Sen. Carmen Amato

Maddy summarySCR 81 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. The deduction would rise to $1,000 in 2025, $1,500 in 2026, $2,000 in 2027, and $2,500 starting in 2028, remaining at that level annually thereafter. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses (who qualify after the veteran's death). The amendment would adjust the existing tax benefit without altering other eligibility rules or requiring new administrative processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide property tax rebates to New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities, allowing them to receive a rebate equal to their disability percentage (e.g., a 30% disability rating would get a 30% rebate on property taxes). It directly affects veterans who are honorably discharged, have a VA-rated disability, live in their primary residence (homestead), and have gross income under $200,000. The rebate is capped at $5,000 annually, with special provisions for renters (18% of rent counted as property taxes) and mobile home owners (18% of site fees counted as property taxes). Veterans with 100% disability are already exempt from property taxes and would not qualify for this rebate. Funding for the program would depend on annual legislative appropriations.

Maddy summaryThis bill 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 first aid/ambulance/rescue squad member) died while performing regular duties. The exemption applies only if the death resulted directly from duty (not willful negligence), the property was the deceased's primary residence at the time of death, and the surviving spouse continues to live there as their primary residence. The exemption ends if the surviving spouse remarries. It would require voter approval to become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides supplemental state funding to specific New Jersey school districts that received reduced allocations for special education, security, and transportation aid under recent state aid formulas. It ensures eligible districts receive the same amounts for these categorical aids as calculated under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act (P.L.2007, c.260), rather than the lower amounts under current law (P.L.2018, c.67). To qualify, districts must have experienced state aid cuts in both the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 school years while spending below adequacy. The funding is temporary and applies only to the 2024-2025 school year.

Maddy summaryS 2535 establishes a new minimum Medicaid reimbursement rate for structured day program services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries with brain injuries. The bill requires that these services be reimbursed at the average rate of $9.09 per 15 minutes (currently $3.65), aligning with reimbursement rates for similar services under the Division of Developmental Disabilities. This change directly affects approved brain injury service providers who deliver structured day programs to Medicaid beneficiaries. The policy applies to services provided on or after the bill's effective date, ensuring consistent reimbursement for brain injury care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of New Jersey to reimburse local governments - such as municipalities, counties, school districts, and fire districts - for property tax revenue they lose in the first year when a veteran (or eligible surviving spouse) is approved for a 100% service-connected disability property tax exemption. It directly affects veterans with qualifying disabilities (like paraplegia, total blindness, or amputations) and their surviving spouses, who currently qualify for property tax exemptions under existing law. The key mechanism mandates that tax collectors submit documentation - including exemption approval details and uncollected tax amounts - to the state within 10 days of approval, after which the State Treasurer must reimburse local governments within 10 days of the next quarterly tax bill’s due date. This ensures local units are financially compensated for the first year of lost revenue when exemptions take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state loan program to help New Jersey school districts facing significant budget shortfalls avoid eliminating nonmandatory programs. School districts must demonstrate they've already tried budget cuts and tax increases (with at least a 2% annual levy increase over five years) and spent below state adequacy levels in the prior year. The loans prevent cuts to programs like advanced placement courses, sports teams, music programs, and student clubs. The Department of Education will review applications, with county superintendents and State monitors providing recommendations before approval.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Senate Bill S3333 prohibits enforcing any provision in a will that requires the euthanasia of a healthy domestic companion animal. The bill directly affects estate executors, administrators, and trustees (referred to as "fiduciaries" in the law) who might otherwise be compelled to carry out such a directive. It makes any such will clause void and unenforceable, defining "domestic companion animal" as a pet kept for companionship (not for business or agriculture). The law takes immediate effect, aligning with public policy that opposes forcing the euthanasia of healthy animals per a deceased owner's wishes.

Maddy summarySCR 107 proposes a constitutional amendment to expand New Jersey's civil service hiring preference for veterans. Currently, only veterans who served during wartime receive this preference when applying for state or local government civil service jobs. The amendment would allow the New Jersey Legislature to pass laws extending this hiring preference to all veterans, regardless of whether they served during wartime. If approved, this change would enable future legislation to broaden eligibility for the preference, directly affecting all veterans applying for civil service positions in New Jersey.

Maddy summarySCR 108 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey to reimburse municipalities annually for lost property tax revenue when veterans with permanent and total service-connected disabilities receive full property tax exemptions. Currently, these veterans qualify for 100% tax exemptions on their properties, but municipalities bear the full cost of this lost revenue, shifting tax burdens to other property owners. The amendment would mandate state payments to municipalities equal to the total property taxes that would have been collected from exempt properties, with municipalities then reimbursing counties, school districts, and other local taxing entities for their share. This change aims to address the current system where local governments absorb costs from tax exemptions without state compensation. The bill requires voter approval through a constitutional amendment process.