Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to issue driver's licenses and identification cards to non-citizens with a distinct color and a clear statement that the document cannot be used for voting. It also mandates that voters present a valid photo ID (such as a standard driver's license, ID card, passport, military ID, or voter registration card) matching their name and current address when voting in person or submitting mail-in ballots. The bill applies to all voters and affects how the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission issues identification documents. It does not change the requirements for citizens to obtain identification documents.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution 171 urges the U.S. President and Congress to pass legislation exempting Social Security benefits from federal income tax. The resolution notes that nearly 90% of seniors rely on these benefits (averaging $23,000 annually), with current federal law taxing 50-85% of benefits for individuals earning over $25,000 annually. It emphasizes that income thresholds for taxation have not been adjusted for inflation since the 1990s. This resolution does not create new law but calls for federal action to remove the tax burden on Social Security recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5148) allows 12th-grade students in New Jersey public schools to have excused absences for military enlistment activities without penalty. It directly affects students planning to join the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard, covering required activities like testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting. The absence is recorded as excused on attendance records, does not appear on transcripts or employment forms, and is excluded from perfect attendance calculations. Schools may require documentation to verify the student's eligibility under this provision. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary licensing process for military spouses moving to New Jersey due to a spouse's military assignment. It requires state professional boards to issue temporary licenses to spouses who hold an unencumbered (active, no disciplinary issues) license in another state, allowing them to immediately practice their profession while their full license application is processed. The bill repeals previous requirements (P.L.2013, c.264) and ensures military spouses can apply for full licensure under standard rules. It directly affects nonresident military spouses seeking to work in licensed professions like nursing, teaching, or engineering within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand eligibility for New Jersey veterans' benefits by removing specific time periods and locations that veterans must have served in to qualify for certain civil service and pension benefits. Instead of requiring service during particular wars or in specific conflict zones, the bill would allow veterans who have served in federal active duty in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve component to qualify. This change would impact civil service preferences, retirement benefits through the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund and Public Employees' Retirement System, and the ability to purchase military service credit for retirement. It would make it easier for veterans of more recent conflicts to access these benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5115, "Flood Zone Clarification Act") requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to set the state's flood hazard area boundaries at no more than one foot above the 100-year flood elevation defined by FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program. It blocks the DEP from implementing its proposed NJPACT Rules (which would have used a 5-foot standard) until June 2038, unless the Legislature passes a specific concurrent resolution approving them. The bill directly affects property owners, developers, and local governments in flood-prone areas by standardizing flood zone boundaries and requiring legislative approval for future DEP rule changes. It does not change the existing requirement that flood zones must be at least as protective as FEMA's standards, but removes the DEP's prior discretion to set higher boundaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill delays New Jersey's implementation of Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations until January 1, 2027 - pushing back the current 2025 deadline. It directly affects vehicle manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, requiring them to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles (capping at 40-75% of annual sales by 2035). The bill modifies New Jersey’s adoption of California’s 2021 ACT regulations, which mandate phased EV sales targets, by prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from enforcing these rules before 2027. The delay gives manufacturers more time to adapt to the requirements while maintaining the state’s alignment with California’s emissions program.

Maddy summaryThe "End Crimes to Clicks Act" (A5065) limits public access to law enforcement body worn camera recordings under New Jersey's open public records law (OPRA), making them generally unavailable to the public. The bill 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 if the subject is deceased. It explicitly excludes incidental bystanders from this definition and clarifies that private individuals retain the right to record and share their own videos of police interactions. The law aims to prevent commercial exploitation and editing of such recordings that could harm reputations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2652 revises laws to better protect children from sexual exploitation. It creates a civil right for victims (or their guardians/advocacy groups) to sue perpetrators for three times the profits gained from distributing child sexual abuse material, holding both individuals and corporate employees personally liable. The bill also expands sex offender registration requirements to include anyone working with children in schools or jobs for over 14 consecutive days, clarifies which offenses trigger registration (like creating or sharing exploitative material), and adds a limited exception for juvenile-created nude photos under strict conditions. These changes directly affect victims of child exploitation, perpetrators, and institutions that facilitate such abuse. The law passed unanimously in 2024 (P.L.2024, c.92).

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers, making it a second-degree crime when bodily injury occurs (previously a third-degree crime). It expands protection to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel who are assaulted while performing their duties. The bill requires offenders to provide a blood or biological sample for testing for communicable diseases, with any positive results shared with the victim. It also prohibits plea bargains for assault on law enforcement officers and prevents convictions from merging with other offenses. The bill takes effect immediately.