Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryThis bill would increase penalties for motor vehicle theft in New Jersey, upgrading it from a third-degree crime to a second-degree crime. Currently, motor vehicle theft is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $15,000 fine, but the bill would increase the maximum sentence to 10 years and the fine to $150,000. The bill also authorizes courts to sentence minors under 18 convicted of motor vehicle theft to home detention, allowing them to leave home only for court appearances, probation appointments, attorney meetings (with notice), or other court-approved reasons. Additionally, it requires courts to schedule a hearing for minors arrested for motor vehicle theft within 48 hours of arrest.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for motor vehicle theft and carjacking in New Jersey, imposing fines of $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for third or subsequent offenses, along with possible driving privilege suspensions up to 10 years. It establishes a presumption of pretrial detention for defendants who commit motor vehicle theft or carjacking followed by subsequent, interdependent crimes within a short timeframe. The presumption can be rebutted by the defendant with a preponderance of evidence, but if not, the defendant would be detained before trial. This makes certain sequences of crimes a first-degree offense punishable by 10-20 years in prison or a $200,000 fine.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's wiretap law to allow law enforcement to obtain court-approved wiretap orders for investigating four specific crimes: luring or enticing a child, identity theft, stalking, and third or fourth degree cyber-harassment. It adds these offenses to the existing list of crimes for which wiretaps may be authorized, requiring law enforcement to still demonstrate probable cause to a judge. The policy change affects law enforcement agencies and individuals suspected of committing these crimes, without altering the standard judicial approval process. This update aligns wiretap authorization with modern digital and interpersonal crimes while maintaining existing legal safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes a legal presumption that joint legal and physical custody is in a child's best interest, meaning courts must assume both parents should share decision-making authority and the child should spend equal or nearly equal time with each parent. A parent seeking to avoid joint custody must provide clear and convincing evidence that it would harm the child, and the court must document its reasoning if it deviates from this presumption. The bill does not change the requirement that custody arrangements must align with the child's best interests but shifts the starting point for court decisions to joint custody. It applies to all child custody cases in New Jersey and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand the authority of municipal arson investigators by granting them the same powers as police officers throughout New Jersey, not just within their own municipalities. Currently, full-time members of municipal fire department arson investigation units can only exercise police powers within their own municipality while conducting arson investigations. Under this bill, these investigators would have statewide authority to investigate arson when performing their official duties. The change would apply to full-time, paid members of fire departments who have completed required training and are assigned to arson investigation units.

Maddy summaryACR 58 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. It would raise the annual deduction to $1,000 in 2024, $1,500 in 2025, $2,000 in 2026, and $2,500 starting in 2027, with the amount remaining at $2,500 annually thereafter. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses, who qualify for the deduction on real and personal property taxes. The amendment requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.

Maddy summaryACR 67 is a New Jersey legislative resolution that formally condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects efforts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. It references rising anti-Semitic incidents, including the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack and New Jersey’s ranking as third-highest in the U.S. for such incidents that year. The resolution urges vigilance against hate crimes, supports Holocaust education, and calls for state leaders to join national efforts against anti-Semitism. As a symbolic measure, it has no binding legal effect but expresses the state legislature’s position on the issue.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1808 requires hospitals to annually report drug-related attempted and completed suicides involving minors (under 18) to the New Jersey Poison Control Center. Hospitals must provide data on the minor's age, ethnicity, gender, race, and the specific drug used, while protecting all personal identifiers under privacy laws. The Poison Control Center then compiles this data into an annual report for the Governor and Legislature. The bill specifically covers suicides involving drugs and does not require disclosure of confidential health information. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to establish a program that encourages gas utilities to adopt renewable natural gas (RNG) and invest in related infrastructure. It provides gas utilities with a mechanism to recover costs for qualifying investments and RNG procurement from customers through regulated rate adjustments, subject to BPU approval. Utilities must purchase RNG at market rates, and the BPU will set customer charges based on actual costs, including RNG supply, commodity, and administrative expenses. The program aims to support greenhouse gas reduction efforts while ensuring ratepayer protections through BPU oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2253) increases the annual amount credited to New Jersey's Shore Protection Fund from $25 million to $50 million. The fund receives the state portion of realty transfer fees collected when property deeds are recorded (calculated at $1.25 per $500 of property value). The change applies immediately to all future State fiscal years following enactment. This directly affects the Shore Protection Fund's annual funding level, doubling its baseline allocation from realty transfer fees.