Maddy summaryS 2744 establishes the Main Street Assistance Program to provide financial and technical assistance to businesses in designated Main Street areas of small municipalities (population under 20,000 or under 11,000 if a county seat). To qualify, businesses must have at least 15% of full-time employees residing in the municipality, and the program offers tax credits equal to 15% of employee compensation expenses. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority administers the program, providing loans, loan guarantees, and technical assistance to eligible businesses and municipalities. The authority must report annually on program impact, including jobs created, capital investment, and participation rates. This initiative targets small municipalities that don't qualify for other state business assistance programs to stimulate economic growth in their commercial areas.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $50 million grant program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help small hospitality businesses prepare for cold weather. It provides reimbursement for purchasing barriers, blankets, heaters, and tents needed for outdoor operations during winter, targeting businesses like restaurants, bars, and breweries with 100 or fewer employees. Each eligible business can receive up to $10,000 in funding, with applications requiring EDA approval and proof of equipment use. The funds come from federal Coronavirus Relief Fund allocations, and businesses must report on how they used the grants.
Maddy summaryS 2741 bans the sale of products (including food, beverages, or items meant to be ingested or inhaled) that use advertisements linking to controlled drugs or drug analogs. It specifically prohibits such sales to anyone under 18 years old, regardless of product type. The law exempts prescription medications dispensed by pharmacists with a valid prescription. Violations could result in fines up to $20,000 per offense, cease-and-desist orders, and additional penalties under New Jersey's consumer fraud law.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Landfills, Brownfields, and Contaminated Sites Redevelopment Incentive Program, which provides tax incentives for developers who remediate and redevelop legacy landfills, brownfields, and contaminated sites within designated redevelopment zones. Approved developers receive a 50% exemption from sales and use tax, exemptions for certain retail sales of tangible personal property and services, and exemptions for energy and utility services under specific conditions. To qualify, developers must complete remediation and redevelopment within seven years (with possible three-year extension), comply with environmental standards, pay prevailing wages to workers, and submit regular progress reports to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority and Department of Environmental Protection. The program limits participation to up to five approved applications over a five-year period, with the EDA administering the program and requiring annual reporting on its implementation and benefits.
Maddy summaryS 2749 requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to maintain a continuous open enrollment period for pre-applications to the federal Housing Choice Voucher Program. This means renters seeking housing assistance through this program can submit their applications at any time, rather than during limited enrollment windows. The bill directly affects low-income renters applying for federal housing vouchers administered by the state. It mandates the DCA to keep the pre-application process open continuously, as permitted by federal law, to help applicants join the waiting list without time constraints.
Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Transit Villages Act encourages municipalities to develop compact, mixed-use communities centered around mass transit hubs within a half-mile radius. It requires municipalities to adopt transit village plan elements as amendments to their master plans, including provisions for shared parking, minimum density standards, mixed-use development, and improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities. Municipalities that establish transit villages will receive priority for state transportation funding, tax credits for developers, and expedited permitting, aiming to increase transit ridership, reduce automobile dependency, and provide more affordable housing options.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts owners of commercial farms from paying state permit and approval fees when repairing or rebuilding after a natural disaster. To qualify, farm owners must show the state agency that the permit or approval is needed for disaster-related damage, as defined under existing law. Within 90 days of the bill taking effect, state agencies must publish the application process online and share it with the Secretary of Agriculture, who will then distribute it to farmers after a disaster.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey Homebuyer Tax Credit Program that provides first-time homebuyers with a tax credit equal to 5% of the home purchase price or $15,000 (whichever is less), up to a total of $100 million. To qualify, applicants must be New Jersey residents with household income below $118,000 (for 1-2 people) or $135,000 (for 3+ people), purchase homes valued at $560,000 or less, and use the home as their primary residence for 36 consecutive months. The credit is applied over three tax years, and repayment is required if the home isn't used as a primary residence for the full period. The program allocates funds in $25 million increments for new and previously occupied homes across four time periods, with separate funding for new construction ($18.75 million) and previously occupied homes ($6.25 million) in each period.
Maddy summaryThis non-binding Senate Resolution (SR 76) urges the U.S. Secretary of State to restart Nigeria's designation as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) under U.S. religious freedom law and appoint a Special Envoy for Nigeria and the Lake Chad region. It references Nigeria's 2020 CPC status (later removed in 2021-2022) and cites documented religious violence, including over 5,000 Christian deaths in 2022 and attacks on religious sites. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests U.S. diplomatic action to address ongoing religious freedom violations in Nigeria. It directly concerns U.S. foreign policy toward Nigeria and the Lake Chad region, focusing on religious persecution.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows local governments in New Jersey to require businesses receiving economic development incentives exceeding $100,000 to enter into binding community benefits agreements. These agreements must include specific commitments like local hiring, fair wages, and contracting with local businesses, directly affecting developers and businesses receiving subsidies. The bill defines "economic development subsidies" broadly to include grants, tax credits, and loans, but excludes standard procurement contracts. It mandates that such agreements be negotiated as a condition for receiving larger subsidies, ensuring community-focused outcomes from public funding.