Sen. Carmen Amato

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to create a "dredging control reserve fund" using unspent annual dredging budget money. The fund can later be used for dredging-related activities - including removing sediment from waterways, managing dredged material, and supporting local maritime or tourism industries - after regular budget appropriations. Any reimbursements for these expenditures must be returned to the reserve. The Local Finance Board can establish rules to implement the fund, and the bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the filing deadline for New Jersey public safety workers and retirees to apply for accidental disability retirement benefits related to 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It allows two years after the bill's effective date for filing a written statement about their service, with the possibility of two-year extensions, and modifies medical documentation requirements to accept evidence from medical exams performed within a reasonable time before or after entering public service. The bill applies to members of the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), State Police Retirement System (SPRS), and certain members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who participated in 9/11 operations for at least eight hours. It ensures individuals with health conditions resulting from 9/11 exposure can access appropriate retirement benefits without strict timeline constraints.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey volunteer firefighters, first aid squad members, and rescue squad members who meet specific service and training requirements to claim a $2,000 deduction from their state gross income tax. To qualify, volunteers must complete either 10% of rescue duty (with EMS training or EMT certification) or 60% of fire duty (with Firefighter I certification), while serving the entire tax year. The exemption applies directly to qualifying volunteers who meet these thresholds, adding to existing state tax exemptions. It does not create new benefits but provides a concrete tax deduction for eligible volunteers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new affordable housing developments with 10 or more units or four or more stories to meet LEED Silver or equivalent green building standards. Developers must also submit four impact studies to local authorities: traffic, school, storm water, and carbon (for projects clearing over one acre of land). These requirements apply only to new projects where the development application is submitted after the law takes effect. The bill does not apply to developments with applications pending before enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a certification process for non-physicians (individuals not licensed as doctors) to perform laser tattoo removal in New Jersey. It requires the State Board of Medical Examiners to create specific standards, including qualifications, testing, and continuing education, for certification. Non-physicians must obtain this certification before offering laser tattoo removal services and renew it biennially. The law directly affects tattoo removal practitioners who are not physicians, setting new requirements for their practice under medical board oversight.

Maddy summarySCR 82 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey's Legislature to create a law allowing municipalities to offer up to a 15% property tax exemption on the primary residence of volunteer fire and rescue members. Eligible individuals must be active members of a volunteer fire company or first aid/rescue squad serving the municipality where their home is located. Municipalities would need to pass their own ordinances to implement the exemption, which would reduce property taxes on a portion of the home's assessed value. The exemption would apply only to primary residences within the municipality and would not exceed 15% of the home's assessed value.

Maddy summarySCR 106 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 emergency medical personnel) died while on duty. The exemption applies only to properties that were the primary residence of the deceased first responder at the time of death, requires the surviving spouse to continue living there as their primary home, and ends if the spouse remarries. The state would reimburse local taxing districts annually for the lost property tax revenue from these exempt properties. This change would affect surviving spouses of eligible New Jersey first responders who lose their partners in the line of duty.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Veterans' Memorial Homes Oversight Board to independently review operations at New Jersey's veterans' homes. The board, composed of 12 members including family members of residents and veterans' organization representatives, will examine complaints, violations, and investigations at Menlo Park, Vineland, and Paramus homes to identify systemic issues. It must submit monthly public reports to the legislature detailing its findings and recommendations. This oversight aims to improve care quality and accountability for veterans residing in these facilities.

Maddy summaryS 1065 establishes a New Jersey Veteran Services Grant Program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to directly assist veterans in applying for state and federal benefits and to train veterans service officers. Qualified nonprofit veterans' organizations (like 501(c)(3) groups) can apply for competitive grants to fund either training for service officers, direct veteran assistance, or both. The bill appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to cover these grants, requiring organizations to submit detailed plans outlining their proposed training or assistance. Recipients must report on how funds were used, and the DMVA must annually report the program's effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $44.7 million Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to help eligible New Jersey school districts affected by state aid cuts in the 2024-2025 school year. It provides grants covering two-thirds of each district's state aid reduction (capped at 9.9% of their prior year's tax levy) and allows eligible districts to temporarily exceed normal tax increase limits to offset these cuts. Districts receiving aid must maintain staff levels from the previous year unless enrollment declines, requiring commissioner approval for reductions. The program specifically excludes SDA districts (special needs districts) from the tax levy exception but does not affect their existing tax authority.