Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill ensures that district and county election boards, not judges, make the initial determination on whether ballots with unclear markings should be counted. The boards will use their judgment to decide if marks were intended to vote for a candidate (counting the ballot) or to identify the ballot (rejecting it). Currently, such decisions often required judicial review, but this bill shifts that authority to the election boards directly. This change affects how election results are finalized for ballots with ambiguous marks, streamlining the counting process without altering the criteria for ballot validity.

Maddy summaryThe bill modifies New Jersey's definition of Class I renewable energy to include nuclear fission, which was previously excluded from renewable energy classifications. It establishes a Corporation Business Tax (CBT) credit of $1,000 per gigawatt hour for facilities producing "clean baseload energy" (defined as reliable, continuous power generation without greenhouse gas emissions). Nuclear power plant operators would be directly affected, as they could claim this credit for electricity generated from nuclear fission. To qualify, taxpayers must apply for certification from the Board of Public Utilities, and the credit would be limited to 50% of tax liability for the relevant tax period.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a bill) establishing a special committee. It creates the "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation" with 12 members (6 appointed by the Assembly Speaker, 6 by the Minority Leader). The committee's sole purpose is to investigate New Jersey's historical, legal, and geographic claims to Staten Island - including colonial land grants, the 1834 boundary compact, and relevant case law - and to report on lawful avenues for annexation, subject to consent from Staten Island residents, New York State, and Congress. The committee must publish a final report after completing its work.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey counties to establish a mosquito control commission within one year if they lack one, affecting 17 counties (as four - Camden, Middlesex, Ocean, and Warren - already have commissions). Each county must submit annual reports by November 1st detailing mosquito control methods, costs, surveillance data, and specific activities like chemical or biological treatments. The State Mosquito Control Commission must develop and annually update statewide guidelines for counties based on these reports, including best practices and criteria for control actions. The bill also updates terminology (replacing "extermination" with "control") and removes restrictions on state funding for mosquito control activities across all counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill enters New Jersey into a compact with Delaware to adjust their shared territorial boundary. It specifically transfers ownership of two river-adjacent parcels - Artificial Island and Finns Point - from Delaware to New Jersey, as these lands physically connect to New Jersey but were historically assigned to Delaware under a 1682 boundary description. The compact establishes a joint commission of surveyors from both states to redefine the boundary, while preserving Delaware’s control of the Delaware River up to the low-water mark. Implementation requires Delaware’s similar legislation and congressional approval, with disputes to be resolved in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the filing deadline for members and retirees of New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits related to 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It allows for a two-year filing period after the bill's effective date (with potential two-year extensions) and replaces the requirement for a pre-employment physical examination with evidence of medical examinations that failed to disclose qualifying health conditions. The bill also permits retirees previously denied due to late filing to petition for reconsideration or resubmit their eligibility forms. Retirement systems must notify all affected members within 60 days of enactment about these provisions using clear language explaining filing requirements and time limits.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1439 requires health insurance plans (including hospital, medical, health service, and individual policies) to cover orthotic and prosthetic appliances from licensed providers - including podiatrists - when medically necessary for daily activities. It also mandates coverage for *additional* appliances needed for specific sports and recreational activities like running, swimming, skiing, and team sports, as determined by a physician. Insurance plans must reimburse at the same rate as federal Medicare for these appliances. This applies to all relevant health insurance contracts in New Jersey, directly affecting insured individuals needing these devices for mobility or recreation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey schools and colleges to designate sports teams based on biological sex at birth (male, female, or coed), prohibiting students identified as male from participating on teams designated for females. If a student's sex is disputed, they must provide a physician's statement verifying reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and genetic makeup. The bill shields schools from penalties for maintaining sex-specific teams and allows students or schools to sue for violations or retaliation within two years, seeking damages and legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create special "Woman Veteran" license plates in New Jersey, featuring a silhouette of a woman veteran saluting against an American flag with the words "Woman Veteran." To obtain these plates, applicants must provide proof of veteran status (via DD-214 or discharge documents) and pay a $50 application fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee. The additional fees collected fund a dedicated "Woman Veteran License Plate Fund," which annually supports organizations assisting women veterans. The program requires 500 initial applications and $25,000 in private funding before implementation, and expires if these conditions aren't met within 12 months.