levies. It sets a new limit of 2.5% or the cost-of-living adjustment (whichever is lower) on county tax increases, applying to all counties and their constituent municipalities. Exceptions allow counties to exceed this limit for specific needs like capital projects (e.g., building roads), debt payments, emergencies (like natural disasters), or federal/state matching funds. The change clarifies existing rules to prevent counties from exceeding the cap except for these legally defined purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey municipalities to transfer dormant alcohol retail licenses to other towns within designated redevelopment or revitalization zones (like urban enterprise zones or downtown areas). It requires 90-day public notice before transfers, limits municipalities to one transfer per year, and mandates that transferred licenses stay permanently within revitalization areas. The law aims to repurpose unused licenses for economic development without increasing overall license caps.