Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5322 limits how consumer contracts can be used by prohibiting companies from including terms that govern unrelated purchases. The bill requires service contracts (for personal, family, or household use) to apply only to the specific service bought, not controlling how consumers purchase other products or services from the company or its affiliates. It explicitly excludes securities and commodities transactions from this rule. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment and applies to new or renewed contracts entered after that date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bribery statute (N.J.S.2C:27-2) to clarify that it applies to benefits received either before or after an official act. The amendment explicitly states that "benefit as consideration" includes any unauthorized benefit, regardless of timing relative to the act. It directly affects public officials who may accept or offer benefits in exchange for votes, decisions, or duties in government matters. The change responds to a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited federal bribery law to pre-act benefits, ensuring New Jersey's law covers all such exchanges.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "New Jersey Laken Riley Act" (A5586), requires New Jersey law enforcement to check immigration status with U.S. Homeland Security when arresting non-citizens charged with specific serious crimes - including violent offenses, certain felonies, or crimes defined as "aggravated felonies" under federal law. If confirmed as unlawfully present, the bill creates a legal presumption of pretrial detention for these individuals, overriding state bail reform laws. It also repeals prior restrictions on local jails holding immigrants and directs the state Attorney General to rescind a policy (the "Immigrant Trust Directive") that limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. The law aims to align New Jersey procedures with federal immigration priorities, specifically referencing the federal Laken Riley Act signed in January 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the ability for electric and gas utilities to recover costs for demand side management programs (including energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives) through the societal benefits charge. Previously, these programs were funded through a fee collected from all utility customers. The bill deletes a specific provision from state law that had allowed these costs to be recovered through the societal benefits charge. This change affects how utilities can fund energy efficiency and renewable energy programs that were previously supported through this fee structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's 2021 law (P.L.2021, c.32) that required public school districts to incorporate diversity and inclusion instruction into the curriculum for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It directly affects public school students and districts across New Jersey by removing this specific instructional requirement. The bill's key mechanism is the repeal of the existing statute, which mandated that diversity and inclusion content be integrated into the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The repeal takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5557 clarifies child support certification requirements for state license applicants. The bill requires applicants to complete a separate certification form (not part of the main application) stating whether they have child support arrears exceeding six months' payments, lack required health coverage, failed to respond to a subpoena, or face a child support warrant. If certified as an obligor with unresolved obligations, licenses cannot be granted, renewed, or reinstated. The form also provides notice of the legal basis for license suspension and the right to a hearing before action. This applies to all state-issued licenses (including driver's licenses and professional permits) for applicants after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey hospitals and clinical laboratories to stop collecting minors' sexual orientation and gender identity data unless a parent or guardian voluntarily provides it for medical treatment. For minors under 18, systems must be configured so these fields aren't mandatory when saving demographic information, while adult data collection remains unchanged. The law specifies that any voluntarily provided minor data must solely support diagnosis/treatment and can't be used elsewhere. It applies to all electronic medical records and lab systems used by covered facilities, with penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide property tax rebates to New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. Eligible veterans would receive a rebate equal to their disability percentage of the property taxes paid on their primary residence, with the rebate capped at $5,000 annually. The program is limited to veterans with gross income under $200,000 and does not apply to veterans already exempt from property taxes due to 100% disability ratings. Veterans would need to apply annually for the rebate, and funding would depend on annual legislative appropriations. The bill specifically targets veterans with less than 100% service-connected disability ratings who currently pay property taxes on their primary residence.

Maddy summaryBill A5414 prohibits New Jersey state-chartered banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions from requiring disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected disability (or their surviving spouses) to disclose anticipated property tax obligations in mortgage applications. Financial institutions must instead rely on a certification from the municipality assessor confirming the applicant meets all eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, excluding property ownership for new home purchases or including ownership for refinancing. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to create a certification form and publish a list of participating financial institutions. This policy change removes a specific disclosure requirement from mortgage underwriting for qualifying veterans, directly affecting their application process.