Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1166) requires the New Jersey State Police Superintendent to create a recovery leave policy for troopers who provide proof of pregnancy. It mandates at least eight weeks of continuous paid leave after childbirth, with full pay and benefits (not counted as sick leave or deducted from sick leave balances), and prohibits residency restrictions or integrity checks during this period. The policy must be posted on the State Police intranet, including required forms, FAQs, and contact information for inquiries. The bill was enacted into law (P.L.2025, c.259) and took effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state loan program for New Jersey school districts facing significant budget shortfalls that would force cuts to nonmandatory programs like advanced courses, sports, music, and clubs. Districts must apply after receiving their state school aid notice, demonstrating they cannot resolve the shortfall through program reductions or tax increases while meeting specific criteria, including five years of at least 2% annual property tax hikes. The state will review applications within 30 days and allow districts to delay budget deadlines until a decision is made. The program aims to prevent cuts to educational offerings while ensuring districts have explored other budget options.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges New Jersey's state and federal agencies to pause sonar testing and wind turbine mapping near offshore wind projects. It cites NOAA data showing 12 whale deaths (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphin deaths in February 2023 off New Jersey's coast - deaths occurring near active wind development sites. The resolution requests an immediate moratorium to allow scientific study of whether these activities interfere with marine mammals' navigation and communication. It specifically targets the Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The resolution does not create new law but calls for a pause while investigations continue.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to create a policy for using video and audio reviews in high school championship games. The policy must mandate recording all postseason contests and specify when reviews can correct calls affecting the final score, identify sportsmanship violations, or verify disqualifications. It applies immediately to the first full school year after the bill becomes law. The policy will directly affect high school athletes, coaches, and officials in NJSIAA sports tournaments.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires public school districts to allow home-schooled students to join school-sponsored activities like sports, clubs, music, and theater in their resident district, using the same rules as enrolled students. To participate, home-schooled students must prove residency, meet eligibility requirements, and follow district policies. The bill specifically prohibits students from switching to home-schooling solely to play sports, and it mandates that districts provide home-schooled students access to required physical exams if offered to public school students. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric public utilities in New Jersey to annually submit detailed plans to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) by May 15th each year. Specifically, utilities must file service reliability plans (covering outage restoration), emergency communications strategies (for customer and official outreach during crises), and flood mitigation reviews for substations in flood zones. The bill increases penalties for non-compliance, authorizing BPU to impose fines up to $25,000 per violation (with a $2 million cap for related incidents) for failing to meet these requirements. It directly affects all electric utilities operating within New Jersey, aiming to improve storm response and service restoration through mandatory planning and accountability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires juveniles accused of delinquency to appear in court in the county where the alleged incident occurred, rather than their county of residence. It directly affects juveniles facing delinquency charges in New Jersey. The key provision changes the court venue requirement, mandating that hearings occur where the incident happened, while also requiring courts to provide reasonable transportation to ensure juvenile attendance. This update modifies existing court rules to align with the location of the alleged offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 319, "End Crimes to Clicks Act") limits public access to body-worn camera recordings under New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA). It exempts these recordings from disclosure unless the requester is a "subject" of the recording (defined as an officer, suspect, victim, or similarly involved person) or their legal next of kin. The law specifically excludes incidental bystanders from being considered "subjects," preventing general public access to footage. This directly affects citizens seeking body cam footage, restricting requests to those directly involved in the recorded incident.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public utilities to reimburse business customers for financial losses when they must temporarily close operations due to utility repairs or replacements on the business's property. It directly affects commercial businesses receiving utility service, excluding losses during declared emergencies like storms or floods. The Board of Public Utilities determines reimbursement amounts based on business-provided documentation, and utilities cannot recover these costs through customer rates. The law excludes emergency events where service interruptions affect large customer groups or involve state/federal disaster declarations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 654) prohibits individuals convicted of sex offenses against minors under 18 from working in specific roles: as employees or volunteers at amusement parks (permanent facilities with public rides) or selling frozen desserts from street vending trucks. It directly affects sex offenders meeting the specified criteria, banning them from these employment settings. Violating this ban is a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law aims to restrict certain sex offenders from positions where they might interact with children in public venues.