Asm. Paul Kanitra

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the appointment rules for New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU). It requires that any new appointee to the BPU, or at least one existing board member, must reside in Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, or Ocean County. The requirement applies to all future appointments after the bill takes effect. This directly affects who can serve on the BPU and ensures geographic representation from these four coastal counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 718) permits police officers to be assigned to public schools used as polling places during elections. It allows school districts, election officials, or county clerks to request police for security at these school polling locations. The law requires that officers assigned for this purpose must not interfere with voters and must only be present during election hours. It also mandates detailed records of all such assignments, including reasons, duration, and outcomes, to be maintained as public records. The bill amends existing election law (R.S.19:6-16) to specifically allow this police presence at school polling sites.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state funds from being used to provide legal assistance or services to immigrants facing detention or deportation based on their immigration status. It applies to all state contracts, grants, or funding agreements with public agencies or nonprofit organizations offering such legal help. The law takes immediate effect and blocks funding that would otherwise support legal representation for immigrants in immigration proceedings. It directly affects immigrants seeking legal aid in deportation cases and organizations that provide such services using state resources. The bill does not change immigration law but restricts state financial support for related legal services.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows courts to require individuals convicted of specific offenses to pay for rescue operation costs incurred by public entities. It applies when someone is found guilty of criminal mischief (e.g., damaging property) combined with reckless driving, careless driving, or unsafe vehicle operation. Courts can then charge the person for expenses related to rescues involving the person, their pet, or property, including law enforcement and emergency medical services. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's school funding formula for the 2019-2020 through 2024-2025 school years. It requires that school districts with a "negative State aid differential" (underfunded relative to adequacy) receive aid equal to their prior year's amount plus any new funding increases. Overfunded districts (positive differential) face phased reductions in state aid, ranging from 13% to 100% over six years, but specific exemptions apply. Districts meeting criteria - such as being in high-tax municipalities while spending below adequacy, or participating in regionalization grants - will not face these reductions.

Maddy summaryACR 91 proposes a constitutional amendment prohibiting New Jersey from using bond proceeds to balance its annual state budget. It specifically bans the State or any state agency from selling bonds or creating debt to fund regular government operations, except for new infrastructure projects not previously approved through annual budget appropriations. This would require the state to cover all regular spending with current revenue, not borrowed funds. The amendment aims to prevent using long-term debt to offset operating costs, as seen in past practices where bond funds were diverted to cover routine expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 292) provides tuition-free college credits for eligible retired New Jersey law enforcement officers and firefighters who retired due to service-related injuries or illnesses, as well as for their dependents if the officer or firefighter died in the line of duty. Retirees can take up to 16 credits per semester (max 8 semesters) at public or degree-granting private colleges, after applying for all available federal and state grants. The state reimburses institutions for tuition costs not covered by these grants. Dependents must be New Jersey residents, meet academic standards, and enroll in undergraduate or (for spouses with prior degrees) non-medical/graduate programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies, corporations, or testing facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption after testing ends and offer them to animal rescue organizations or private individuals if suitable. It mandates reporting details like animal numbers, assessment results, and adoption outcomes to the Department of Health, and establishes a database for rescue organizations. Facilities failing to comply face civil penalties of $10,000 for a first offense and $50,000 for a second, with potential testing bans for repeated violations. The law directly affects testing facilities and research institutions using these animals, aiming to increase adoption opportunities while creating clear reporting and enforcement mechanisms.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A-1847 prohibits licensed health care professionals (including doctors, nurses, and therapists) from providing gender-affirming medical care - such as hormone therapy or surgery - to individuals under 21 years old. The bill defines these services as medical, surgical, or therapeutic care related to gender identity, excluding mental health or psychiatric services. Violations would result in professional disciplinary action under existing laws. The law takes immediate effect and applies to all covered health care providers statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers who earn tips to deduct those tips from their gross income for state tax purposes. It directly affects service industry workers (like servers, bartenders, or hairdressers) who receive tips reported to their employers. To claim the deduction, workers must report tip income through the same documentation required by federal tax law (e.g., employer tip statements). The Division of Taxation will create rules to implement this change, and it applies to tax years starting after the next January following enactment.