Asm. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis bill (A804) makes it a second-degree crime to intentionally disrupt, damage, or interfere with 9-1-1 public safety answering points (PSAPs), which are facilities that receive emergency calls and dispatch services. It directly targets individuals who unlawfully access or disrupt 9-1-1 systems, such as hackers causing outages. The law amends New Jersey’s computer crime statute (N.J.S.2C:20-25) to explicitly include PSAPs under the definition of "computer services" that cannot be impaired without authorization. Violations are punishable by 5-10 years in prison, and if the victim is a government agency (which PSAPs are), the sentence must include a parole-ineligible minimum term.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes mandatory six-month prison terms or six months of community service for individuals convicted of burglary, robbery, or theft during a declared state of emergency in New Jersey. These penalties apply in addition to standard criminal penalties under New Jersey law and cover emergencies like natural disasters or public safety threats declared by the Governor. The law specifies that prosecution must occur in the local municipal court, with the state required to prove the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. It directly affects anyone committing these specific property crimes during an active emergency period.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey truck and van rental companies to photograph any person authorized to operate a rented vehicle before delivery. Rental companies must securely retain these photos for 180 days and provide them to law enforcement upon request if the vehicle is later misused. It applies specifically to rentals for personal or non-commercial use (excluding commercial freight), targeting companies renting trucks, semitrailers, or vans without drivers. The law aims to help authorities identify users when rental vehicles are involved in incidents. The requirement takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires annual baseline concussion testing for all student-athletes and cheerleaders in grades six through twelve participating in school sports programs. The testing, conducted before each athletic season by a school physician or athletic trainer, assesses pre-symptomatic brain function to help diagnose concussions. School districts must update their concussion policies to include this testing, and physicians must consider baseline results when clearing students to return to play after a head injury. The law also updates training requirements for athletic trainers to include baseline testing protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mortgage lenders to maintain vacant, age-restricted dwelling units during foreclosure proceedings. It specifically affects lenders foreclosing on properties in communities that restrict occupancy to older residents (complying with the "housing for older persons" exception under federal law). If a unit becomes vacant during foreclosure but before title transfers to the lender, the community can notify the lender, who must then pay the unit's monthly maintenance fees and maintain the property according to community rules. If the lender fails to meet these obligations, the community can pursue the same remedies against the lender as they would against the original owner. The bill amends existing foreclosure laws (P.L.2008, c.127 and P.L.2012, c.70) to include these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit New Jersey local governments (municipalities, counties, and their agencies) from setting minimum wage rates or mandating paid sick leave requirements for private employers within their jurisdictions. It would make any local ordinance, resolution, or regulation establishing employment terms for private employers "null and void" and "against public policy." The bill specifically excludes school districts from this prohibition and clarifies that local governments may still include labor requirements in public contracts with vendors or contractors. This legislation would amend New Jersey's existing minimum wage law to prevent local jurisdictions from establishing higher wage standards than the state minimum.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A773 requires electric utilities to install smart meters and smart meter technology at customer locations upon request (with the customer covering costs) and in new building construction. Utilities must submit a plan to the Board of Public Utilities within 90 days detailing smart meter deployment and data access for third parties with customer consent. Within 24 months, utilities must propose time-of-use pricing plans for customers with smart meters, which customers may voluntarily adopt. Utilities can recover installation costs through regulated rate adjustments but cannot recover lost revenue from reduced electricity usage due to smart meter adoption. The bill directly affects residential and commercial customers who request smart meters or live in newly constructed buildings.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a toll relief program for New Jersey drivers using electronic toll collection (E-ZPass). It requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to provide 50% credits on tolls paid for qualifying transactions - defined as 35+ paid transponder-based tolls per month on specific highways like the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway - credited to eligible private prepaid accounts within one month. The state appropriates $250 million to NJTA and $250 million to SJTA from the General Fund to cover these credits, prohibiting use of funds for administrative costs. Authorities must submit quarterly reports detailing credits issued, and the program expires one year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A766) prohibits default approvals of certain municipal land use applications and allows municipal agencies to skip required meetings during declared emergencies. It applies when the Governor declares a public health emergency (under the Emergency Health Powers Act) or a state of emergency (under P.L.1942, c.251), including during the pandemic period referenced in Executive Order No. 103. Municipal agencies cannot automatically approve applications that would normally be approved by default under the Municipal Land Use Law (P.L.1975, c.291) during these emergencies and for 60 days after. The bill directly affects local governments handling land use decisions, permitting flexibility during crises while maintaining the legal framework for approvals.

Maddy summaryACR 36 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $500 annually, phased in over five years (reaching $500 by 2027). It directly affects honorably discharged veterans and surviving spouses who meet residency requirements. The amendment would adjust the deduction amount incrementally: $300 in 2023, $350 in 2024, $400 in 2025, $450 in 2026, and $500 starting in 2027. This change would replace the current $250 deduction, which has not been raised since 1999. The proposal requires voter approval via referendum after legislative passage.