Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits prosecutors from negotiating plea agreements that reduce the sentence for burglary when a firearm was used during the offense. Currently, burglary involving a firearm is a second-degree crime, but the bill ensures defendants cannot receive a lighter sentence through plea deals - requiring them to face the standard sentencing for second-degree burglary as defined by law. The law defines "firearm" broadly to include items like air guns, spring guns, and other devices capable of causing injury. This directly affects individuals charged with burglary who used a firearm, eliminating the option of plea bargains for reduced penalties in these specific cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's disability parking program to include individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia who have limited, impaired, or unsafe walking ability. It adds this condition to the existing definition of "person with a disability" for parking privileges, requiring certification from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. Eligible individuals and their caregivers can then obtain the standard disability placard or license plates displaying the wheelchair symbol. This change allows them to use reserved parking spaces without altering current requirements for obtaining the placard or plates.

Maddy summaryBill A2100 creates a presumption that public safety workers (firefighters, police, EMTs) who responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks and developed illnesses covered by the CDC’s World Trade Center Health Program are eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. It removes time limits for filing claims and requires documentation from the CDC program to prove eligibility. Benefits cannot duplicate existing state or federal compensation for the same condition. This applies only to workers currently enrolled in the CDC’s WTC Health Program, not to all 9/11 responders.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (AJR 194) urges the U.S. Senate to pass the federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act." The SAVE Act would amend the National Voter Registration Act to require states to collect documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and identity when registering voters for federal elections, including documents like a passport or birth record. It also proposes using federal databases to verify citizenship and remove ineligible voters from rolls. New Jersey's legislature supports this as a measure to address documented errors in voter registration systems that mistakenly enrolled noncitizens, aiming to bolster election security and public confidence. The resolution itself has no legal effect but formally advocates for the federal bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts residential customers in New Jersey from paying state sales and use tax on natural gas and electricity purchases. It requires utilities to automatically deduct the tax amount from monthly residential bills instead of charging it upfront. The exemption applies only to home energy use (not businesses) and takes effect immediately upon enactment. The Division of Taxation must create rules to implement this change within the Administrative Procedure Act framework.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4632) lowers the financial threshold for prohibiting state agencies from contracting with entities investing in Iran's energy sector, from $20 million to $10 million. It directly affects state agencies, local governments, and public institutions by restricting contracts with businesses providing $10 million or more in goods/services (or extending $10 million+ credit) for Iran's oil, gas, or nuclear energy projects. The key change modifies the definition of "persons engaging in investment activities" under existing law, aligning with federal sanctions policy to limit Iran's energy sector funding. The law takes effect immediately but applies to contracts awarded 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exclude up to $50,000 of gross income from taxation for qualified small businesses under New Jersey's gross income tax and corporation business tax. To qualify, businesses must be independently owned with management owning at least 51% ownership interest, have principal operations located in New Jersey, be registered to do business in the state, earn gross revenues under $2 million annually, and employ no more than 20 full-time or part-time employees (with most being New Jersey residents). The exclusion applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2024. This provision would reduce the tax burden for eligible small businesses meeting these specific criteria. The bill provides targeted tax relief to small businesses operating within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a tax credit program allowing New Jersey taxpayers to receive a 75% credit against their state income tax for donations to approved scholarship organizations. It directly affects nonpublic school students who meet income criteria (household income ≤2.6x the federal reduced-price lunch threshold) attending schools complying with anti-discrimination and anti-bullying laws. The key mechanism requires scholarship organizations to spend 95% of donations on student aid, limit administrative costs to 5%, and adhere to strict eligibility rules. The program would have been capped at $37.5 million annually (adjusted for inflation), but the bill was withdrawn from consideration on June 13, 2024, and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to specifically include Sikhism as a protected class, making it illegal to commit hate crimes against Sikhs based on their religious identity. It appropriates $100,000 annually for three years to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives, including law enforcement training on Sikh identity features like turbans and religious symbols to prevent misclassification of hate incidents. The bill requires the Office of Attorney General to develop public awareness campaigns and educational programs about Sikhism for public schools, and mandates that all public entities incorporate anti-Sikh hate into their bias intimidation policies and diversity programs. These changes directly affect Sikhs in New Jersey (who are the second-most targeted religious group for hate crimes) and all public institutions across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits all New Jersey state agencies, courts, and local governments from applying, implementing, or enforcing any policies or rules created by international organizations. It specifically targets entities like the United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Economic Forum, defining "international organization" broadly as any body established by multinational agreements or international law. The law takes immediate effect and would prevent state entities from adopting such external policies in their operations.