Maddy summaryThis bill allows winery license holders who produce no more than 250,000 gallons of wine annually to sell their wine to other wineries within New Jersey or to wineries outside the state, following the purchasing winery's regulations. It also establishes a new "supplemental wine production facility sublicense" that permits these wineries to produce wine at facilities they own or lease, separate from their main winery location. Wine sold to other wineries doesn't count toward the seller's annual production total but does count toward the buyer's total for fee calculations and eligibility. The sublicense requires a $750 fee and prohibits retail sales at the supplemental facility. This change provides wineries with more flexibility in production and distribution while maintaining New Jersey's wine production regulations.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 4758 increases penalties for reckless vehicular homicide when the driver was intoxicated and the incident occurred in a highway construction zone or a designated safe corridor. Currently, such crimes are typically a second-degree offense (with possible downgrade), but this bill adds construction zones and safe corridors to the list of locations that elevate the charge to first degree - previously, only school zones triggered this upgrade. A first-degree conviction carries 10-20 years in prison, a fine up to $200,000, or both, plus a driver’s license suspension of 5 years to life. The bill specifically targets incidents involving drivers violating New Jersey’s DUI laws (R.S. 39:4-50) in these high-risk areas.
Maddy summaryS 4833 establishes a new Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program within New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to address safety and environmental risks from abandoned mines. The bill requires the DOT to develop a statewide reclamation plan mapping all abandoned mines, identifying the most dangerous sites (like those threatening infrastructure or water quality), and creating a ranked list of projects to stabilize or reclaim them. The program will fund reclamation projects through a dedicated "Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program Fund," using federal grants, state appropriations, or private donations, and may implement projects directly, contract with private firms, or provide grants to local governments or property owners. Property owners must be notified before DOT access is required for reclamation work, and all entries will be treated as a state police power action - not condemnation - without requiring property owners to pay for the work.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1067) requires the state's Department of Human Services to conduct a landscape analysis of mental health services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing residents. It mandates that mental health services be provided in a client's primary communication method (like sign language or speech), delivered by professionals certified in that method and trained in culturally appropriate care for the deaf community. The bill also requires the creation of a resource guide listing providers meeting these standards and defines key terms like "culturally affirmative mental health services." It directly affects deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking mental health care across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryS 4290 allows registered businesses in New Jersey to opt for email notifications instead of paper mail for new regulations and economic incentives affecting their operations. It applies to all business entities (excluding nonprofits and government agencies) required to register with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. Businesses can provide an email address during registration or renewal, after which the Division will send updates electronically and stop paper communications. They may later switch back to paper by submitting a request to the Division. The bill requires the Division to coordinate these notifications with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $34 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to fund farmland preservation. It provides counties with base grants ($500,000-$1 million) and eligibility for competitive grants (up to $7.5 million per county) to cover up to 80% of costs for acquiring development easements - conservation agreements that permanently protect farmland from development. The funds target specific counties and municipalities approved for farmland preservation projects under existing state law. The bill redirects existing constitutionally dedicated CBT revenues (approved by voters in 2014) to the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund, with no new tax revenue required.
Maddy summaryThis bill modifies eligibility rules for New Jersey's state small business set-aside program, which helps direct state contracts to qualifying small businesses. It changes how gross revenue is calculated for eligibility: businesses must now use a five-year average (instead of three years) of revenue, with specific formulas for newer businesses or those with short fiscal years. The bill also clarifies that employee count requirements apply only to businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard. These changes directly affect businesses seeking state contracts under the set-aside program.
Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3631, creates enrollment flexibility for military-connected students in New Jersey public schools. It directly affects students who are dependents of active-duty military personnel, veterans, National Guard members, military retirees, or civilian military employees (including school staff working near military installations). Key provisions require school districts to waive residency requirements for enrollment, grant enrollment preference to military-connected students, protect them from discrimination in admissions, and guarantee admission to any school under district agreements if military orders document a temporary transfer over 30 days. Parents or guardians can choose to keep children in their original district during relocation or enroll them in new districts, with special provisions for 11th graders and schools with low performance ratings.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A5049) removes a current restriction that allows the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members if they are involved in pending civil lawsuits related to their employment. It specifically prohibits the PFRS Board from delaying benefits due to such civil litigation, though it maintains the ability to withhold benefits for members facing criminal charges or administrative dismissal. The bill requires the Board to adjust benefits after any legal case concludes, rather than holding payments indefinitely during litigation. This change directly affects current and future PFRS members who are involved in employment-related civil disputes.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A4603) allows commercial farmers in New Jersey to recover reasonable legal costs and attorney fees when defending against complaints they win under the "Right to Farm Act." It directly affects farmers who successfully prove a complaint was filed in bad faith and that their farming activity met the Act's legal standards. Key provisions require farmers to apply to their county agriculture board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), which must then determine if the complaint was filed in bad faith (by a preponderance of evidence) and if the costs/fees are reasonable before ordering the complainant to pay. The change provides a specific remedy for farmers facing frivolous legal challenges, strengthening existing protections under the Act.