Rep. Erik Simonsen

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 3144 directs the Attorney General to create a formal agreement with federal authorities, enabling specific corrections officers to check inmates' immigration status at the time of incarceration. Only officers who volunteer, are approved by their employers, and complete required training would be designated for this role. If an inmate is found to be in the U.S. without legal authorization, officers would report this to federal immigration authorities (ICE), but they cannot take enforcement action themselves. The agreement would also outline training, federal funding for costs, and clarify legal protections for officers acting under this program. The bill is pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a 15-member "Task Force on Supportive Technology for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities" in New Jersey. The task force will study how helpful devices and technology (like communication tools or mobility aids) can improve daily life for people with developmental disabilities, focusing on employment, education, and daily activities. It will identify barriers to using this technology and recommend state policy changes, reporting to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months. The task force includes government officials, disability advocates, healthcare experts, and individuals with lived experience. The bill expires 30 days after the task force submits its final report.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to post detailed curriculum plans online for each grade level at least 30 days before the school year starts. It mandates that districts include specific information like course units, learning objectives, and details about textbooks/materials used. School districts must also post when and where parents/legal guardians can review these materials before they are used in classrooms. The bill applies to all public school districts and takes effect for the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey taxpayers with a refundable tax credit of up to $500 per year for costs paid to high-impact tutors. It directly affects individual taxpayers who use tutoring services proven to significantly improve student learning through research, as defined in the bill. The credit applies to the tax year the tutoring is received, and if it reduces a taxpayer’s total tax liability to zero, the remaining credit amount is paid as a cash refund. The credit is limited to one claim per married couple filing separately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's chief law enforcement officers or the Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities whenever a non-citizen applies for a firearms purchaser identification card (for rifles and shotguns) or a handgun purchase permit. It directly affects non-citizens seeking to purchase or possess firearms under New Jersey's permit system. The key mechanism adds a mandatory notification step to the existing background check process, requiring law enforcement to share applicant information with federal immigration agencies. The bill does not alter background check standards but creates a new reporting obligation for non-citizen firearm permit applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $34 million from constitutionally protected business tax revenues to fund farmland preservation grants. It provides counties with planning incentive grants covering up to 80% of the cost to acquire development easements on farmland, directly affecting eligible counties like Burlington, Gloucester, and Somerset. The funds are distributed through the State Agriculture Development Committee to support local efforts in preserving agricultural land. The grant amounts vary by county, with some receiving up to $8.5 million total. This policy change enables counties to protect farmland through permanent easements without requiring new tax revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing small business loan program to include certified rural broadband telecommunications service providers as eligible borrowers. It defines "broadband telecommunications service provider" as entities certified by the Board of Public Utilities to offer high-speed internet (25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload) in rural areas (population ≤30,000 and ≤4,000 people/sq. mile). The program will allow these providers to access loans for capital purchases, employee training, and new positions - similar to other eligible businesses like farmers and dairy operations. The change modifies the eligibility definition in existing law without creating a new program.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts plastic materials processed at designated "advanced plastic processing facilities" from New Jersey's solid waste disposal and recycling laws. These facilities must transform plastic into non-fuel products (like chemicals or monomers) using methods such as pyrolysis, not into fuel. The exemption excludes PETE (code 1) and HDPE (code 2) plastics. Processors using these facilities avoid state recycling/disposal rules but remain subject to air/water pollution and land-use laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates featuring the U.S. Coast Guard seal for active or honorably separated Coast Guard members, their spouses, parents, or principal business owners. Applicants pay a $50 one-time fee and a $10 annual fee, with all fees deposited into a dedicated "Coast Guard License Plate Fund" that annually appropriates money to the Coast Guard. The plates must display the Coast Guard emblem, and the design is developed jointly with the Coast Guard, covering administrative costs through the fund. The program is procedural, focusing on recognition and funding for the Coast Guard through license plate fees, not broader policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the State Debt Capacity Advisory Commission to analyze New Jersey's debt affordability. The commission must publish an annual report by December 1st, including detailed projections of state debt payments, revenue estimates for debt service, and comparisons of debt ratios to other states. The report provides nonbinding advisory information to assist the Governor and Legislature in evaluating future debt decisions, but does not constitute an official state disclosure. The commission consists of nine members, including the State Auditor, Legislative Budget Officer, and public experts appointed by legislative leaders. The report will be publicly accessible online and updated as needed to inform fiscal planning.