Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4428) creates a new criminal offense called "political violence," defined as committing violent acts (such as assault, kidnapping, or terrorism) specifically to interfere with or retaliate against someone because of their political affiliation (e.g., party membership) or political expression (e.g., attending protests, donating to campaigns). It increases penalties for these offenses, requiring separate sentencing for both the underlying violent crime and the political violence charge. The bill also establishes an independent "Political Violence Review Board" to collect and analyze data on complaints, identifying potential disparities in how cases are handled based on race, gender, or political affiliation. This directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals targeted for political reasons, while requiring oversight of how such cases are investigated and prosecuted.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4395) requires background checks for volunteers, employees, and organizers of youth sports organizations, athletic associations, and similar groups serving people under 18. It mandates annual criminal history checks via the State Bureau of Identification, with written consent from individuals and costs borne by the organization (capped at actual expense). Organizations failing to comply face civil penalties up to $1,000 per offense, while individuals knowingly working without a check may face fourth-degree crimes. Public and nonpublic schools are exempt, as they already require background checks under separate law.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Battlefield to Boardroom Act provides tax credits to New Jersey businesses that hire veterans meeting specific criteria. Businesses can claim a credit equal to 10% of qualified wages paid to veterans (capped at $1,200 per veteran annually) for wages earned between 2026 and 2029. To qualify, businesses must hire at least 25% veterans as new employees, maintain 50% of veterans hired the previous year, and provide veteran support services and recruitment efforts. The credit cannot exceed 50% of the business tax liability and is void if wages are claimed for other state benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to create special "Sons of the American Legion" license plates for vehicle owners. It requires a $50 one-time application fee and a $10 annual fee, with all collected funds deposited into a dedicated fund. The money in this fund is then annually appropriated to the Sons of the American Legion Detachment of New Jersey to support its activities. The plates must display a design approved with the local Legion detachment and follow standard vehicle registration rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows eligible New Jersey law enforcement officers to deduct unreimbursed firearms training expenses from their gross income for tax purposes. It specifically covers costs like training courses, ammunition, and range fees paid out-of-pocket by officers whose duties include detecting, apprehending, or arresting offenders. To qualify, officers must meet firearm qualification standards under state law (N.J.S.2C:39-6). The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission to create an online system that verifies proof of auto insurance coverage. It directly affects motor vehicle insurers (who must provide policy data), law enforcement (who can check coverage in real-time during traffic stops), and drivers (who must maintain valid insurance). The system replaces all existing verification methods, uses specific data like vehicle identification numbers and policy details, and includes security measures to protect information. The goal is to more effectively identify uninsured drivers, with the Commission able to suspend registration for vehicles operated without insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit for New Jersey businesses that hire workers displaced by automation. Businesses with headquarters in New Jersey can claim a credit equal to 10% of the wages paid to each qualifying employee (capped at $2,500 per employee per tax year), provided the employee was previously laid off due to automation and is retained for at least seven months. The credit applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, and the bill defines "automation" as systems replacing human labor without continuous human input. It directly affects New Jersey employers and workers who lost jobs to automation, particularly in counties like Ocean County where many high-risk jobs exist.

Maddy summaryAJR 122 designates the first full week of March each year as "Civic Learning Week" in New Jersey. It encourages schools and civic organizations to host educational programs about civic duty during this week and urges residents to reflect on their civic responsibilities. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to recognize the week and promote community engagement activities. This is a symbolic resolution with no new legal requirements or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local government entities to purchase at least 5% of their goods and services from the Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA), which supports rehabilitation facilities. It grants the CNA a "right of first refusal" for any goods/services typically bought through cooperative purchasing catalogs, provided they can match prices within 15% of fair market value. The bill also mandates that the Division of Purchase and Property create training protocols for all purchasing agents to ensure awareness of the CNA program, with annual reporting on compliance by all affected entities. These requirements apply to all state and local government bodies authorized to make purchases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 25 feet from school buses loading/unloading children or individuals with developmental disabilities on undivided highways, and to slow to 10 mph on divided highways. It establishes that violations captured by school bus monitoring systems (like cameras) will result in a $300 civil penalty instead of criminal charges or license points. The law directly affects drivers near school buses, school bus operators, and enforcement agencies. Key provisions include standardized stopping distances, speed limits for divided highways, and shifting penalties for monitored violations to a civil fine system. This changes enforcement by prioritizing evidence from monitoring systems to reduce penalties for documented violations.