Maddy summaryS 2650 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to provide school districts with preliminary funding notices by December 1st each year for the following school year, detailing minimum and maximum state aid amounts, adequacy budgets, and projected local funding rates. It mandates the creation of a public "New Jersey Education Funding Portal" to make these funding details accessible online. The bill directly affects all public school districts by changing when they receive critical budget planning information - shifting from current timelines to an earlier December notice period starting with the 2026-2027 school year. Key mechanisms include standardized annual notifications about aid calculations and the new portal, streamlining how districts access and use funding data for budget planning. This is a procedural change to school funding transparency, not a modification of funding formulas or amounts.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of "child" under New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) and State Police Retirement System (SPRS). It adds two specific scenarios: children aged 18+ enrolled in at least 12 credit hours per semester at a college or university, and children of any age with a documented disability preventing substantial gainful work for 12+ months. These changes directly affect the children of retired or deceased police officers and firefighters who previously might not have qualified for benefits under the old definition. The bill modifies eligibility criteria for retirement benefits but does not change benefit amounts or other system mechanics.
Maddy summaryS 1817 prohibits recording or using certain service agreements related to residential real estate that bind future owners, allow unconsented assignment, or create liens. It specifically bans agreements where services extend beyond one year, purport to run with the land, or create property security interests. Property owners can sue to void such agreements and recover damages if recorded, while recording officers may refuse to accept them. Exemptions include home warranties, HOA maintenance agreements, mortgages, and utility contracts. The bill aims to prevent deceptive agreements from burdening future property owners through public records.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans by adding mental illness as a qualifying service-connected disability. It allows veterans with a 100% service-connected disability rating (including mental illness) to receive a tax exemption proportional to their disability percentage. The bill also extends this exemption to surviving spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners who own the veteran's home and continue to live there after the veteran's death. These changes update existing law to broaden eligibility while maintaining the current system of tax relief based on the veteran's documented disability rating.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to create special license plates honoring Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Vehicle owners who apply pay a one-time $50 fee and an annual $10 fee, with these funds deposited into a dedicated "Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta License Plate Fund." The fund supports the mission and programs of both organizations through annual appropriations, after covering administrative costs. The license plate design is selected in consultation with the organizations' leadership, and the program requires no state funds for initial implementation.
Maddy summaryS 2599 requires companies, research facilities, and institutions using cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing, research, or educational purposes in New Jersey to assess each animal for adoption suitability after testing ends and offer it to rescue organizations or private individuals if suitable. These entities must register with the state health department, report animal details (like type, number, and adoption status), and document efforts to place animals for adoption. Noncompliance results in civil penalties of up to $50,000 for repeated violations, with a third offense potentially leading to a court-ordered ban on animal testing. The bill establishes clear reporting procedures and enforcement mechanisms to ensure animals used in testing have adoption opportunities.
Maddy summaryThis bill legalizes personal cultivation and possession of marijuana plants for adults aged 21 or older in New Jersey. It allows individuals to grow and possess up to six marijuana plants for recreational use (with a maximum of 12 plants per household), and qualifying medical patients or their designated caregivers to grow and possess up to 10 plants for medical use (also capped at 12 plants per household). The bill amends criminal law to remove penalties for these specific amounts, making such activity not a crime, offense, or civil violation. It applies only to personal use and does not authorize commercial sales or cultivation beyond these limits.
Maddy summaryS 1789 protects New Jersey financial institutions and insurers that serve legal cannabis businesses from state penalties. It allows banks, credit unions, and insurers to provide services (like loans, deposits, or insurance) to "legitimate cannabis-related businesses" (such as dispensaries or cultivators operating under state law) without facing action from the Department of Banking and Insurance. The bill requires these institutions to follow general financial regulations, consumer protection laws, and any additional state or federal requirements applicable to their services. This does not override federal law but shields state-regulated entities from state penalties for working with legal cannabis operations. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Commerce Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1781) increases New Jersey's exclusion for capital gains tax on sales of primary residences. It doubles the maximum exclusion amount: from $250,000 to $500,000 for single homeowners, and from $500,000 to $1,000,000 for married couples filing jointly. To qualify, homeowners must have owned and lived in the home as their primary residence for at least two of the past five years. The change directly affects New Jersey residents selling their primary homes who meet the ownership and use requirements. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1998, c.3) to reflect these updated exclusion limits.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a single online pre-application system for New Jersey residents to apply for multiple affordable and senior housing options at once, including rental, for-sale, and temporary housing. It consolidates applications for 10 state and federal housing subsidy programs - such as Section 8 vouchers, rental assistance, and homelessness prevention programs - into one streamlined platform. The system serves only as an initial pre-eligibility check for waitlists, not a final approval, and allows users to select specific locations like municipalities or counties. It directly affects low-income residents, seniors, and individuals seeking housing assistance by simplifying access to multiple housing resources. The New Jersey Housing Agency must implement this by updating its website and adopting necessary rules.