Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to broaden eligibility for civil service and pension benefits for veterans. It removes specific service date and location requirements that previously limited eligibility, changing the definition of "veteran" to include any resident of New Jersey who served in the Armed Forces under conditions other than dishonorable. This change applies to veterans who served in recent conflicts like Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as well as those who served domestically, such as 9/11 responders. The bill affects pension systems including the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, Public Employees' Retirement System, Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and State Police Retirement System. The goal is to recognize all military service, regardless of location or duty assignment, as qualifying for veteran benefits.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (A260) excludes certain military reenlistment and voluntary extension bonuses from New Jersey's gross income tax. It directly affects active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces who receive these specific bonuses while serving. The key provision amends New Jersey tax code (N.J.S.54A:6-7) to add subsection (d), explicitly excluding such bonuses from taxable income. The change applies immediately to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment. This is a tax code adjustment, not a new benefit or program.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to establish a voting integrity task force within the Division of Criminal Justice. The task force will investigate and prosecute voting fraud crimes, utilizing a coordinated strategy across state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. It directly affects the Attorney General's office and law enforcement agencies by creating a dedicated unit focused on election-related fraud. The bill mandates this structure without altering voting procedures or eligibility.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A1273) would require all New Jersey employers to verify new employees' work authorization using the federal E-Verify program before hiring. Employers with 100+ staff must comply by December 31, 2020; smaller employers must comply by December 31, 2021. It prohibits knowingly or intentionally employing unauthorized aliens, with penalties including civil fines ($100-$1,000 per violation) and potential business license suspensions for repeated violations. The law also mandates random state audits for compliance and requires employers to terminate unauthorized employees upon court order, with probation periods and quarterly reporting for first offenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts from imposing a "builder's remedy" in lawsuits challenging exclusionary zoning laws. It directly affects municipalities facing housing litigation and developers who previously sought this remedy. The key provision bans court orders requiring municipalities to use zoning tactics (like density bonuses) that prioritize market-rate housing development over affordable units. Instead, if a court finds a municipality failed to provide reasonable opportunities for affordable housing, it must choose an alternative remedy. The bill aims to shift focus from litigation-driven market-rate development toward other solutions for addressing affordable housing needs.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A2416) would regulate credit card interchange fees in New Jersey by prohibiting electronic payment systems (like Visa/MasterCard networks) from imposing restrictive terms in contracts with merchants. It directly affects merchants (businesses accepting cards) and consumers, as it would allow merchants to offer discounts for cash or debit payments and choose which payment systems to accept at different locations. Key provisions ban systems from blocking merchants from setting minimum/maximum credit card transaction values ($10 minimum), limiting payment system choices, or restricting how merchants display pricing. If passed, violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense and mandatory reimbursement of fees to affected merchants.
Maddy summaryThis bill gradually reduces New Jersey's Corporation Business Tax (CBT) rate for businesses operating in the state. It lowers the rate from 9% to 2.5% over time, with specific reductions: 7% for 2021, 5% for 2022, 3% for 2023, and 2.5% for 2024 and beyond. The bill also provides accelerated reductions for smaller businesses, lowering the tax rate for those with less than $100,000 in income to 3.5% in 2021 and 2.5% starting in 2022. The tax rate applies to taxable net income for businesses with privilege periods ending on or after July 31, 2019.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program granting civil immunity to licensed physicians and dentists who volunteer at qualifying free clinics in New Jersey. To qualify, medical professionals must provide at least four hours per week of care at a free clinic (for four consecutive weeks) and maintain certification by completing 48 hours per quarter of such service. Certified volunteers are protected from lawsuits for injuries resulting from good-faith care within their scope of practice, except in cases of gross negligence or willful misconduct. The immunity applies only to those working at clinics meeting specific criteria, such as not charging patients or accepting third-party payments, and requires documentation from both the volunteer and the clinic's medical director.
Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2.9 billion in state funding to ensure school districts receive aid equal to their "adequacy budget" as determined under New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act. It requires districts that receive increased state aid to reduce their property tax levies by the same amount, with specific provisions for districts where property taxes exceed 5% of district income. The bill also provides additional aid to districts that experienced funding cuts between 2018-2023 and repeals certain laws that contributed to reduced state aid and higher property taxes. The policy aims to align school funding with constitutional requirements for a "thorough and efficient" education system while reducing property tax burdens on residents.
Maddy summaryAJR 35 designates March of each year as "Women Veterans Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month with activities honoring women veterans. It does not create new programs, funding, or legal requirements. This commemorative resolution directly affects all New Jersey residents by establishing an annual observance to recognize women veterans' service. The bill focuses solely on ceremonial recognition, not policy changes.