Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-3233) adjusts the New Jersey veterans' income tax exemption amount annually for inflation. It directly affects veterans honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or New Jersey Reserve. The exemption amount, currently $6,000, will be updated each year based on the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U) for the 12-month period ending August 31 of the prior year. If inflation is zero, the exemption amount remains unchanged. The change applies to tax years starting in 2023 and beyond.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities to reimburse New Jersey state or local governments for costs incurred when securing dangerous conditions on utility-controlled property. It applies when governments deploy personnel to protect the public from hazards like downed power lines, but only after notifying the utility and deploying staff themselves. Utilities can avoid reimbursement by addressing the hazard within one hour of notification. The bill also mandates a standardized fee schedule based on federal disaster relief cost guidelines to streamline reimbursement claims.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey cities, counties, and their agencies from enacting minimum wage increases or mandatory paid sick leave requirements for private employers, including contractors and vendors working with local governments. It declares any local ordinance on these employment conditions "null and void," requiring the state to set uniform standards instead of allowing local variations. The bill does not change the existing state minimum wage (currently set at $15.00/hour for most workers by 2028), but prevents local governments from imposing higher rates or additional paid leave rules. It directly affects local governments' authority and private employers operating within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study whether the state's electric power grid meets reliability standards within six months. The BPU must assess if electric companies comply with existing safety and maintenance rules, compare New Jersey's grid performance to other states, and evaluate infrastructure resilience during storms. The study will also examine utility pole safety, emergency response efforts, and adherence to national electrical standards. The findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature. (Procedural bill; summary focuses on mandated study, not policy outcomes.)

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents to apply for special license plates featuring a purple ribbon and the phrase "Domestic Violence Awareness" on their vehicles. Vehicle owners would pay a one-time $50 application fee and an annual $10 fee, with the collected funds (after covering administrative costs) deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund, managed by the Department of Children and Families, provides annual grants to nonprofit organizations supporting domestic violence victims. The plates aim to raise public awareness while generating revenue specifically for victim services, with no state funds used for initial implementation costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal a 2018 directive (No. 2018-6) that limited local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The directive previously prohibited police from sharing certain information with immigration officials - such as notifying them about detained individuals' release dates or extending detention solely based on immigration requests - when immigration enforcement was the sole purpose. The bill directly affects state, county, and local police departments by removing these restrictions on sharing information with federal immigration authorities. It aims to restore full cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration agencies, as specified in the directive's current provisions. The repeal would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A-1260) requires manufacturers and sellers of internet-connected devices to include digital blocking technology that automatically restricts access to obscene material, child pornography, revenge porn, and websites linked to human trafficking or prostitution. It directly affects device companies and minors (who must have blocking active unless they pay a $20 opt-out fee to deactivate it). Key provisions include mandatory blocking of harmful content, a 5-day window to unblock mistakenly blocked material upon consumer report, and quarterly fees ($20 per device) sent to fund the state’s Human Trafficking Commission. The bill is not yet law - it was introduced January 2026 and referred to committee.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill provides a $1,000 annual deduction from state gross income for eligible volunteer firefighters and first aid/rescue squad members. To qualify, volunteers must serve the entire tax year and meet specific service thresholds: firefighters need 60% attendance at alarms/drills plus Firefighter I certification, while first aid/rescue members need 10% attendance at alarms/drills plus approved training or EMT certification. Fire and rescue departments must submit annual lists of qualifying members to state health and community affairs agencies for verification. The deduction applies to taxable years starting after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from planting non-native plants in state parks, forests, or related facilities starting three months after enactment. It directs the DEP to develop a list of appropriate native plants (those naturally occurring in New Jersey or the Mid-Atlantic region) and establishes a $250,000 grant program to help local governments (counties, municipalities) use native plants in their parks and forests. Grants can be up to $5,000 per project, with local governments allowed to apply for multiple grants annually. The DEP must report annually on the program’s effectiveness in promoting native plants and reducing environmental risks linked to non-native species.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state agencies from imposing civil penalties on other state agencies or their subdivisions (like divisions or bureaus). It directly affects all state agencies by preventing internal enforcement actions, such as fines, between government entities. The law takes effect immediately and removes a current gap where agencies could theoretically penalize each other under existing statutes.