Asm. Alex Sauickie

Maddy summaryACR 89 proposes a constitutional amendment that would generally prohibit the government from using eminent domain to take land actively used for farming. It would prevent the State, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other public entities from acquiring farmland for non-farming purposes, such as development or commercial projects. However, the amendment allows taking farmland if the property is restricted in perpetuity for agricultural use. This change would require voter approval to become part of New Jersey's Constitution, altering current eminent domain practices for active farmland.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates an additional $500,000 from the state General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) specifically for dredging and restoration of the Peckman River. It directly affects the municipalities of Cedar Grove, Little Falls, Verona, and Woodland Park, requiring them to submit a joint plan for DEP approval to receive funding. The key provisions include waiving permit fees for approved dredging activities and mandating that DEP establish an application process to distribute funds based on each municipality's proposed river restoration plan. The funding covers dredging, cleaning, and other work consistent with an existing state permit for the river.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey telecommunications companies to automatically provide prorated bill credits or refunds to customers experiencing service outages lasting more than 72 hours. It directly affects all telecom providers regulated by the state board, including traditional phone services and VoIP providers, and their customers. The key mechanism mandates that companies adjust bills proportionally for the outage duration without requiring customers to request the refund. The law specifies that refunds must be applied automatically to the next billing cycle, with no customer action needed. This applies to both local exchange carriers and interexchange telecommunications companies providing regulated services.

Maddy summaryBill A 737 broadens New Jersey's riot and disorderly conduct laws by lowering the threshold for riot charges from six to four participants, increasing penalties for damaging public monuments during riots (classifying it as a fourth-degree crime), and creating new assault charges targeting attacks on first responders, school staff, or emergency personnel during such events. It also establishes a new offense for promoting violent, disorderly assemblies. The bill directly affects individuals participating in or organizing protests that cause property damage, threaten officials, or disrupt public spaces. Currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee as of its January 2026 introduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) from $50 to $100 for low-income residents of nursing homes, state psychiatric hospitals, and state developmental centers who receive Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. The allowance allows residents to spend money on personal items like phone calls, meals, clothing, or hobbies, separate from facility-provided care. The change directly affects approximately 30,000 New Jersey residents in these facilities who currently receive the $50 allowance. This doubles the existing amount, aligning New Jersey with states like Florida and Massachusetts that offer higher PNAs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands protections for agricultural land by broadening the definition of "lands" covered under trespass laws to include cranberry bogs, orchards, nurseries, appurtenant woodlands, and equipment storage areas. It now prohibits entering or remaining on such lands without written permission (including on foot, horseback, or with equipment), or damaging farm property like crops, equipment, or livestock. Violators face a $1,000 civil penalty plus costs for restoring damage, up from $100 under current law. The changes directly affect farmers (strengthening their property rights), land visitors (requiring explicit permission for more activities), and property owners (allowing higher recovery for violations).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers aged 62 or older, or who are blind or disabled, to claim a gross income tax deduction for qualified long-term care expenses (up to $50,000 per year) for themselves, their spouse, or disabled dependents. These expenses cover in-home care, assisted living, and long-term care facility services that are medically necessary and prescribed by a licensed health care provider. It also provides a separate deduction (up to $50,000) for unreimbursed funeral expenses of a spouse or disabled dependent who was 62 or older, blind, or disabled at death. The deduction excludes expenses already covered under existing medical expense tax rules and requires the costs to be unreimbursed.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's farmland assessment rules to allow landowners with noncontiguous parcels to qualify for agricultural tax assessment. It permits five or more noncontiguous acres actively used for farming (for two consecutive years) to qualify if at least three acres are contiguous and all land is owned by a single person. The change modifies existing law (P.L.1964, c.48) to replace the requirement for five contiguous acres with this new configuration. It directly affects farmers owning fragmented farmland parcels who previously could not meet the contiguous acre threshold.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes an exemption in New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act that previously allowed smoking in casinos and casino simulcasting facilities. Currently, these venues could permit smoking in areas used for gambling (like slot machine rooms or table games), but the bill would eliminate that exception. After passage, all indoor areas of casinos and simulcasting facilities open to the public for gambling would be required to be smoke-free. This change aligns these venues with the state's general indoor smoking ban, which applies to most public workplaces and spaces.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey long-term care facilities (like nursing homes and assisted living residences) to let residents or their legal representatives designate at least two "essential caregivers" during emergencies, outbreaks, or pandemics. Essential caregivers can be family, friends, or spiritual advisors, with no restrictions on who can be chosen, and their visitation rights must match normal in-person visitation times. Facilities must document these designations in residents' care plans, post visitation rights online, and provide written information to residents about the process. The Department of Health will enforce compliance, ensuring facilities don’t impose stricter health protocols on caregivers than on their own staff.