Asm. Gerry Scharfenberger

Maddy summaryAJR 75 establishes a commission to review how pandemic-related rules and orders affected small businesses in New Jersey. The 11-member commission, appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker, will analyze all state, county, or local rules, executive orders (like Executive Order 103), and regulations from the public health emergency to assess their impact on small businesses (defined as entities with ≤100 full-time employees), investment, economic growth, and recovery. The commission must hold at least three public hearings and issue reports with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature after each meeting. The commission expires when the Governor’s public health emergency declaration ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a special "Support Our Veterans" license plate for New Jersey residents, with the $50 initial fee (plus $10 annual fee) funding a dedicated fund. Proceeds from these fees, after covering production costs, will support services at New Jersey's Veterans Haven homeless veteran centers. The program requires 500 initial applications and $25,000 from the Veterans Haven Council to cover startup costs before implementation. If annual production costs exceed the $50 fee for two years, the license plate program may be discontinued.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey resident taxpayers to deduct the full cost of purchasing and installing a qualifying whole house backup generator from their state gross income tax. The generator must run on natural gas or propane, be permanently connected to the home’s electrical system, and only activate during power outages, with installation meeting all state and local code requirements. The deduction applies to the amount paid during the taxable year for both the purchase and installation. It directly affects homeowners who own a primary residence and install such a generator, reducing their taxable income for that year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commission on Human Trafficking to investigate how traffickers use online gaming and social media platforms to target victims, especially children, and develop prevention strategies. The commission, which already evaluates trafficking laws and victim services, must add this specific research to its annual duties and recommend new legislation to implement solutions. It does not create immediate new laws but directs the commission to propose concrete changes based on its findings. The bill affects the existing 15-member commission, not the public directly, by expanding its research focus to digital platforms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's professional licensing boards to issue licenses to veterans who hold a good-standing license in another state, provided they were honorably discharged from military service and meet all other licensing requirements (including any exams). Veterans must provide documentation of their honorable discharge and the good standing of their out-of-state license. The bill mandates that boards evaluate equivalent training and experience without requiring the same number of hours as typically needed in New Jersey. This policy change aims to help veterans with existing licenses more easily obtain work in New Jersey's licensed professions by reducing state-specific barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1213) provides $15 million in supplemental state funding to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation via the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The funds will support expanding the Vietnam Era Museum by 11,850 square feet to achieve accreditation, acquire modern equipment for preserving artifacts, and enhance educational programming. The Foundation, which serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually, will use the expansion to improve museum facilities and visitor experiences. This direct funding supports the Foundation's mission to honor Vietnam War veterans and educate the public through its museum and programs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 17) urges the FBI to include victims of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report hate crime statistics. It argues that the attacks - motivated by hatred against a specific group - should be counted as hate-motivated murders, as the FBI currently excludes them from standard hate crime data despite reporting them in a special report. The resolution does not create new law but requests the FBI adjust its reporting methodology to align with the meaning of "hate-motivated murder" under the Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990. The resolution directly addresses the FBI’s data collection practices, not any affected individuals or organizations.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 37) urges the Governor and Attorney General to provide state assistance to New Jersey municipalities dealing with spontaneous, unpermitted gatherings known as "pop-up parties." It directly affects local governments, which manage public safety through permit systems for events but struggle with sudden, large crowds organized via social media. The resolution requests enhanced state support to help municipalities better prepare for and manage these gatherings, which have led to safety risks and property damage in incidents like the 2022 Wildwood street take-over. It does not create new laws but calls for collaborative solutions to strengthen local responses.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for motor vehicle theft and related crimes for both adults and juveniles. For adults convicted of motor vehicle theft, it mandates a minimum 180-day prison sentence for a first offense (no parole) and one year for subsequent offenses. Juveniles face 30 days in custody for a first offense, 60 days plus a nonresidential program for a second offense, and six months plus such a program for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also imposes stricter penalties on adults who use minors to commit these crimes, requiring 6-12 months for a first offense and 5+ years for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Attorney General to establish a formal agreement with the U.S. Attorney General under a federal immigration enforcement program (Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act). It would authorize specific, trained corrections officers in state and county facilities to investigate whether inmates are lawful U.S. residents *at the time of incarceration*. If an inmate's status is found to be unauthorized under federal law, officers would report this information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreement would outline training, reporting protocols, federal funding for costs, and clarify that these officers act under federal authority for legal immunity purposes. This directly affects designated corrections officers and inmates in New Jersey's correctional system.