Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryCJ's Law (A3797) would criminalize the manufacture, sale, and possession of substances containing kratom in New Jersey. It sets different penalties based on quantity: possessing or distributing one ounce or more of kratom would be a second-degree crime (5-10 years in prison or up to $150,000 fine), while smaller amounts would be third-degree crimes (3-5 years or up to $15,000 fine). Kratom, a botanical substance from Southeast Asia marketed as a pain supplement but not approved for medical use, is associated with health risks including addiction and respiratory issues. The bill is named after Christopher James Holowach, who died from cardiac arrest related to kratom use. Currently, kratom is not banned by New Jersey law but is restricted under federal FDA guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) from $50 to $140 for low-income residents in nursing homes, state psychiatric hospitals, and state developmental centers. The allowance is intended for residents to spend on discretionary items like phone calls, meals out, clothing, or hobbies. The new amount includes an automatic annual increase tied to the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment starting the year after enactment. It also ensures SSI recipients in these facilities receive the same $140 monthly allowance as Medicaid recipients, with the state covering the difference if federal supplements remain unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4610) expands the definition of "riot" to include groups using weapons or causing property damage, raising it to a third-degree crime. It creates a new felony for damaging public monuments (like statues or war memorials) during a riot and increases penalties for assaults on first responders, school staff, or emergency personnel during such events. The bill also strengthens existing disorderly conduct laws by clarifying when gatherings become illegal (e.g., obstructing highways) and adds a new offense for promoting violent assemblies. These changes directly affect individuals participating in or inciting public disturbances, with specific focus on protecting monuments, emergency workers, and school staff. The bill remains pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee as of June 20, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4606) removes a prohibition that previously prevented New Jersey state agencies, local governments, and private detention facilities from entering agreements to detain noncitizens for civil immigration violations. It amends existing law to allow these entities to enter, renew, or extend such agreements, which would authorize housing or detaining individuals under immigration enforcement. The bill repeals a prior section that banned these agreements, changing the legal framework from prohibition to permission. This directly affects state/local agencies and private facilities that may choose to contract with federal immigration authorities for detention services. The policy change is limited to permitting agreements that were previously barred, without creating new requirements or mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a specific criminal offense for financial exploitation of the elderly in New Jersey. It defines "elderly" as anyone 60 or older with age-related health conditions or mental impairments that affect their ability to make decisions about their property. The offense applies when someone in a "position of trust" (like family members, caregivers, or people with fiduciary obligations) uses fraud, false promises, extortion, or intimidation to obtain property from an elderly person. The bill upgrades penalties for this type of theft, making amounts between $200-$500 a third-degree crime (up from a fourth-degree crime) and amounts under $200 a fourth-degree crime (up from a disorderly persons offense).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey County Clerks to provide copies of applications at every polling place on election day for voters who want to stop receiving mail-in ballots for future elections. It directly affects voters who wish to opt out of mail-in voting for subsequent elections. The key provision mandates that these decline applications must be physically available at all polling locations on election day, rather than requiring voters to submit them online or by mail beforehand. The policy change takes effect January 1 following the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's zoning law to remove the requirement for municipalities to provide public notice when updating a zoning ordinance solely to add a new type of use (such as a business or building) within an existing zoning district. Currently, such changes would trigger a 10-day notice to nearby property owners, the Office of Planning Advocacy, and military facility commanders. The bill explicitly states that these notice rules do not apply when the sole purpose of the amendment is adding a new use - streamlining the process for local governments. This change directly affects municipalities handling zoning updates for new developments without altering district boundaries or classifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks following fertilization, with exceptions when the pregnancy threatens the woman's life, results from rape (requiring prior reporting to law enforcement), or results from rape or incest involving a minor (also requiring prior reporting). Physicians must determine the probable post-fertilization age before performing an abortion and document the specific exception being used. The bill requires specific informed consent forms, prohibits performing abortions in violation of these rules (which would be a third-degree crime), and mandates appropriate medical care if a child is born alive following an abortion under an exception.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A750 (A750) modifies age requirements for police officer applicants by allowing veterans to deduct up to two years of military service from their age. It directly affects veterans over 35 who served at least 10 days during a time of war, enabling them to qualify if their adjusted age (actual age minus military service) equals 35 or less. The bill amends N.J.S.40A:14-127 to establish this deduction as a specific exception to the existing maximum age limit of 35. This creates a clearer, capped mechanism for veterans to meet age requirements without altering the base eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens campaign finance transparency in New Jersey by requiring independent expenditure committees (groups that spend money on elections without direct candidate support) to report large contributions and expenditures more frequently, especially in the days before elections. It mandates that these committees report contributions over $7,500 within 24-72 hours before elections and file quarterly reports after elections until their campaign accounts close. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for investigating campaign finance violations from two to four years after an election. Additionally, it exempts all campaign finance reports filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission from standard redaction requirements that apply to other public records, making these reports more accessible to the public.