Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state funds from being used to provide legal assistance or services to immigrants facing immigration detention or deportation. It bans direct state funding, contracts, or grants to public agencies or nonprofits offering such legal help, targeting support for individuals based on immigration status. The bill references past budget language that allocated up to $2.1 million for legal services to immigrants in detention/deportation cases. It takes immediate effect and applies to all state funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A410) requires New Jersey public school districts to provide vouchers to parents who withdraw their child from public school due to objections about curriculum materials or activities they deem "harmful." The voucher covers 75% of the nonpublic school's tuition and fees, calculated based on the district's per-pupil spending and prorated for remaining school days. It specifically defines "harmful" objections to include conflicts with parental beliefs about sex, sexuality, gender identity, religion, or morality. The bill applies to parents of students enrolled in public schools who choose to enroll in nonpublic schools for these reasons.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 20) is a symbolic statement opposing President Biden’s current border policies and urging him to reinstate specific border measures from the prior administration. It specifically calls for the return of policies including the border wall, Title 42 expulsions, the "remain in Mexico" program, and Safe Third-Country Agreements with Central American nations. The resolution does not change any laws but expresses New Jersey’s position and will be sent to President Biden, Congress, and New Jersey’s federal representatives. It directly addresses the federal executive and legislative branches, not state residents or local policies.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 57) urges New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping activities off the New Jersey coast. It is prompted by the unexplained deaths of at least 12 whales (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphins recorded near offshore wind development areas since December 2022. The resolution calls for pausing these activities to allow for scientific study of potential links between sonar/mapping technologies and the marine life deaths. As a resolution, it does not create law but formally requests federal and state agencies to halt related operations pending investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2517) prohibits New Jersey state agencies and local governments from entering into or renewing public service contracts with contractors who knowingly employ or contract with unauthorized workers. It requires all such contractors to verify employee work authorization using the federal E-Verify program and certify that subcontractors also comply. Contractors must report violations to the state agency within three days and may terminate non-compliant subcontractors after a notice period, unless the subcontractor provides proof of compliance. Contractors found violating these rules are listed publicly by the Department of Labor for two years, unless cleared by court. The law applies specifically to contracts for labor or services, not goods or products.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2638) requires New Jersey's chief law enforcement officers or the Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities when a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in the United States applies for a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC) or handgun purchase permit. The notification requirement applies specifically to applicants who are undocumented non-citizens, as federal law (18 U.S.C. §922(d)(5)) prohibits firearm sales to such individuals. This bill incorporates the existing federal standard into New Jersey's state law by mandating that law enforcement agencies notify federal immigration authorities when they determine an applicant is unlawfully present in the U.S. The bill does not change who qualifies for firearm permits but adds a notification process for certain non-citizen applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's workers' compensation and temporary disability laws to exclude undocumented workers from receiving benefits. It specifies that only individuals lawfully admitted for permanent residence, lawfully present for employment, or permanently residing in the U.S. under legal authority (including certain visa holders) qualify for coverage. The law removes eligibility for undocumented workers who do not meet these specific immigration status criteria at the time of injury or disability. This change aligns the state's benefit programs with federal immigration status requirements, responding to a prior court ruling that had allowed undocumented workers to access temporary disability benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed organizations in New Jersey - such as charities, churches, veterans' groups, and civic clubs - to conduct a new type of raffle game called "Queen of Hearts." The game uses a board with 54 shuffled playing cards; a randomly drawn winner selects a card. If the card isn't the Queen of Hearts, the winner gets a cash prize immediately, and the game continues weekly until the Queen is chosen. If the Queen is selected, the winner receives half the prize, with the rest kept by the organization. The state's gambling control commission will establish rules for how these raffles must be run.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1059 requires every public school with a library to post a comprehensive, publicly accessible list of all library resources - including books, periodicals, DVDs, and digital databases - on the school’s website. Schools must update this list within 10 days of adding new resources. The school library media specialist is responsible for maintaining the list; if no specialist exists, the principal must appoint staff to handle it. This law applies to all public school districts in New Jersey and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Attorney General to establish a formal agreement with the U.S. Attorney General under a federal immigration enforcement program (Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act). It would authorize specific, trained corrections officers in state and county facilities to investigate whether inmates are lawful U.S. residents *at the time of incarceration*. If an inmate's status is found to be unauthorized under federal law, officers would report this information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreement would outline training, reporting protocols, federal funding for costs, and clarify that these officers act under federal authority for legal immunity purposes. This directly affects designated corrections officers and inmates in New Jersey's correctional system.