Asm. Alex Sauickie

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state and local law enforcement agencies to submit monthly, anonymized data on firearm permit applications - including applicant demographics (race, ethnicity, gender identity), application status, denial reasons, and location - to the Attorney General. The Attorney General must compile this data (starting retroactively from June 23, 2022) and publish initial and monthly public reports online. It directly affects all applicants for handgun carry permits, purchase permits, and firearm purchaser ID cards by mandating transparency in licensing outcomes. The law aims to provide public data on permit approvals and denials, including potential disparities, without altering existing licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey public utilities from including the cost of legal penalties in rates charged to customers. It directly affects utilities and their ratepayers by preventing the Board of Public Utilities from approving rate increases to cover payments made for legal wrongdoing (such as fines or settlements) by the utility or its affiliates. The bill defines "legal penalties" as any payment for improper actions by the utility or its affiliates, and explicitly bars these costs from being recovered through customer rates. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Commissioner of Education's prior written approval for publicly funded out-of-State travel by school district employees and board members in districts receiving 70% or more of their revenue from state aid. It directly affects employees and board members in these specific school districts, which are identified using the Department of Education's Taxpayers’ Guide. The key mechanism mandates that superintendents obtain commissioner approval before seeking board approval for employee travel, and boards must get commissioner approval before voting on board member travel. This creates an additional administrative step to review such trips before they are authorized.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's participation in the "Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote" (a component of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact). It removes all references to this agreement from New Jersey law, ending the state's commitment to allocate its electoral votes to the national popular vote winner if enough states joined the compact. The repeal reverts New Jersey to its current system where electoral votes are awarded to the candidate winning the state's popular vote (winner-takes-all). This change affects how New Jersey's 14 electoral votes would be cast in presidential elections, ensuring they align with the state's voting results rather than a national popular vote. The bill is pending legislative action as of its introduction on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey electric utilities from raising rates specifically to cover smart meter installation costs. It requires utilities to publicly disclose rate increase details (amount, date, reasons, and impact) 30 days before and after any increase, with fines up to $10,000 for noncompliance. For rate hikes causing a 5%+ average bill increase, utilities must report to the federal Department of Energy 60 days in advance and provide annual reports on service interruptions and overdue bills. The bill also bans disconnecting service or charging late fees for affected ratepayers for six months following such significant increases. These provisions directly protect residential and business electricity customers from unexpected costs while increasing utility transparency.

Maddy summaryBill A 2893 establishes a state program enabling local governments and qualified nonprofit organizations to acquire permanent development easements on privately-owned woodlands. This directly affects woodland owners who meet specific eligibility criteria: woodlands must be at least five acres, used for forestry production (excluding Christmas trees), managed under an approved stewardship plan, and located in designated agricultural areas. The program restricts future development on these lands in perpetuity through easements, funded using existing "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" moneys, and requires no public access for enrolled woodlands. The State Agriculture Development Committee will administer the program, coordinate with federal agencies for additional funding, and set application rules within one year of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill shifts the cost of state-appointed school district monitors from local school districts to the State of New Jersey. When a district faces fiscal issues like audit failures, deficits, or repeated financial problems, the Commissioner of Education can appoint a State monitor to oversee finances, staffing, and operations. The bill requires the State to cover all costs - including the monitor's salary and related staff expenses - instead of forcing financially strained districts to pay these costs themselves. This change directly affects school districts in fiscal distress, preventing them from using limited funds to cover oversight costs while addressing budget crises.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding Assembly Resolution (AR 63) urges the Governor and Attorney General to provide state assistance to New Jersey municipalities dealing with unpermitted mass gatherings, commonly called "pop-up parties." It directly affects local governments struggling to manage sudden, large crowds in public spaces like beaches and parks, which often occur without advance notice and pose safety risks. The resolution requests state support to help municipalities prepare resources, hold organizers accountable, and prevent dangerous incidents like the 2022 Wildwood "street take over" that caused injuries and fatalities. It does not create new laws but calls for enhanced coordination and resources to address these spontaneous events.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Energy Master Plan (EMP) and each 3-year revision to receive formal legislative approval to become state policy. Specifically, it mandates that the Legislature must adopt a concurrent resolution approving the EMP within six months of its adoption by the Energy Master Plan Committee. The Committee continues to prepare the plan with public hearings, but the plan cannot take effect as state policy without this legislative vote. This change adds a legislative oversight step to the existing process for developing the state's energy strategy.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1887 proposes to remove specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for state benefits. Currently, eligibility depends on service during defined conflict periods (e.g., WWII service between September 1940-December 1946), but this bill would amend the definition of "veteran" to eliminate those time-bound criteria. It directly affects veterans who served in conflicts like World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or later missions but may not meet the current narrow date windows. The change would broaden eligibility by focusing on service-connected status rather than exact historical dates. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.