Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities and school districts to report annually how much they pay employees for unused sick leave or vacation time upon retirement. The state will then reduce the following year's state aid - such as property tax relief funds - by that exact amount for each entity. It directly affects local governments and school districts that provide retirement benefits for accumulated absences. The policy change ensures state aid isn't used to cover these retirement payments, shifting the cost to the local entity's budget.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Megan's Law to require individuals convicted of sex offenses in foreign countries (or fleeing charges there) to register with local police, similar to domestic offenders. It specifically mandates law enforcement to ask sex offenders about their immigration status and cooperate with federal immigration authorities. The law applies to anyone who is enrolled in an NJ school, employed in the state for specified periods, or resides in New Jersey after a foreign conviction. Registration requirements include submitting forms to local police within 10 days of moving to NJ or 120 days after the law's effective date, with penalties for non-compliance. The bill does not change the definition of "sex offense" but extends existing registration obligations to cover foreign convictions.

Maddy summaryACR 107 is a non-binding resolution urging the New Jersey Department of Education to pause the development and implementation of new Student Learning Standards for two years. It directly affects the Department of Education and State Board of Education by requesting a temporary halt to creating new standards, while pending legislative bills about curriculum and learning loss are reviewed. The resolution cites parent concerns about current standards, pandemic-related learning loss, and declining U.S. education rankings as reasons for the pause. It does not change existing standards but asks for a two-year moratorium to allow the Legislature to address related issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the daily pay for jurors in New Jersey courts from $5 to $40 per day, effective immediately. It replaces the current system (which paid $5 daily plus $35 for days beyond three in a row) with a flat $40 rate for all grand and petit jurors, excluding certain full-time government employees. The bill appropriates $6 million from the General Fund to cover this pay increase and requires the Administrative Office of the Courts to manage payments. It directly affects all citizens summoned to serve on juries statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state loan program for New Jersey school districts facing significant budget shortfalls that would force cuts to nonmandatory programs like advanced courses, sports, music, and clubs. Districts must apply after receiving their state school aid notice, demonstrating they cannot resolve the shortfall through program reductions or tax increases while meeting specific criteria, including five years of at least 2% annual property tax hikes. The state will review applications within 30 days and allow districts to delay budget deadlines until a decision is made. The program aims to prevent cuts to educational offerings while ensuring districts have explored other budget options.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges New Jersey's state and federal agencies to pause sonar testing and wind turbine mapping near offshore wind projects. It cites NOAA data showing 12 whale deaths (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphin deaths in February 2023 off New Jersey's coast - deaths occurring near active wind development sites. The resolution requests an immediate moratorium to allow scientific study of whether these activities interfere with marine mammals' navigation and communication. It specifically targets the Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The resolution does not create new law but calls for a pause while investigations continue.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates anonymous safe havens for abandoned pets by allowing anyone to leave domestic companion animals (like dogs or cats) at shelters, veterinary hospitals, or police stations without disclosing their identity or providing animal history. Facilities must accept the animals and provide necessary care, but are not required to reunite them with owners or attempt to identify previous caregivers. It also mandates public education through school materials for grades 3-12 and a 24-hour hotline to inform people about the safe haven process. The law directly affects pet owners unable to care for their animals and facilities that receive abandoned pets, aiming to prevent unnecessary suffering.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to create a policy for using video and audio reviews in high school championship games. The policy must mandate recording all postseason contests and specify when reviews can correct calls affecting the final score, identify sportsmanship violations, or verify disqualifications. It applies immediately to the first full school year after the bill becomes law. The policy will directly affect high school athletes, coaches, and officials in NJSIAA sports tournaments.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires public school districts to allow home-schooled students to join school-sponsored activities like sports, clubs, music, and theater in their resident district, using the same rules as enrolled students. To participate, home-schooled students must prove residency, meet eligibility requirements, and follow district policies. The bill specifically prohibits students from switching to home-schooling solely to play sports, and it mandates that districts provide home-schooled students access to required physical exams if offered to public school students. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric public utilities in New Jersey to annually submit detailed plans to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) by May 15th each year. Specifically, utilities must file service reliability plans (covering outage restoration), emergency communications strategies (for customer and official outreach during crises), and flood mitigation reviews for substations in flood zones. The bill increases penalties for non-compliance, authorizing BPU to impose fines up to $25,000 per violation (with a $2 million cap for related incidents) for failing to meet these requirements. It directly affects all electric utilities operating within New Jersey, aiming to improve storm response and service restoration through mandatory planning and accountability.