Asm. Alex Sauickie

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's tourist directional signs to prominently feature the state's four official wine-growing regions: Central Delaware Valley, Warren Hills, Outer Coastal Plain, and Cape May Peninsula AVAs. It mandates the Division of Travel and Tourism to include these regions in statewide marketing campaigns promoting wineries and vineyards. Wineries and vineyard attractions can apply to participate, paying fees for signage that meets design standards set through a public art competition. The law directly affects New Jersey's wine industry and tourists seeking vineyard destinations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "agroterrorism" in New Jersey, making it illegal to knowingly or recklessly import biological agents, toxins, or organisms designated as high-risk agricultural pathogens - substances that could cause significant harm to crops, livestock, or farms. The Secretary of Agriculture, working with environmental, health, and federal officials, must establish a list of these pathogens, and the crime's severity depends on factors like whether the act involved concealing the pathogen's origin, was conducted by someone acting for a foreign government, or caused over $1 million in economic damage. Agroterrorism is a second-degree crime (penalties: 5-10 years in prison and/or up to $150,000 in fines) unless it meets one of those aggravating conditions, in which case it becomes a first-degree crime (10-20 years and/or up to $200,000 in fines). The law directly affects individuals or entities importing such pathogens into New Jersey, aiming to deter threats to the state's agricultural sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $250,000 in state funding for the Agricultural Experiment Station to develop deer-resistant native plant species. It directly affects the Agricultural Experiment Station (part of Rutgers University) and aims to mitigate deer-related damage to New Jersey's agricultural crops, gardens, and natural ecosystems. The key mechanism involves collecting plant cuttings and seeds from regional species, developing propagation protocols, and testing plants with natural deer-resistance traits. This project explores nonlethal methods to reduce deer damage, addressing concerns like crop loss and ecosystem disruption linked to New Jersey's estimated 125,000 deer.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3811) exempts eligible disabled veterans from toll charges on New Jersey Turnpike and South Jersey Transportation Authority toll facilities. It applies to veterans already qualified for motor vehicle registration fee exemptions under existing law (P.L.1948 c.28), specifically those with service-connected disabilities from World War I, veterans eligible for state compensation under R.S. 38:18-1 et seq., or holders of the Congressional Medal of Honor. The exemption requires veterans to have an account with the electronic toll collection system and covers all toll facilities operated by these authorities. It directly affects disabled veterans who meet these specific eligibility criteria and currently qualify for registration fee exemptions.

Maddy summaryACR 31 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing New Jersey municipalities to create partial property tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and first responders' primary homes. It would authorize cities or towns to pass local ordinances providing exemptions of up to 10% of a home's assessed value for active volunteer members of fire companies or first aid/rescue squads serving that municipality. The exemption applies only to the primary residence of eligible volunteers, with municipalities deciding the exact percentage (up to 10%) and the state not required to reimburse lost tax revenue. This amendment must be approved by voters before it can take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill would upgrade assaults against certain public safety and emergency personnel to a second-degree crime, increasing penalties. It directly affects anyone who assaults law enforcement officers, firefighters, school staff, healthcare workers (including at psychiatric facilities), utility workers, or emergency medical personnel while they are clearly performing their duties. Key provisions include elevating simple assault to a more serious charge when targeting these groups, and adding specific scenarios like assaulting utility workers during service repairs. The legislation aims to strengthen legal consequences for attacks on these critical workers. (Note: Bill is currently in committee review as of January 2026.)

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that horse boarding charges (renting stalls in barns or stables for horses) are **not subject to New Jersey's 6.625% sales tax**. It amends the tax code to explicitly exclude "the lease or rental of a stall in a barn, stable, or similar facility for the boarding or stabling of horses" from the definition of taxable "space for storage." This directly affects **horse boarding businesses and their customers** by ensuring these services remain tax-exempt. The change removes ambiguity about whether such charges fall under the existing tax on storage services, aligning with prior exemptions for similar arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Planning Commission to create a model ordinance for siting warehouses (like distribution centers) and update local zoning rules to align with it. Municipalities must adopt these model rules when updating their master plans and zoning, with the state providing $5 million in funding through the Department of Community Affairs to support this transition. The law directly affects local governments, which will need to revise their land-use regulations to incorporate the new warehouse siting standards. It aims to standardize warehouse development planning while giving communities flexibility to adapt the model to local needs.

Maddy summaryACR 29 is a New Jersey legislative resolution requesting Congress to call an Article V convention of states. The bill seeks to propose constitutional amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. It functions as a continuing application, meaning New Jersey's request remains active until two-thirds of states make similar requests on the same issue. This is a procedural step (not a law) to initiate a potential constitutional convention process, directly affecting New Jersey's legislative action and the broader state-level effort to influence federal governance.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes an independent Office of Inspector General (IG) specifically for state veterans' facilities. The IG, appointed by the Governor with Senate approval, investigates complaints about facility policies and conducts inspections to ensure resident safety and care quality. Key mechanisms include the authority to subpoena witnesses and documents, refer criminal matters to prosecutors, and maintain confidential complaint channels for residents, families, and staff. The office directly affects veterans' facilities, their residents, and staff by creating a dedicated oversight body with formal investigative powers. The bill aims to strengthen accountability within state-run veterans' care settings through structured, independent review.