Sen. Paul Moriarty

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey volunteer firefighters, first aid squad members, and rescue squad members who meet specific service and training requirements to claim a $2,000 deduction from their state gross income tax. To qualify, volunteers must complete either 10% of rescue duty (with EMS training or EMT certification) or 60% of fire duty (with Firefighter I certification), while serving the entire tax year. The exemption applies directly to qualifying volunteers who meet these thresholds, adding to existing state tax exemptions. It does not create new benefits but provides a concrete tax deduction for eligible volunteers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates "neutral safe exchange zones" at county sheriff offices for parents exchanging minor children under custody or visitation orders when domestic violence is involved. County sheriffs must designate parking areas with clear signage, 24/7 access, adequate lighting, and continuous video surveillance that records for 45 days. The bill requires courts to specify these zones for exchanges if there's a history of domestic violence or a restraining order, and prohibits requiring exchanges at other locations in these cases. It appropriates funds from the General Fund to cover the costs of establishing these safe exchange zones across all New Jersey counties.

Maddy summarySCR 82 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey's Legislature to create a law allowing municipalities to offer up to a 15% property tax exemption on the primary residence of volunteer fire and rescue members. Eligible individuals must be active members of a volunteer fire company or first aid/rescue squad serving the municipality where their home is located. Municipalities would need to pass their own ordinances to implement the exemption, which would reduce property taxes on a portion of the home's assessed value. The exemption would apply only to primary residences within the municipality and would not exceed 15% of the home's assessed value.

Maddy summarySCR 106 proposes a constitutional amendment to provide a property tax exemption for the primary residence of a surviving spouse whose first responder spouse (law enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical personnel) died while on duty. The exemption applies only to properties that were the primary residence of the deceased first responder at the time of death, requires the surviving spouse to continue living there as their primary home, and ends if the spouse remarries. The state would reimburse local taxing districts annually for the lost property tax revenue from these exempt properties. This change would affect surviving spouses of eligible New Jersey first responders who lose their partners in the line of duty.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires professional firefighters in New Jersey who are eligible for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) but not enrolled in it (due to waiving coverage) to receive regular cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after their employment begins. The screenings must cover 11 specific cancer types - including colon, lung, breast, and prostate - without any out-of-pocket costs for the firefighters. Public employers not participating in SHBP must provide these screenings and can be reimbursed by the state up to $1,250 per firefighter per three-year period. Similarly, employers participating in SHBP must cover screenings for firefighters who waive SHBP, with the same reimbursement eligibility up to $1,250 per firefighter.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $17 million in supplemental funding for Fiscal Year 2024 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide grants for lake management. The grants directly support qualified entities - including lake commissions (like Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong), local governments, and nonprofit organizations focused on publicly-accessible lakes - to cover costs for maintaining lakes used for recreation and conservation. Key provisions require the DEP to prioritize projects improving water quality, increasing recreational access, and controlling nutrients to prevent harmful algal blooms. This builds on a prior $10 million appropriation for similar lake management efforts in 2020-2021.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3223 removes the requirement that health sharing ministries must have operated continuously since December 31, 1999, allowing new organizations to form. It exempts members of these ministries from the state's health insurance mandate, meaning they no longer need to maintain coverage or pay related taxes. The bill requires ministries operating in New Jersey to publicly report detailed data - including participant numbers, fees collected, reimbursement rates, and denials - via their websites. Non-compliant ministries face penalties such as fines or legal action initiated by the Director of Consumer Affairs.

Maddy summaryS 3175 removes the requirement that public work contractors must participate in a registered apprenticeship program to bid on or perform construction projects covered by New Jersey's prevailing wage laws. The bill repeals a previous provision (P.L.2021, c.423, section 6) that mandated this participation. Instead, it establishes standards for apprenticeship programs that contractors may choose to use, requiring that any such program's training requirements meet or exceed U.S. Department of Labor standards. This change directly affects contractors bidding on or working on public construction projects subject to prevailing wage requirements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey S 3164 establishes a 11-member Reparations Task Force to study the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and systemic racial discrimination on Black communities in New Jersey. The task force, appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, will examine New Jersey's role in slavery, review current racial disparities in voting, housing, wealth, education, and youth justice, and develop recommendations for reparative policies. The task force will hold six public meetings across the state and issue an interim report within 12 months and a final report within 24 months. The bill creates a formal process for New Jersey to address its historical role in slavery and its lasting effects through research, community input, and policy recommendations.

Maddy summarySCR 104 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the New Jersey Senate condemning hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing the religion's global significance and Hindu Americans' contributions to society. The resolution defines hinduphobia as "antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes" toward Hinduism and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes. Copies will be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's Congress members, and the Hindu American Foundation. It has no legal effect beyond expressing the state's stance.