Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's Open Public Records Act to exempt State Police detectives' personal information from public disclosure. It would prevent the release of details like home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses for these detectives, making such information confidential. The exemption applies specifically to State Police detectives, not other law enforcement officers or public employees. This change aims to protect detectives from potential harassment or threats by keeping their personal information private.

Maddy summaryACR 81 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority vote (27 in the Senate, 54 in the Assembly) to advance or pass bills during New Jersey's "lame duck" legislative session. This session occurs between the November general election for Assembly members and the start of the new Legislature in January. The amendment applies to all bills/joint resolutions needing third reading during this period, as well as to reenacting bills conditionally vetoed by the Governor. Currently, only a simple majority (21 Senate, 41 Assembly) is needed for these actions, but this change would significantly raise the threshold for legislation passed in this specific window. The proposal must be approved by voters in the next general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey voters who use mail-in ballots to include a copy of their state-accepted photo ID (matching their name and current address) with their ballot envelope. It directly affects all voters choosing mail-in voting in New Jersey elections, including first-time mail-in voters who did not provide ID when registering. Failure to enclose the ID copy will result in ballot rejection, though voters may correct the issue through a specified curing process. The bill also ensures that ID details, phone numbers, and email addresses provided with ballots remain confidential and not publicly disclosed. The measure is currently pending before the legislature, having been introduced on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1901) removes specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for New Jersey civil service and pension benefits. It eliminates past restrictions that limited eligibility to veterans who served during exact timeframes (e.g., "between July 14, 1914 and November 11, 1918") or in specific locations (e.g., "in Lebanon" for certain missions). The key change amends the definition of "veteran" in state law to broaden eligibility, allowing veterans who served honorably in designated conflicts to qualify without proving they met these prior time or place conditions. This directly affects veterans whose service history no longer aligns with the old, narrow criteria but otherwise meets the general eligibility standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey drivers convicted of a first-time DWI offense with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% to 0.10% to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle before regaining driving privileges, *if their sentence is stayed pending appeal*. It directly affects individuals who avoid immediate license suspension by appealing their DWI conviction but must still comply with the interlock requirement during the appeal process. The key mechanism mandates court-ordered installation of the device as a condition for restoring driving rights, replacing the previous automatic license forfeiture period. This change applies specifically to first offenses with BAC in the 0.08-0.10% range and does not alter penalties for higher BAC levels or repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill creates a tax credit for residents who pay for care expenses of qualifying senior parents. It allows caregivers to claim up to $10,000 annually in tax credits for qualified expenses like home health services, medical equipment, or home modifications, provided they submit documentation such as receipts and physician certifications. To qualify, the senior parent must be 60+ (or 50+ with disability and income limits), and the caregiver must be a New Jersey resident providing care. The credit does not apply to expenses covered by insurance or government programs, and caregivers must attach proof with their tax returns.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes the "Parents Bill of Rights Act," granting parents and guardians specific rights regarding their child's education in public schools. It requires schools to provide parents with a curriculum summary, allow them to review classroom materials (including textbooks and media), and permits opting children out of any curriculum conflicting with the parent's moral or religious beliefs - without academic penalties for the student. The bill prohibits school districts from interfering with these rights or denying parent requests for educational information. It directly affects all parents/guardians of students enrolled in New Jersey public schools. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill terminates two fees on high-end residential real estate transactions: a "general purpose fee" and a one percent assessment. It specifically applies to purchases of residential properties selling for more than $1,000,000, removing these costs from the property transfer fee structure. The legislation amends existing laws (P.L.1968, c.49 and P.L.2004, c.66) to delete these fee provisions. It directly affects buyers and sellers of luxury homes above the $1 million threshold in New Jersey. The change simplifies the transfer fee process for these high-value transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to pay just compensation to business owners who were forced to partially or fully close due to a public health emergency order (like during the pandemic). It applies to businesses that prove their income loss or permanent closure was directly caused by the emergency order, not by other factors. Business owners must file a claim within one year of the emergency order ending and prove both the cause of the loss and the compensation amount. The law covers emergencies starting January 1, 2020, and applies to closures ordered under the state's Emergency Health Powers Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Barnegat Bay Protection Act," would create a dedicated fund to protect Barnegat Bay by establishing three funding streams: a 1% tax on fertilizer sales, special "Protect Barnegat Bay" license plates (with a $50 application fee and $10 annual renewal), and voluntary donations collected during boat registrations, vessel renewals, and beach tag purchases. The fund, managed by the State Treasurer with input from the Environmental Protection Department, would finance watershed preservation and remediation projects, including public education campaigns. It directly affects residents and businesses in Ocean County (33 municipalities) and parts of Monmouth County (4 municipalities), where over 500,000 people live and visit. The bill focuses on generating ongoing revenue for bay restoration, not on new regulations or mandates.