Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 175) urges Congress to pass H.R.9997, which would formally name the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Toms River, New Jersey, the "Leonard G. 'Bud' Lomell, Jr. VA Clinic." The resolution honors Second Lieutenant Leonard G. "Bud" Lomell, Jr., a WWII D-Day Ranger who received the Distinguished Service Cross and served his community in Toms River after the war. The clinic serves Ocean County veterans, and the naming is a commemorative gesture recognizing Lomell's military heroism and civic contributions. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new policy but formally requests a federal naming decision.

Maddy summaryACR 150 is a New Jersey Assembly concurrent resolution declaring that the Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) proposed "New Jersey Protecting Against Climate Change - Resilient Environment and Landscapes" (NJPACT-REAL) rules are inconsistent with legislative intent. The resolution argues the DEP overstepped its authority by proposing these rules without specific legislative authorization, citing outdated or repealed laws as justification. It gives the DEP 30 days to withdraw or amend the proposed rules, which would significantly expand flood hazard areas and impact coastal property owners through higher costs for building, renovation, and property taxes. This procedural resolution does not change laws but formally requests the DEP to align its rules with legislative intent.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 173) is a non-binding request urging the federal government to investigate unidentified drone sightings reported across New Jersey. It directly addresses federal agencies (like the FAA, Defense, and Homeland Security departments) and asks them to conduct a thorough investigation into drone activity near critical infrastructure, military sites, and residential areas. The resolution cites over a dozen counties reporting nightly drone flights, including near President-elect Trump’s property, and emphasizes that local officials and residents feel these sightings pose security concerns despite federal claims of no verified threat. It does not create new laws or regulations but formally requests federal action to address public safety worries.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to issue driver's licenses and identification cards to non-citizens with a distinct color and a clear statement that the document cannot be used for voting. It also mandates that voters present a valid photo ID (such as a standard driver's license, ID card, passport, military ID, or voter registration card) matching their name and current address when voting in person or submitting mail-in ballots. The bill applies to all voters and affects how the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission issues identification documents. It does not change the requirements for citizens to obtain identification documents.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution 171 urges the U.S. President and Congress to pass legislation exempting Social Security benefits from federal income tax. The resolution notes that nearly 90% of seniors rely on these benefits (averaging $23,000 annually), with current federal law taxing 50-85% of benefits for individuals earning over $25,000 annually. It emphasizes that income thresholds for taxation have not been adjusted for inflation since the 1990s. This resolution does not create new law but calls for federal action to remove the tax burden on Social Security recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand eligibility for New Jersey veterans' benefits by removing specific time periods and locations that veterans must have served in to qualify for certain civil service and pension benefits. Instead of requiring service during particular wars or in specific conflict zones, the bill would allow veterans who have served in federal active duty in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve component to qualify. This change would impact civil service preferences, retirement benefits through the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund and Public Employees' Retirement System, and the ability to purchase military service credit for retirement. It would make it easier for veterans of more recent conflicts to access these benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5115, "Flood Zone Clarification Act") requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to set the state's flood hazard area boundaries at no more than one foot above the 100-year flood elevation defined by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program. It blocks the DEP from implementing its proposed NJPACT Rules (which would have used a 5-foot standard) until June 2038, unless the Legislature passes a specific concurrent resolution approving them. The bill directly affects property owners, developers, and local governments in flood-prone areas by standardizing flood zone boundaries and requiring legislative approval for future DEP rule changes. It does not change the existing requirement that flood zones must be at least as protective as FEMA's standards, but removes the DEP's prior discretion to set higher boundaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill delays New Jersey's implementation of Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations until January 1, 2027 - pushing back the current 2025 deadline. It directly affects vehicle manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, requiring them to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles (capping at 40-75% of annual sales by 2035). The bill modifies New Jersey’s adoption of California’s 2021 ACT regulations, which mandate phased EV sales targets, by prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from enforcing these rules before 2027. The delay gives manufacturers more time to adapt to the requirements while maintaining the state’s alignment with California’s emissions program.

Maddy summaryThe "Small Modular Nuclear Energy Incentive Act" (A5103) establishes a program for New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities to incentivize construction of small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) through a competitive bidding process. The bill directs the BPU to develop a program within one year of enactment, offering financial incentives per megawatt hour of electricity produced, with preference given to projects at former nuclear or fossil fuel plant sites and those that retrain former plant workers. Incentives would be funded from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund," which collects revenue from New Jersey's Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative participation. Selected SMR projects would be required to pay an annual administrative fee to cover program costs and could not sell environmental benefits associated with their energy production. The program must begin its first solicitation within two years of the bill's effective date.