Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates a $500 minimum fine for underage possession or consumption of alcohol or cannabis in locations like schools, public places, or vehicles. It removes prior provisions that allowed written warnings for first and second offenses and community referrals for third offenses, replacing them with a direct disorderly person offense penalty. Now, any violation by an individual under the legal age for purchasing alcohol or cannabis will result in a minimum $500 fine. The bill directly affects underage individuals found in possession or consumption in the specified locations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 298) expands definitions of riot and disorderly conduct, increasing penalties for related offenses. It makes it a third-degree crime to participate in riots involving weapons or causing property damage/injury (previously fourth-degree), and creates a new fourth-degree crime for desecrating public monuments during riots. The bill also enhances penalties for assaulting specific protected groups, including police, firefighters, school staff, and emergency medical personnel, during riot-related incidents. It directly affects individuals engaging in violent assemblies, damaging public monuments, or attacking designated personnel during such events.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires motor fuel terminals and wholesalers to maintain backup power for 72 hours during disasters, with inspections by building officials. It also mandates that new or substantially renovated gas stations, and existing stations with eight or more pumps near evacuation routes, be pre-wired for backup power by December 2022. Additionally, the bill establishes a state program to certify retail gas stations to supply fuel to emergency responders and the public during declared emergencies. These requirements directly affect fuel storage facilities, gas stations, and participating retail dealers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Governor, with the Commissioner of Education, to take actions protecting the state's educational resources from federal interference. Specifically, it mandates challenging federal policies limiting state authority over education, supporting efforts to challenge the Supreme Court's *Plyler v. Doe* decision (which guarantees public school access to undocumented children), and backing local initiatives preserving educational resources. The law directly affects New Jersey's public education system, state officials, and students, particularly those in immigrant communities. It establishes a state framework for opposing federal education policies but does not change existing school funding or curriculum rules. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryACR 22 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey to fund public school districts (excluding special education) with equal per-pupil state aid. This would change current funding practices where aid per student varies significantly between districts. The amendment specifies the state would not be required to set minimum or maximum funding levels for districts. If approved by voters, it would amend the state constitution to mandate this equal per-pupil funding approach for general school support.

Maddy summaryThis bill, "CJ's Law" (A 1617), would criminalize the manufacture, sale, and possession of substances containing kratom in New Jersey. It directly affects individuals who use or sell kratom products, including those who currently purchase or consume kratom for personal use. The key mechanism is amending New Jersey's controlled substances law (N.J.S.2C:35-2) to explicitly include kratom as a prohibited substance under the definition of "controlled dangerous substances." The bill is pending before the Assembly Consumer Affairs Committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill, formally titled "Imprisoning Illegal Aliens Act" but actually repealing New Jersey's current ban, would allow state/local governments and private detention facilities to enter into agreements for detaining noncitizens under civil immigration law. Currently, New Jersey law prohibits such agreements (for contracts related to housing or detaining noncitizens for immigration violations), but this bill removes that restriction. The key change is replacing "shall not" with "may" for entering these agreements, effective immediately upon passage. It directly affects New Jersey's counties, sheriffs, municipalities, and private detention facilities that previously could not participate in immigration detention contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 258) expands whistleblower protections for employees of New Jersey government entities. It prohibits employers (including state, county, municipal, school district, and agency staff) from retaliating against employees who disclose: violations of law, fraudulent activity, substantial waste of public funds, or abuse of authority/gross mismanagement by government entities. Employees can report these issues to supervisors or public bodies without fear of termination, demotion, or other adverse employment actions. The law specifically defines key terms like "substantial waste of public funds" and "abuse of authority" to clarify protected disclosures. The bill is currently pending before the Assembly Labor Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to make intentionally disrupting 9-1-1 call centers a second-degree crime. It specifically targets individuals who deny, disrupt, or impair access to public safety answering points (PSAPs) - the facilities that handle 9-1-1 emergency calls - without authorization. The law clarifies that interfering with these critical emergency systems now carries the same penalty as other computer crimes against public infrastructure. This applies to anyone who intentionally disrupts 9-1-1 services, including hackers or others causing interference.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Internet Criminal Information Registry, making public online information about individuals convicted of specific violent or serious crimes. It directly affects people convicted of offenses like murder, kidnapping, robbery, carjacking, aggravated arson, and certain drug-related crimes involving serious harm. The registry will display names, sentences, locations (incarceration/parole address), release dates, and criminal history in three categories based on current status (incarcerated, on parole, or in community release). Information is automatically removed from the public registry upon release or parole completion. The registry is funded using a portion of forfeiture proceeds from criminal cases, per the bill's provisions.