Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1613) allows New Jersey school districts to use existing "security categorical aid" funding to hire school security personnel for students attending nonpublic schools within the district. It amends current law to explicitly include hiring security staff as an allowable use of this specific funding, which districts already receive under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. The change clarifies that security services provided to nonpublic school students - including security personnel - align with the Secure Schools for All Children Act requirements. The bill does not create new funding but specifies how current resources can be applied.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state entities - including departments, courts, and local governments - from applying, implementing, or enforcing any policies, rules, or regulations established by international organizations. It specifically defines "international organization" to include bodies like the United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Economic Forum. The law takes immediate effect and applies to all state agencies, boards, and courts without exception. This would prevent New Jersey from adopting or complying with rules from these international bodies at the state level.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3831) allows New Jersey residents with NJBEST college savings accounts to transfer funds directly into a Roth IRA as a "qualified withdrawal," excluding these transfers from New Jersey gross income tax. It expands the existing NJBEST program - designed for college savings - by adding Roth IRA rollovers as a permitted use, aligning with federal tax rules under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. The change directly affects NJBEST account holders who wish to redirect saved funds toward retirement instead of education expenses. The bill amends NJ's tax code to exclude these specific Roth IRA rollovers from state taxable income, while maintaining the program's federal qualification. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Higher Education Committee (introduced January 2026).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3163) would allow New Jersey residents to deduct charitable contributions made to qualifying New Jersey-based organizations from their state gross income tax. The deduction amount would mirror the federal deduction allowed under IRS Section 170 for the same contribution, regardless of whether the taxpayer claims the federal itemized deduction. It directly affects New Jersey taxpayers who donate to charities registered under New Jersey's Charitable Registration Act or exempt from it, provided the charity maintains a physical presence in the state (office, employees, services). The policy applies to contributions made in taxable years starting January 1 after enactment, pending legislative approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 867) establishes a "Stand Your Ground" law in New Jersey, removing the duty to retreat when defending one's home or vehicle. It allows individuals to use force (including deadly force) without retreating if they reasonably believe it is necessary to prevent death, serious harm, or a violent crime (like assault, robbery, or murder). The law presumes a reasonable fear of danger when someone unlawfully enters a home or vehicle, though this presumption does not apply if the defender is committing a crime or if law enforcement is entering properly. It repeals the existing self-defense law (N.J.S.2C:3-6).

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's primary election ballot design rules by making candidate position labels (like "1A") optional for county clerks instead of mandatory. Currently, clerks must label each candidate's position with a letter-number combination; this bill removes that requirement, allowing counties to choose whether to use such labels. The change directly affects county election officials who manage ballot formatting. The bill does not alter other ballot design standards, such as candidate arrangement by office or font requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey state government to appropriate a minimum of $10 million annually from the General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding. It directly affects local health departments across New Jersey, which currently rely on property taxes and restricted state/federal funds for specific services like vaccines or environmental health. The funding would provide dedicated, unrestricted resources to cover operational costs and support core public health programs, rather than being tied to specific purposes. This establishes a mandatory annual appropriation starting July 1 after the bill's effective date, restoring a funding mechanism eliminated in 2011.

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 (A 401) requires New Jersey long-term care facilities - including nursing homes, assisted living residences, and dementia care homes - to report detailed data about residents with disabilities. Facilities must submit an initial report within 60 days of the bill’s effective date, including the total number of residents with disabilities, breakdowns by disability category (determined by the Department of Health and Human Services), and age ranges for each category. They must update this data whenever changes occur. The Department of Health will then publish quarterly summaries of this data on its website, showing totals and breakdowns by facility. The bill is pending committee review after being introduced on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to add instruction about the dangers of texting while driving to health education for students in grades 9 through 12, starting with the 2012-2013 school year. The curriculum must cover how texting while driving correlates with dangerous driving behaviors (like lane-weaving) and provide statistics on accidents, injuries, and fatalities linked to this behavior. School districts must use this content as part of their existing health education standards, and the Commissioner of Education will provide sample lesson materials and resources to support implementation. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.