Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Pandemic Bill of Rights for the Welfare of Individuals," granting specific protections to all New Jersey residents during pandemics, disease outbreaks, or public health emergencies. It requires health care facilities to safeguard nursing home residents and those with preexisting conditions, ensure proper medical evaluation before discharge, provide adequate care and therapies, allow family visitation, and maintain attorney access as essential services. The Commissioner of Health must publish these rights online, and all health care facilities must post them prominently. The bill directly affects vulnerable populations like nursing home residents and patients in medical facilities, aiming to prevent repeat of issues seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as restricted family access and inadequate care.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey election law to allow district boards, election superintendents, or county clerks to request police officers be assigned specifically to polling places located at public schools. The request must be for maintaining order and providing security during elections. Police presence at other polling locations remains restricted under current law. The bill requires detailed public records of all such assignments, including location, reason, officer details, and duration. It does not change general restrictions on police at non-school polling sites or ballot drop boxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all elementary and secondary schools in New Jersey that are 12,000 square feet or larger to install automatic fire suppression systems. It directly affects schools meeting this size threshold, which includes many larger public and private K-12 campuses. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Education (with input from Community Affairs) to create implementation rules, including prioritization for installations, and authorizes state funds - including bond proceeds from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority - to cover compliance costs. The law takes effect immediately, extending existing fire safety requirements (previously only for new schools) to all qualifying existing buildings.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Laken Riley Act requires law enforcement to check the immigration status of non-citizens arrested for specific serious crimes - including violent offenses, certain traffic violations causing injury, or federal "aggravated felonies." If confirmed as unlawfully present, these individuals face a legal presumption of pretrial detention, overriding the state's bail reform law. The bill mandates compliance with federal immigration detainer requests and repeals a prior law prohibiting local jails from holding immigrants for federal authorities. It also rescinds New Jersey's "Immigrant Trust Directive," aligning state procedures with federal immigration enforcement priorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's voter registration commissioner to move voters with mail-in ballots returned as undeliverable to an inactive file. If such voters fail to vote in two consecutive federal general elections, they will be removed from the statewide voter registration system and transferred to a deleted file. Voters must receive notices about their inactive status, the removal decision, and final removal. The commissioner must retain undeliverable ballots for two years. The bill directly affects voters whose mail-in ballots cannot be delivered to their current address.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 872) prohibits requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination or asking about vaccination status as a condition for accessing many services or activities. It directly affects individuals who have not been vaccinated by making it illegal for employers, schools, healthcare providers, businesses, and public venues to deny access, employment, or services based on vaccine status or refusal to disclose it. Key provisions ban such requirements across 15 areas, including employment, education, healthcare, business entry, and public spaces. Violators face civil penalties of $25,000 plus attorney fees for each violation. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1601) allows school districts in New Jersey to administer certain motor vehicle services for prospective school bus drivers at school facilities, including knowledge tests, manual provision, ID verification, fee processing, and endorsement applications. It directly affects school districts and individuals seeking school bus driver licenses, as it streamlines the process by reducing the need to travel to the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) office. Key provisions require the MVC to establish rules for this program, mandate coordination with school districts, and specify that schools cannot administer the required road test. The bill does not change licensing standards but makes initial steps toward obtaining a school bus driver license more accessible through schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program allowing New Jersey's State Agriculture Development Committee to acquire development easements on privately-owned woodlands. It directly affects woodland owners (minimum 20 acres) who manage their land for agriculture, forestry, or horticulture under approved stewardship plans. The program permanently restricts development on these lands through easements funded by existing farmland preservation funds, requiring landowners to maintain agricultural or forest production. The committee coordinates with federal programs like the Forest Legacy Program to secure additional funding for this conservation effort.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's age requirement for municipal police officers to allow veterans to deduct military service time from their age. Specifically, veterans who served at least 10 days during a time of war may have up to two years of service deducted from their actual age, meaning their adjusted age must be 35 or younger to qualify. It directly affects veterans over 35 seeking police officer positions in New Jersey municipalities. The change caps the deduction at two years (previously unbounded) while maintaining the 35-year maximum age limit. The amendment updates existing law (N.J.S.40A:14-127) to clarify this provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mortgage lenders to maintain age-restricted residential properties (such as senior housing) during foreclosure proceedings. Lenders must notify local municipalities within 10 days of filing foreclosure papers, providing contact details for a local representative responsible for property upkeep if the unit becomes vacant. If the property falls into disrepair during foreclosure, municipalities can give lenders 30 days to fix violations before imposing penalties or seeking reimbursement for cleanup costs. The law specifically targets age-restricted units to prevent neglect that could disrupt vulnerable residents.