Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill requires State Board of Education members to attend meetings in person to be counted as present, except during a state emergency declared by the Governor. It mandates that all public meetings be accessible both in person and virtually, with a public link posted on the Board’s website. The bill also ensures the public can submit comments remotely during meetings that accept public input. These changes apply directly to Board members and the public participating in education governance.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A771) requires New Jersey electric utilities to reimburse residential customers for food and prescription medicine spoiled due to sustained power outages lasting over 48 hours. Customers may claim up to $500 for spoiled food (with proof like receipts) or up to $1,000 for compromised medicine (with pharmacy documentation). Utilities must create an online reimbursement system within 90 days of the law's effective date, processing claims within 30 days of receipt. The bill applies specifically to outages caused by major events like storms or natural disasters, as defined in the legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to include instruction on the dangers of texting while driving in health education classes for students in grades 9 through 12. The curriculum must cover how cell phone use while driving causes erratic behaviors like lane-weaving and sudden speed changes, leading to accidents, and provide statistics on related injuries and fatalities. The state education commissioner will supply schools with sample lesson materials and resources to support this teaching. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would double the income eligibility limit for New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program from $80,000 to $160,000 for both single and married applicants, effective for tax year 2017. The program provides property tax reimbursement to seniors (65+) and disabled residents who own or rent a primary home and have paid property taxes for 10+ consecutive years. By raising the income threshold, the bill allows more qualifying low-to-moderate income residents to receive reimbursement for property tax increases above their "base year" amount. It directly affects eligible seniors and disabled homeowners and renters statewide who currently exceed the $80,000 income limit.

Maddy summaryBill A1054 clarifies that size limit regulations for lobsters apply only to lobsters caught in New Jersey's marine waters, not to imported or exported lobsters. It amends state law to specify that restrictions on lobster size - used for managing commercial and recreational fishing - apply exclusively to lobsters taken from New Jersey waters. This affects lobster fishermen, seafood businesses, and the Department of Environmental Protection, which manages these regulations. The change ensures size rules target local catches without restricting lobsters brought into the state from other areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers of household cleansing products (like soaps, detergents, and dishwashing liquids) sold in New Jersey to label the weight of each ingredient, including phosphorus, on product containers. It generally bans phosphorus compounds in these products except for specific uses: dishwasher detergents may contain up to 0.5% phosphorus, and food/dairy equipment cleaners may contain up to 8.7%. Violations carry fines of $500-$1,000 per offense, and the law takes effect one year after enactment. The bill directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and commercial establishments using these products.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to authorize current members of the New Jersey State Legislature to solemnize marriages and civil unions while serving in office. It directly affects all sitting state assembly members and senators, adding them to the existing list of authorized officiants (which includes judges, clergy, and certified civil celebrants). The key mechanism is an amendment to Section 37:1-13, explicitly including "every current member of the New Jersey State Legislature" in the list of individuals permitted to legally officiate weddings. This is a procedural change to officiant qualifications, not a substantive shift in marriage law.

Maddy summaryThis proposed constitutional amendment would guarantee New Jersey registered voters the right to vote in person at their local polling place on election day. It would require voters to submit a written request to receive a mail-in ballot, rather than automatically receiving one. The amendment aims to prevent future laws or executive orders from restricting in-person voting options or sending mail-in ballots to all voters without an individual request. It does not change current voting methods but establishes these requirements as constitutional rights.

Maddy summaryACR 60 proposes amending New Jersey's Constitution to permit public funds to be used for the historic preservation of places of worship, such as churches, as part of official preservation programs. This change directly addresses a recent court ruling that blocked Morris County from using taxpayer funds to repair historic churches under its preservation program, citing a constitutional "Religious Aid Clause" prohibition. The bill would remove this barrier by explicitly allowing such funding for religious sites with historical significance. It does not create new funding but modifies the constitutional restriction governing existing historic preservation programs.

Maddy summaryACR 74 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit New Jersey from using bond proceeds to balance its annual state budget. It would amend the state constitution to define "revenue" for budgeting purposes as excluding funds from bond sales or debt, except for new capital projects not previously authorized by law. This directly affects the state government's budgeting process by requiring annual appropriations to be covered by actual revenue, not borrowed funds. The amendment aims to prevent the practice of using bond proceeds to cover regular operating expenses instead of balancing the budget with current revenue.