Asm. Vicky Flynn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county clerks to publicly report provisional ballot data for each election district during primary and general elections. Starting on election day (not the following day), counties must post online updates every 24 hours showing the number of provisional ballots cast and their results in each district, along with early voting and election-day totals. County clerks must also provide a final report within 30 days of election certification detailing all provisional ballots counted per district. These reports will be posted on county websites and the state election division site, making election results more transparent in real time. The bill amends existing law to require district-level detail and earlier reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands when juveniles aged 15+ can be sent to adult court for motor vehicle theft. It adds "theft or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle" to the list of offenses eligible for waiver to adult court, but only if the juvenile has previously been found delinquent for a similar offense. The bill also clarifies that using a minor (under 18) in vehicle theft is a strict liability crime, meaning adults cannot claim they mistakenly believed the minor was older. This makes the offense a second-degree crime punishable by 5-10 years in prison or a $150,000 fine.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades the offense of purchasing sexual services (prostitution as a patron) from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree for first offenses, with higher penalties for repeat violations. It requires convicted patrons to participate in a mandatory education program about human trafficking and pay a $500 fee. All fines and fees collected from these offenses are directed to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund," which provides services to trafficking victims and supports educational programs about human trafficking. The fund was established by prior legislation to assist survivors and combat human trafficking through prevention and awareness efforts.

Maddy summaryAssembly Resolution 176, introduced by New Jersey legislators, urges the President and Congress to pass two specific federal bills addressing drone-related security concerns. It highlights recent drone sightings over sensitive New Jersey locations - including military bases, a major reservoir, and a residence of the President-elect - as well as similar incidents at U.S. military sites in England. The resolution specifically calls for enacting "The Drone Act of 2023" (to criminalize harmful drone misuse) and "The SHIELD U Act" (to authorize state/local law enforcement to conduct counter-drone operations). This non-binding resolution does not create new law but advocates for federal action to address gaps in current aviation regulations that limit New Jersey's ability to respond to drone activity.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5314) prohibits commissioners or heads of principal departments in New Jersey's Executive Branch from holding additional jobs that require spending most working hours outside New Jersey or being absent for extended periods. It directly affects top state agency leaders, such as department heads. The law requires these officials to request an exemption from a five-member committee if they seek such additional employment, with exemptions only granted if the role aligns with their current responsibilities. The bill amends existing state law (R.S.52:14-7) to add this restriction, aiming to ensure these officials remain available for state duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits for retired teachers in New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) who accepted early retirement incentives before January 1, 2011. It specifically excludes all other TPAF members from receiving these automatic adjustments. The Board of Trustees of TPAF, working with the fund's actuary and State Treasurer, will implement these COLAs for future pension payments only, with no retroactive adjustments for past payments. This reverses a 2011 law that eliminated automatic COLAs for current and future retirees. The adjustment will help these specific retirees maintain purchasing power as inflation rises.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 17-member Task Force on Aging within New Jersey's Department of Health. The task force will study state resources and services for older residents, review policies affecting seniors, examine support for family caregivers, and evaluate long-term care quality. It must issue an initial report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 18 months, followed by biennial updates. The task force includes government officials, aging advocacy representatives, senior citizens (including those in care facilities), and healthcare professionals specializing in geriatrics. Its work aims to improve services supporting aging residents' dignity and independence, without creating new laws or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's felony murder, aggravated manslaughter, and aggravated assault laws to include death or bodily injury occurring during the commission of auto theft. Currently, these laws apply to certain crimes like robbery or burglary, but this bill would add auto theft to the list of crimes for which the felony murder rule applies. Under the bill, causing death during auto theft would be considered felony murder (a first-degree crime), and causing injury during auto theft would be considered aggravated assault (a second-degree crime). This change would apply to anyone who causes death or injury while stealing a car, expanding the scope of these criminal charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5316) upgrades the criminal classification for auto theft when it occurs during specific burglaries in New Jersey. It raises auto theft to a second-degree crime if committed during residential burglary (breaking into a home without violence) and to a first-degree crime if committed during home invasion burglary (breaking into a home with violence or weapons). Currently, auto theft is a third-degree crime (3-5 year prison term) unless the vehicle is worth $75,000+ or multiple vehicles are stolen. The bill ensures auto theft convictions won’t merge with burglary convictions, meaning offenders face separate sentences for both crimes. It directly affects individuals who steal vehicles while committing these types of burglaries.

Maddy summaryThe "Welcome Home Veterans Act" (A4733) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide veteran benefit information packets to veterans when issuing certain documents. It directly affects veterans who receive an initial license, renewal license, probationary license, or ID card displaying a veteran designation under existing state law. The MVC must distribute both hardcopy packets at agency locations and digital versions online, including the NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Benefits Guide, the VA's "Federal Benefits for Veterans" booklet, and resources for finding additional benefits. This policy change ensures veterans accessing MVC services receive standardized, accessible information about available state and federal support programs.