Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "safe haven" system allowing people to anonymously surrender domestic companion animals (pets) to shelters, pounds, veterinary hospitals, or police stations without disclosing their identity or providing owner information. Facilities must accept animals during operating hours, post clear signage about drop-off procedures, and provide necessary care without attempting to reunite animals with previous owners. It also requires the Department of Health to create a public education program, including school materials for grades 3-12, and a 24-hour hotline to inform the public about the safe haven process. The law takes immediate effect and applies to all municipalities and animal care facilities in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 104) urges Congress and the President to enact immigration policies that better serve national interests. It cites U.S. Customs and Border Protection data showing 3.2 million border encounters in fiscal year 2023 as justification, noting New Jersey has an estimated 755,000 undocumented immigrants. The resolution specifically requests Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform and the President immediately enforce existing immigration laws. It does not create new laws but formally requests federal action, with copies sent to all relevant federal officials.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3489) expands the definition of riot to include causing property damage or injury to others, making it a fourth-degree crime. It enhances penalties for destroying public monuments during riots (elevating it to a fourth-degree crime), and creates a new aggravated assault charge for harming anyone during a riot. The bill also establishes a new crime called "promotion of violent, disorderly assembly" for organizers, financiers, or managers of riot-related activities, with penalties including a mandatory 15-30 year prison sentence for first-degree offenses. These changes specifically apply to incidents occurring during riots or at the site of peaceful assemblies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies, corporations, manufacturers, and contract testing facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption suitability after testing ends. If suitable, the animals must be offered to animal rescue organizations or private individuals for adoption. The bill establishes procedures for documenting assessments and dispositions, requiring facilities to register with the Department of Health and report details about animal use, suitability, and adoption outcomes. Noncompliance could result in civil penalties of $10,000 for a first offense, $50,000 for a second, and potential injunctions against conducting further animal testing for a third offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 in New Jersey. It changes the punishment for any trafficking of a child (for sexual activity or forced labor) from a minimum 20-year sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Convicted individuals must also pay fines of at least $25,000, which fund a survivor assistance program. The law applies to all forms of child trafficking, regardless of whether the perpetrator mistakenly believed the child was 18 or older.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts all New Jersey school districts spending below the state-defined adequacy level from reductions in state school aid. It removes the previous requirement that districts must be located in municipalities with tax rates above the state average (with a 10% threshold for non-SDA districts) to qualify for this exemption. Now, any district meeting the spending threshold - regardless of local tax rates - is protected from aid cuts. The change applies to the 2019-2020 through 2024-2025 school years and affects all school districts statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tuition-free education for up to 16 credits per semester (maximizing eight semesters) at public or degree-granting private colleges to: - Retired law enforcement officers and firefighters who retired due to service-related injuries or illnesses, and - The spouse or dependent child of a New Jersey officer or firefighter who died in the line of duty. To qualify, applicants must be New Jersey residents, apply for all available federal and state student grants, and maintain academic standing. The state will reimburse institutions for tuition costs not covered by these grants, with spouses who already hold an undergraduate degree eligible for graduate studies (excluding medical, dental, and law programs).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools to integrate age-appropriate lessons about the September 11, 2001 attacks into Social Studies curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students. It mandates coverage of six specific topics: historical context, the timeline of events, first responder heroism, humanitarian aid following the attacks, global counterterrorism responses, and strategies for promoting tolerance and diversity. Additionally, every public school must hold an annual commemorative event focused on conflict resolution, diversity, and cultural tolerance. The New Jersey Commissioner of Education will provide schools with sample lesson resources to support implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of low-speed electric bicycles (max 20 mph) and low-speed electric scooters (max 19 mph) in New Jersey to register these vehicles with the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and maintain liability insurance. Registration costs $8, expires after 11 months, and requires MVC approval of the vehicle type. Owners must carry minimum liability coverage of $35,000 per person for bodily injury, replacing prior exemptions that allowed operation without registration or insurance. The bill directly affects all residents who own or operate these devices on New Jersey roads and paths.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain New Jersey Transit (NJ Transit) employees who need access to security-sensitive areas - such as those handling security operations - to undergo criminal history background checks and wear visible photo identification. Prospective employees must submit fingerprints for background checks and cannot be hired if disqualifying criminal records are found. Current security employees must wear photo ID cards displaying their name, photo, signature, date issued, and proof of employment at all times while on duty. The bill specifies that NJ Transit must notify applicants of background check results, allow a 20-day appeal period for disqualifications, and discard background records after 36 months.