Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to provide a property tax exemption for the primary home of a surviving spouse whose first responder spouse (law enforcement officer, firefighter, or first aid/ambulance/rescue personnel) died in the line of duty. The exemption applies only if the home was the deceased first responder's primary residence at the time of death and continues as long as the surviving spouse lives there and does not remarry. The state would reimburse local governments annually for lost tax revenue from properties receiving this exemption. This change would affect surviving spouses of eligible first responders, covering both paid and volunteer personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a certification process for non-physicians (such as licensed estheticians or technicians) to legally perform laser tattoo removal in New Jersey. It requires the State Board of Medical Examiners to establish specific standards, including qualification criteria, testing procedures, and continuing education requirements. Non-certified individuals would be prohibited from offering these services, and certification would need renewal every two years. The bill directly affects non-physician practitioners seeking to provide tattoo removal services and aims to standardize safety and training under state oversight.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 140) is a symbolic condemnation, not a law, addressing Rutgers University's response to student protests. It specifically criticizes Rutgers for accepting eight of ten demands from protesters who established an encampment at Rutgers University-New Brunswick on April 29, 2024. The demands included divesting from companies supporting Israel, ending partnerships with Tel Aviv University, and accepting Gazan students, while the protesters used anti-Semitic rhetoric and glorified Hamas violence. The resolution states Rutgers’ acceptance of these demands created a hostile environment for Jewish students, faculty, and staff, and urges the university to uphold campus safety policies. It directs copies to Rutgers' leadership but has no legal effect.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4407) increases daily pay for election workers from $300 to $400 per election (primary, general, or special). It also raises additional compensation for workers managing signature copy registers: from $12.50 to $20 for one worker, or $6.25 to $10 each for two workers sharing the duty. The state will increase its reimbursement to counties from $225 to $325 per election worker, meaning counties still cover $75 of the $400 daily rate. The bill directly affects election workers and county governments across all New Jersey counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new affordable housing developments (called "inclusionary developments") with 10 or more units or four or more stories to meet LEED Silver or equivalent green building standards. Developers must also submit impact studies on traffic, schools, stormwater, and carbon emissions (if clearing over one acre) to local municipalities before construction begins. The law applies to new projects only, exempting those with applications submitted before the law takes effect. It directs the Department of Community Affairs to create implementing rules within eight months of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's public colleges and universities from entering any partnership (including contracts, joint ventures, or memorandums of understanding) with institutions of higher education located in Palestinian-controlled West Bank or Gaza territories. It also bans the transfer, license, or sublicense of intellectual property (such as research data or patents) to those institutions. Public institutions found non-compliant by the Secretary of Higher Education would lose eligibility for state funding covering operational and capital costs. The law applies specifically to partnerships with institutions in designated Palestinian territories and takes immediate effect.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4417) prohibits displaying or flying flags of organizations designated as terrorist groups by the U.S. Department of State on any state-owned or leased property. It directly affects state agencies, schools, hospitals, parks, and other government facilities that use state property. Violating this rule results in immediate loss of state funding, with penalties determined by the Secretary of State and Budget Director. The ban does not apply to flags displayed for news, theater, historical, or educational purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from creating scholarship programs limited to students who are citizens or permanent residents of countries or territories controlled by terrorist organizations designated by the U.S. Secretary of State. It directly affects all public and private institutions of higher education in New Jersey by banning such restricted funding programs. Violations would result in loss of state operating aid, state bond proceeds, and state student financial aid funds distributed through the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The bill was introduced in response to a specific incident at Rutgers University where student demands included accepting Gazan students on scholarships. The policy change focuses on ensuring state-funded educational programs remain open to all eligible students without geographic restrictions tied to terrorism designations.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey public and private colleges and universities from receiving state funding if they boycott or divest from Israel-supporting businesses or Israeli businesses. Specifically, institutions that engage in actions defined as boycotting Israeli goods/entities, divesting due to a company’s support of Israel (including through "in-kind" or for-profit ties), or participating in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement would lose access to state operating aid, education facility bonds, general obligation bonds, and state student scholarship funds. The bill explicitly excludes divestment for "prudent economic reasons," such as financial risk management. It applies to all parts of an institution, including endowments and departments, and defines key terms like "boycott" and "divestment" in plain language. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "New Jersey Anti-Semitism Task Force" within the Department of State to research anti-Semitism, develop recommendations, and issue annual reports. The permanent 18-member task force - including legislative leaders, law enforcement, Jewish community representatives, and public members - will identify evidence on anti-Semitism history, stereotypes, and systemic issues affecting Jewish communities in New Jersey. It must hold at least four public meetings yearly (including one in-person) and submit its first annual report within 12 months of its first meeting. The task force directly affects Jewish communities in New Jersey and requires state resources for its operations, without creating new laws or policies.