Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state loan program allowing New Jersey school districts with significant budget shortfalls to access funds to avoid cutting nonmandatory programs like advanced courses, sports, music, and kindergarten. Districts must demonstrate they've exhausted options such as program reductions or tax increases before applying, and the Commissioner of Education must approve loans if necessary to maintain a thorough and efficient education. The program includes a dedicated revolving account for loans, requires detailed application documentation about budget impacts and tax history, and permits districts to delay certain budget deadlines while awaiting approval. It directly affects school districts facing fiscal challenges that threaten educational programming.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 137) urges Congress and the President to pass the "Laken Riley Act." The resolution states the Act would require federal custody for migrants who enter the U.S. illegally and are accused of theft or burglary. It references the 2024 murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student, by Venezuelan migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra - who had prior minor arrests (including shoplifting) but wasn't detained due to gaps in immigration enforcement. The resolution claims this policy would prevent similar tragedies by ensuring such individuals face federal custody. The resolution itself has no legal effect and serves only as a symbolic endorsement of the proposed federal legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new expedited court process for property owners to remove unauthorized occupants who never paid rent, had no lease, or permission to live on the property. Property owners must submit a verified complaint with specific certifications (e.g., occupant never paid rent or had written permission) and provide written notice to the occupant before filing. The court must schedule a hearing within 5 business days and issue a writ of possession if the certifications are verified, requiring immediate removal by court officers. Property owners who win such cases can recover treble damages for unlawful occupancy beyond standard remedies. The process applies only to occupants without any legal basis for occupancy, as defined by the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4256) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6. The directive currently restricts state, county, and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities in specific ways, such as providing assistance solely to enforce civil immigration law or extending detention based only on immigration detainer requests. If passed, the bill would eliminate these restrictions, allowing law enforcement to share information and cooperate with federal immigration authorities under federal law. The bill directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies operating under the Attorney General's authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores state school aid reductions for certain New Jersey school districts by appropriating $210,135,047. It shifts $64,920,000 from existing FY2024 appropriations and adds $145,215,047 from the General Fund. The funding ensures districts that received Supplemental Stabilization Aid under prior law (P.L.2023, c.32) get their full 2023-2024 aid amount, and districts facing proposed aid cuts in 2024-2025 receive the difference between their 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 aid amounts. The bill directly affects school districts subject to state aid reductions under P.L.2018, c.67.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in New Jersey to create and maintain cybersecurity plans. These plans must address monitoring systems for threats, assessing risks, preventing breaches, and responding to incidents. Institutions must consult with the state's Cybersecurity Center for best practices, update their plans regularly to match new technology, and report any cyberattacks to the state Office of Homeland Security within 24 hours. The law directly affects New Jersey's public higher education institutions and aims to strengthen their protection against digital threats.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one percent annual cap on reductions to state school aid for all New Jersey public school districts. It ensures no district receives state aid in any school year that is reduced by more than one percent compared to the prior year's disbursement. The cap applies universally, overriding previous reduction schedules that allowed larger cuts for districts with negative aid differentials. School districts affected include all public school districts receiving state aid under current funding formulas, regardless of their financial status or location. This policy change directly limits annual funding cuts rather than increasing overall funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Megan's Law registration requirements to include individuals convicted of sex offenses in foreign countries or fleeing charges there. It requires these individuals to register with local law enforcement, similar to those convicted within New Jersey. Additionally, the bill mandates that law enforcement officers inquire about the immigration status of all registered sex offenders and cooperate with federal immigration authorities. These provisions directly affect foreign nationals convicted of sex offenses who reside in New Jersey and law enforcement agencies responsible for registration enforcement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires websites and online platforms to verify the age of users attempting to access content containing a "substantial portion" of material harmful to minors (defined as content with over one-third harmful material, such as explicit sexual content or lacking artistic value for minors). It applies to entities like social media platforms and websites, prohibiting minors under 18 from accessing such content unless the platform verifies their age and confirms the content is suitable for them. Platforms must use reasonable age verification methods (e.g., digital ID checks) and follow division-established standards for content suitability. The bill is pending before the New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee after being introduced on April 4, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to create a policy for using video and audio recordings in certain postseason athletic games. The policy must mandate that all tournament and postseason contests have official recordings, and require video/audio reviews when a referee's call changes the final score or game outcome. It also permits reviews to check for sportsmanship violations and confirm correct disqualifications. The policy takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment.