Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3662) allows commercial farmers in New Jersey to recover reasonable legal costs and attorney fees when defending against complaints deemed filed in "bad faith" under the state's Right to Farm Act. It directly affects farmers who successfully prove their agricultural operations comply with state regulations and SADC guidelines (the "irrebuttable presumption"), and a county board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC) determines the complaint was filed without valid grounds. The key mechanism requires farmers to submit cost details to a county board or SADC; if they find the complaint was filed in bad faith (supported by a preponderance of evidence) and the costs are reasonable, the complainant must pay them. The bill does not alter the Right to Farm Act’s core protections but adds a fee-recovery process for frivolous complaints. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 3302 prohibits New Jersey employers from requiring employees to attend or listen to communications about political matters, such as political parties, elections, or joining political organizations. It expands the definition of "political matters" to include labor organizations and community activities, and mandates that employers post clear notices of employee rights in visible workplace areas. Employees who face violations can sue within 90 days for remedies like reinstatement, lost wages, or fines against employers (up to $5,000 per violation). The law aims to protect workers' freedom to focus on job duties without political pressure.
Maddy summaryS 4669 requires app stores operating in New Jersey to verify the age of users creating accounts. If a user is under 18 (defined as a "minor" in the bill), the app store must link the account to a parent account and obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing the minor to download apps, purchase apps, or make in-app purchases. The bill defines "verifiable parental consent" as authorization from an adult after clear disclosure about app content and data collection practices. App stores must protect age verification data using industry-standard security and notify parents of significant app changes affecting minors, with violations considered consumer fraud allowing legal action for damages up to $1,000 per violation.
Maddy summaryThis bill replaces New Jersey's current Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid program with a new Municipal Property Tax Relief Fund. The fund will be financed by taxes from energy utilities, telecommunications, and other sources, and distributed to all municipalities, ensuring no community receives less than it did in 2024 (or 2025 for those using a State fiscal year). Additional funds will be distributed based on population, median household income, property values, and other community factors. Municipalities can use excess funds to reduce local property tax levies. The bill also includes a provision to forgive certain corporate taxes if the state fails to appropriate funds as required.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3812) removes a restriction that allowed the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members due to ongoing civil lawsuits related to their employment. It directly affects current and future PFRS members (police officers and firefighters) who are involved in civil litigation over their jobs. The bill requires the PFRS Board to pay benefits immediately, but permits adjustments if a legal case later results in penalties. It maintains existing rules that allow withholding for criminal charges or administrative dismissals from public employment.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey to disclose lead water hazards to tenants before lease agreements. It mandates written disclosure statements for properties built before 1986 or served by lead service lines (or unknown pipe composition), including health risks and testing information. Landlords must provide educational materials about lead exposure risks, such as flushing water before use or certified filters, and cannot block replacement of lead pipes. The law excludes newer buildings (constructed after 1986) and seasonal rentals from disclosure requirements. It aims to protect tenants in residential units by increasing transparency about lead in drinking water systems.
Maddy summaryS 1297 requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create and issue digital versions of driver's licenses and non-driver identification cards accessible on mobile devices like smartphones. These digital cards must include all information from physical licenses and feature security measures to prevent fraud, while allowing users to update records (e.g., address changes) through the digital system - where digital updates override physical card details. Residents who meet standard licensing requirements can voluntarily request a digital card, for which the MVC may charge a fee. The bill mandates that the MVC ensure system security, integrity, and compliance with data protection standards for all digital card holders.
Maddy summaryS 4071 redirects $400 million in tax credits from the Community-Anchored Development Program and Cultural Arts Incentives Program to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA). The bill requires HMFA to conduct competitive tax credit auctions to sell these credits, with annual limits of $75 million and a minimum sale price of 85% of the credit value. Proceeds from these auctions must fund middle-income workforce housing developments, defined as housing for households earning 80-120% of the local median income, located near public transportation or job opportunities. This housing must be deed-restricted for these income-eligible households.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey grant program to help small businesses in low-income communities that suffer economic harm from prolonged state infrastructure or construction projects. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) must establish the "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" to award grants based on actual or projected revenue loss, using a $750,000 state appropriation. Eligible businesses must be independently owned, employ fewer than 100 people, be located in a municipality with under 10,000 residents and a poverty rate over 7.5%, and have experienced losses due to state or public entity projects. Grants will be awarded on a rolling basis as applications are submitted, with the EDA administering the program and fund.
Maddy summaryS 4407 establishes the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program, which provides tax credits to manufacturers and clean energy product manufacturers that make significant investments in New Jersey. To qualify, businesses must invest at least $10 million in capital projects, create at least 20 new full-time jobs with median salaries at least 120% of county manufacturing averages, and meet other program requirements. The tax credit amount equals the lesser of 0.1% of capital investment multiplied by new jobs, 25% of capital investment, or $150 million, with $100 million reserved exclusively for clean energy manufacturers during the first two years. Businesses must maintain project locations and job levels for the commitment period, with potential tax credit recapture if requirements aren't met.