Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill extends property tax exemptions for veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities retroactively to the date they were officially declared disabled by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It requires the state to reimburse municipalities for property taxes paid by eligible veterans during the retroactive period. The exemption applies to veterans’ primary residences and covers specific disabilities like paralysis, blindness, or amputations. It directly affects veterans who previously paid taxes they should have been exempt from under existing law.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national or multi-state self-exclusion program for casino gambling. It enables individuals who want to voluntarily ban themselves from casinos to use a single form to exclude themselves across multiple states, rather than submitting separate requests to each state. The bill requires the division to create forms and procedures ensuring people can select which states they want excluded from, and explicitly prohibits sharing their personal information without their direct consent. This directly affects gamblers seeking to self-exclude from casinos in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program enabling gas public utilities to invest in renewable natural gas (RNG) infrastructure and procure RNG. It directly affects gas utilities (like gas companies) and their ratepayers (customers who pay gas bills). Key provisions require the BPU to establish a ratemaking mechanism allowing utilities to recover all prudently incurred costs - such as capital investments in RNG infrastructure, operating expenses, and RNG procurement costs - from customers through regular rate adjustments. The BPU must approve both the program and cost recovery mechanism, ensuring rates reflect actual costs while protecting ratepayers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's professional licensing boards to issue licenses to veterans who hold a valid, good-standing license in another state, regardless of when they earned it during or after military service. To qualify, veterans must provide proof of honorable discharge, evidence their out-of-state license is current, and meet all other standard requirements like exams. The law mandates boards to evaluate equivalent training/experience without requiring the same number of hours as local applicants. It directly helps veterans licensed in other states who face barriers to working in New Jersey due to differing licensing standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2180) requires New Jersey’s Department of Children and Families (DCF) and Department of Education (DOE) to create policies for handling child abuse and neglect during public health emergencies that limit in-person contact (like the pandemic). It directly affects children, families, school staff, and child protective workers by enabling remote investigations, case management, and access to services via phone or video. Key provisions include establishing remote reporting tools, public awareness campaigns about child safety during emergencies, mandatory online training for school staff on detecting abuse remotely, and collecting data on abuse reports during such crises. DCF must also analyze this data and report findings to the legislature within one year of the bill’s effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1628) prohibits New Jersey public colleges and universities from entering partnerships or sharing research/inventions with institutions located in Palestinian-controlled West Bank or Gaza territories. It bans contracts, joint ventures, and the transfer of intellectual property (like patents or research) with those foreign schools. Public institutions found noncompliant would lose eligibility for state funding covering operational and capital costs. The bill, introduced in January 2026, would take effect immediately if passed.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the display or flying of flags from organizations designated as terrorist by the U.S. Department of State on any New Jersey state property, including schools, parks, hospitals, and government offices. State entities violating this rule face immediate loss of state funding, with penalties determined by the Secretary of State and Treasury Director. The law explicitly allows such flags for news, theatrical, historical, or educational purposes. It defines "state property" broadly to cover all state-owned or leased land and buildings. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to study how state agencies use artificial intelligence and provide recommendations for ethical, safe implementation. The council, composed of the state's Chief Technology Officer, two legislative members (appointed by chamber leaders with party balance), and two public AI experts (appointed by the Governor), will assess AI's benefits and risks, develop guidelines to prevent biased decision-making and protect data privacy, and recommend best practices for state agencies. The council must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting and then dissolve. This directly affects state agencies that will use the council's guidance for AI procurement and implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, if passed, would establish safety standards for bleachers (tiered seating without backrests) in public venues across New Jersey. It requires three types of entities - governmental bodies (like cities or schools), private organizations (such as sports venues), and nonprofits - to upgrade their bleachers to meet these standards within 1-2 years of implementation, or face being banned from use. Entities failing to comply must display prominent warning notices stating the bleachers are not certified safe. The bill mandates inspections and certification by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, referencing existing safety guidelines from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission under New Jersey's "Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission Act" to coordinate state efforts in preventing veteran suicides. The commission, composed of 12 members including veterans, mental health experts, military representatives, and family members, will review state agency programs, improve coordination between departments, and track progress on suicide prevention initiatives. It directly affects New Jersey veterans, service members, and their families by aiming to strengthen existing support systems through better collaboration. The commission will focus on aligning services for veterans' transition to civilian life, mental health care, and community resources without creating new programs. The bill requires the commission to hold at least six meetings annually and report on its activities to improve suicide prevention outcomes.