Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 254) allows public utilities (like power and water companies) to lease National Guard equipment for up to 48 hours after a disaster, such as a storm, to repair damage. The state must create and publish a list of available National Guard equipment that can be leased, subject to federal law. Utilities can access this equipment quickly during emergencies to restore services, with the Adjutant General responsible for creating the leasing rules. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey municipalities from passing ordinances that require local officials to refuse cooperation with federal immigration enforcement requests. It directly affects municipal and county governing bodies, making such policies void and imposing penalties (including fines or loss of office) on officials who vote to adopt them. The bill also requires local employees to comply with federal immigration requests and provides state defense for employees acting in good faith during such cooperation. Key provisions include banning "sanctuary city" policies and establishing legal protections for local officials who follow federal immigration enforcement requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's survivor pension program to cover the families of volunteer emergency service workers (firefighters, EMTs, first aid/rescue volunteers) who died from COVID-19 during the 2020 public health emergency. It deems such deaths as occurring "in the course of duty" if the volunteer: (1) contracted COVID-19 during the declared emergency, (2) died from it, and (3) performed duties requiring public interaction during that period. Survivors (widow/widower, children, or dependent parents) become eligible for the existing $15,000 annual pension, with retroactive payments starting the year after the volunteer's death. The bill applies only to deaths occurring during the Governor's 2020 emergency declaration.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A1469) allows state, county, and local governments to create "special event zones" around large gatherings (25+ attendees or approved events) to improve traffic safety. Within these zones, authorities can temporarily lower speed limits and ban "exhibition driving" (reckless maneuvers like tire screeching or driving on vehicle roofs). Drivers violating speed limits or exhibition driving rules in these zones face higher fines - up to $1,000 - and additional penalties for certain offenses. The zones remain active during the event and for a reasonable time before/after, with clear signage indicating restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to adjust census data used for redistricting by removing all noncitizens (including legal residents and undocumented individuals) from population counts. It directly affects all New Jersey legislative, county, and municipal districts, as these boundaries would be redrawn based solely on the citizen population. The key mechanism mandates that the Secretary of State exclude noncitizens from census data when establishing district lines, per Section 2 of the bill. This changes how districts are drawn to reflect only citizen residents, rather than the full population count used in current redistricting.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes rules for selecting and overseeing state commissioners to an Article V constitutional convention. It requires commissioners to meet specific qualifications (e.g., U.S. citizenship for 5+ years, New Jersey residency for 3+ years, no recent federal office or lobbying roles) and mandates appointment via a joint legislative resolution. Commissioners are prohibited from supporting changes to the "one state, one vote" rule or amendments altering specific constitutional guarantees (including the Bill of Rights and key amendments like the 14th and 19th). The bill also creates an advisory committee to handle vacancies and allows the legislature to recall commissioners or impose additional instructions, with criminal penalties for violations as noted in the title.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that size limits for lobsters apply only to lobsters caught in New Jersey's marine waters, not to lobsters imported, exported, or sold from other areas. It directly affects commercial and recreational lobster fishermen operating within New Jersey's coastal waters by specifying where the size regulations apply. The key change modifies existing law to ensure size restrictions for lobsters (Homarus americanus) are enforced solely on lobsters taken from state marine waters, as defined by the Department of Environmental Protection. The bill does not change the size limits themselves but clarifies their geographic scope.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric public utilities (companies delivering power to homes and businesses) to submit detailed plans to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) within 180 days. The plans must outline how they will strengthen ("harden") their electric distribution substations - facilities that convert high-voltage power to lower voltage for local delivery - to protect against criminal attacks. The BPU must review each plan within 180 days and, if approved, order the utility to complete the hardening work within one year. The bill also mandates the BPU to establish security standards for these substations within 120 days of the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 326) increases penalties for repeat offenders who receive stolen vehicles in New Jersey. It makes knowingly possessing a stolen car a second-degree crime if someone has two prior convictions within 15 years (previously dependent on vehicle value), and mandates a minimum parole ineligibility period for adults. For juveniles with two prior offenses, it allows courts to waive them to adult court, imposing up to 10 years in prison. The bill directly affects repeat offenders and aims to strengthen sentencing for vehicle theft crimes. (Note: Bill introduced January 2026, pending committee review.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state and local agencies that provide government assistance (like food, healthcare, housing, or utilities) to ask beneficiaries about their citizenship or immigration status and document it. Agencies must submit monthly, aggregated reports to the Department of Health showing the cost of assistance provided to individuals who cannot prove lawful presence (defined as "illegal aliens" under the bill), with all data made publicly available online. It mandates that applicants provide proof of status to receive aid and prohibits false statements about immigration status, with violations punishable as a fourth-degree crime. The bill directly affects agencies receiving state funding and people applying for state-provided benefits.