Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to establish a voting integrity task force within the Division of Criminal Justice. The task force will investigate and prosecute voting fraud crimes, utilizing a coordinated strategy across state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. It directly affects the Attorney General's office and law enforcement agencies by creating a dedicated unit focused on election-related fraud. The bill mandates this structure without altering voting procedures or eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1273) would require all New Jersey employers to verify new employees' work authorization using the federal E-Verify program before hiring. Employers with 100+ staff must comply by December 31, 2020; smaller employers must comply by December 31, 2021. It prohibits knowingly or intentionally employing unauthorized aliens, with penalties including civil fines ($100-$1,000 per violation) and potential business license suspensions for repeated violations. The law also mandates random state audits for compliance and requires employers to terminate unauthorized employees upon court order, with probation periods and quarterly reporting for first offenses.

Maddy summaryBill A2641 requires New Jersey public school districts to allow home-schooled students to join school-sponsored extracurricular activities (like sports, clubs, and theater) in their resident district under the same rules applied to enrolled students. To participate, home-schooled students must provide residency proof, meet activity-specific eligibility and tryout criteria, and follow district policies. The bill specifically prohibits students from transferring to home-schooling solely for athletic advantage, and requires districts to provide physical exams or medical tests (if offered to enrolled students) to home-schooled participants. This policy directly affects home-schooled students and public school districts across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2.9 billion in state funding to ensure school districts receive aid equal to their "adequacy budget" as determined under New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act. It requires districts that receive increased state aid to reduce their property tax levies by the same amount, with specific provisions for districts where property taxes exceed 5% of district income. The bill also provides additional aid to districts that experienced funding cuts between 2018-2023 and repeals certain laws that contributed to reduced state aid and higher property taxes. The policy aims to align school funding with constitutional requirements for a "thorough and efficient" education system while reducing property tax burdens on residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow prosecutors to charge certain drug distribution offenses based on the number of "units" (such as individual pills, tablets, or packets) rather than the weight of controlled dangerous substances. It specifically changes the grading thresholds for heroin, LSD, methamphetamine, and cocaine, reducing the first-degree offense threshold for heroin from 5 ounces to 1 ounce and introducing unit-based measurements for all these substances. Under the bill, a person would face a first-degree charge for distributing 500 or more units of these substances, a second-degree charge for 100-499 units, and a third-degree charge for fewer than 100 units. This change aims to more accurately reflect the quantity of drugs distributed for substances commonly sold in discrete units rather than by weight. The bill applies only to distribution or possession with intent to distribute, not to simple possession offenses.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1050 requires the state to annually reimburse municipalities for the full cost of granting disabled veterans a total property tax exemption. The bill mandates that the state pay each municipality 102% of the tax revenue lost due to these exemptions (covering both the tax value and administrative costs), based on data certified by local tax assessors and county boards. This directly affects all New Jersey municipalities that currently absorb the financial impact of this state-mandated exemption, which currently forces some communities to raise other taxes or cut services. The bill shifts this financial burden from local governments to the state, addressing inequities where municipalities with more disabled veterans face disproportionate costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how desecration of public monuments, places of worship, or other venerated objects is punished in New Jersey. It creates three penalty tiers based on the financial damage caused: a third-degree crime ($2,000+ damage), fourth-degree crime ($500-$2,000), or disorderly persons offense ($500 or less). It also adds desecration to the bias intimidation statute, meaning if the act is motivated by bias (e.g., against race, religion, or sexual orientation), it automatically becomes a higher-level offense. The changes directly affect individuals who intentionally damage such sites, with penalties ranging from up to six months in jail for minor damage to up to five years for significant financial harm.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill 5391 creates the Riot Related Property Destruction and Restitution Act, which establishes new criminal offenses for aggravated riot and riot-related property destruction. The bill defines aggravated riot based on factors such as group size, use of weapons, obstruction of emergency responders, or leadership roles, while grading property destruction charges according to the total value of damage caused during the event. It mandates that courts order full restitution from convicted individuals to cover repair costs, cleanup expenses, and lost business revenue, in addition to any criminal penalties. Furthermore, the legislation creates a civil cause of action allowing victims to sue for economic damages and requires noncustodial sentences to include enforceable payment schedules for restitution.

Maddy summaryThe Permitting Transparency and Accountability Act creates a Cross-Agency Permitting Team within the New Jersey Innovation Authority to streamline state permitting processes by collecting data, developing standardized frameworks, and coordinating with local governments. Each state agency is required to publish a detailed catalog of its permits, including specific steps, fees, and legal timelines, which must be updated at least every two years or upon material changes. The bill establishes strict deadlines for agencies to determine application completeness and issue final decisions, providing that applications are deemed complete if an agency fails to notify the applicant of deficiencies within 45 days. Additionally, it mandates the creation of a public permitting dashboard to track application status and a New Jersey Report Card portal to display state budget analyses and program evaluations.

Maddy summaryThe "Honor the Oath Act" requires newly elected Governors, Lieutenant Governors, and state legislators in New Jersey to take their official oaths of office within the county where the state's seat of government is located. This legislation codifies a long-standing historical custom by establishing a specific statutory location for these ceremonies, ensuring that the transfer of power occurs at or near the center of state operations. The bill includes an exception for individuals assuming office due to a vacancy and allows for flexibility if the seat of government is moved during an emergency.