Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a faster court process to remove people occupying property without legal right, specifically targeting occupants who never paid rent, had no lease, and entered without the owner's consent. Property owners must certify in court that the occupant was never a tenant, never paid rent, and had no written permission to stay. If verified, courts must schedule a hearing within 3 business days and issue a writ of possession within 5 days, requiring immediate removal by court officers. Property owners who win such cases also receive triple damages for unlawful occupancy, while forging documents to manipulate the process is a criminal offense punishable by up to 5 years in prison. The bill directly affects property owners seeking to reclaim vacant properties and occupants facing removal under these strict criteria.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 1848) requires state licensing authorities to collect new child support certification information from applicants for professional, occupational, or driver's licenses. Applicants must certify on a separate form - under penalty of perjury - whether they have child support arrears exceeding six months' payments, owe unpaid health care coverage, failed to respond to a subpoena, or face a child support warrant. Licenses cannot be issued, renewed, or reinstated if applicants fail to meet these requirements. The bill clarifies existing procedures by mandating written notice of these requirements and the legal basis for license suspension related to child support obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes mandatory penalties for burglary, robbery, or theft committed during a state of emergency declared under New Jersey's Disaster Control Act. It requires courts to impose a minimum six-month prison term or six months of community service (in addition to standard penalties) for these specific crimes when they occur during emergencies like natural disasters or war threats. The law applies to individuals who commit these acts while an emergency is ongoing, as defined by the Governor's emergency orders. It directly affects people charged with burglary, robbery, or theft during declared emergencies, with penalties enforced through municipal courts.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study whether microgrids and backup generators can reduce the duration of prolonged power outages. The BPU must complete a report within six months, comparing New Jersey's electric system to other states, assessing real-world impacts of these technologies, and consulting with utilities and communities. The study must also evaluate costs for ratepayers, municipalities, and the state. This bill does not implement new policies but mandates a factual analysis to inform future decisions about grid resilience. It affects all New Jersey residents and utilities by potentially shaping future energy infrastructure investments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1408) amends New Jersey law to require human trafficking awareness signs at specific establishments - including massage businesses, hotels, airports, hospitals, and transportation hubs - to include Chinese and Korean translations, in addition to English and Spanish. The signs must be at least 8.5x11 inches, printed in 16-point font, and displayed in visible locations like restrooms and dressing rooms. Businesses failing to comply face civil penalties of $300 for a first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The change responds directly to a 2024 Commission of Investigation report on human trafficking in New Jersey’s massage industry.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to provide any school district with a request the specific data, software algorithms, and detailed calculations used to determine state school aid. It mandates disclosure of all data for every district - including how adequacy budgets, equalization aid, and local shares are calculated, adjusted when local shares exceed budgets, and the reconciliation showing total local share plus equalization aid equals statewide adequacy budgets. The DOE must share this information regardless of whether the software is considered proprietary. This transparency measure aims to help school districts verify that state aid formulas are applied correctly under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new voting machines purchased or leased in New Jersey to produce a permanent paper record for every vote cast. Voters would be able to verify their selections on this paper record at the time of voting, and the record would be preserved for audits or recounts. In the event of a recount, the paper record would serve as the official vote tally. The requirement applies only to machines acquired after the bill's effective date, with limited waivers possible if federal funding isn't secured or state appropriations aren't available.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding assembly resolution (AR 84) expressing New Jersey's support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks. It condemns Hamas as a terrorist organization, details the attacks' casualties (including 1,400 Israelis killed and 30 Americans), and states the resolution "stands with Israel as it defends itself." The resolution has no legal effect; it will be formally transmitted to Israel's leadership, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. It directly affects no individuals or policies, serving only as a symbolic statement of support.

Maddy summaryThis bill permits licensed organizations in New Jersey (such as charities, churches, and veterans groups) to conduct "Queen of Hearts" raffle games under existing raffle regulations. The raffle uses a board with 54 shuffled cards; participants select cards weekly until someone finds the Queen of Hearts. If they don't find it, they win a cash prize immediately; if they do, they receive 50% of the prize with the rest going to the organizer. The Legalized Games of Chance Control Commission must establish rules for these games, including prize schedules.

Maddy summaryThis bill (AR 18) directs New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal and amend specific parts of the 2018 Law Enforcement Directive (No. 2018-6), which previously restricted state and local law enforcement from sharing immigration status information with federal authorities like ICE. It specifically targets the restriction on sharing citizenship/immigration status details, allowing law enforcement to coordinate with federal immigration agencies when necessary for public safety. The bill preserves exceptions for T-Visa (human trafficking victims) and U-Visa (crime victim) certification procedures. It directly affects New Jersey police departments, sheriffs' offices, and state law enforcement agencies by removing legal barriers to cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.