Asm. Antwan McClellan

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2404) would amend New Jersey law to allow fishing vessels licensed to catch menhaden for bait or human food to use specific "wet pumps" (capsule or centrifugal design) for removing menhaden from purse seine nets. The pumps must have their discharge hose positioned at or below the vessel's water line to minimize excess aeration of surface waters. Currently, the law only permitted removal by brailing or dip net and prohibited having a pump on board unless it was covered and secured. This change directly affects commercial fishing vessels operating in New Jersey waters under menhaden fishing licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3052) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide all vehicle and licensing services at a location in every county. Specifically, it mandates that each county must have either a separate vehicle agency (handling registration and plates) or a single agency offering both vehicle services (registration, ownership certificates) and licensing services (driver's licenses, ID cards). The bill directly affects all New Jersey residents who need MVC services, eliminating the current system where some counties lack full-service MVC offices. It takes effect three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing small business loan program administered by the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to include certified broadband telecommunications service providers operating in rural areas. It specifically adds "broadband telecommunications service providers" to the list of eligible borrowers, defined as entities certified by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to offer high-speed broadband (25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload) in rural areas (population ≤30,000 and density <4,000/sq mile). The EDA will administer these loans with consultation from the BPU, following existing program rules for small business loans. This change allows rural broadband providers to access capital for infrastructure and operations under the same framework as other small businesses.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A343 would change how heroin-related offenses are graded by requiring courts to consider both the weight and number of dosage units involved in a crime. Currently, these offenses are graded solely by weight, creating an imbalance since a single dosage unit of heroin weighs much less than a single dosage unit of cocaine. The bill defines "dosage unit" as either the smallest discrete unit of distribution (like a pill or packet) or the typical amount consumed at one time, whichever results in more units. This change would align heroin offense grading more closely with cocaine offense standards, potentially increasing penalties for certain heroin distribution cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey electric utilities to identify communities where at least 40% of residential customers rely on private wells for water. Utilities must develop service restoration plans for these communities during major outages (like storms) and provide watering stations with bottled water, water tankers, and resources for livestock. The law mandates annual customer surveys to confirm well-water reliance and prioritizes restoring power to these areas alongside other critical facilities. It directly affects utilities serving qualifying municipalities, ensuring residents and livestock have access to water during extended power disruptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to create and implement a marketing plan focused on attracting, expanding, and retaining manufacturing businesses in southern New Jersey counties (Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem). The plan must be developed within one year of the bill's enactment and updated every five years, with the goal of boosting job growth and capital investment in the region. The Secretary can request assistance from state agencies like the Economic Development Authority, Business Action Center, and workforce or transportation departments to gather data on funding, workforce needs, and infrastructure. The policy directly affects manufacturers in these counties and aims to strategically allocate state resources to support their growth.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition adopted in 2016. It requires state agencies, educational institutions, and others reviewing discrimination complaints to use this definition when determining if an act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. The definition explicitly states that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of any other country does not constitute anti-Semitism. The bill clarifies it does not override First Amendment rights or existing state/federal anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits elected municipal officials (such as mayors, council members, or commissioners) from accepting any paid employment with the same municipality they serve. It amends the Local Government Ethics Law (P.L.1991, c.29) to add a clear, explicit ban - stating elected officers "shall not accept any other paid position or employment with the municipality." The rule applies immediately to all future employment opportunities within the municipality, eliminating ambiguity around existing ethics rules that previously addressed conflicts only indirectly. This change directly affects local elected leaders by preventing them from using their office to secure personal financial gain through municipal employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of passenger automobiles to honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects eligible veterans who purchased a passenger vehicle (defined as standard cars for passenger transport, excluding buses) after the law takes effect. The exemption applies to the sale price only if the veteran's disability was verified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as incurred during military service. The bill defines "service-connected disability" and clarifies that "passenger automobile" excludes commercial vehicles like school buses.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New Jersey veterans who are permanently 100% disabled (as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) from paying motor vehicle registration fees for one passenger vehicle. It directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own a vehicle not used for hire. The law requires the Adjutant General and the Motor Vehicle Commission to notify these veterans about the fee exemption. The exemption applies to vehicles registered in the veteran's name and does not cover commercial vehicles. The bill amends existing law to update eligibility criteria and add the notification requirement.