Asm. Wayne DeAngelo

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2216) makes several changes to voting by mail procedures. It requires the Secretary of State to create informational posters promoting mail-in voting for display at polling places and include ballot status checking information with mail-in ballots. The bill mandates that county election boards count mail-in ballots received within 48 hours after polls close as valid, whether postmarked on election day or received via USPS within that timeframe. It also clarifies that all voted mail-in ballots, including those received after the 48-hour window, must be retained by county boards for two years, including their envelopes, and made available for voter inspection. These changes aim to increase mail-in voting accessibility and ensure proper handling of ballots.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 31) urges the U.S. President and Congress to restore federal net neutrality rules. It calls for reinstating regulations that prevent internet service providers (ISPs) from blocking, slowing, or prioritizing content - ensuring all online traffic is treated equally. The resolution specifically references the 2015 FCC rules (repealed in 2017) and suggests Congress could use the Congressional Review Act or pass new legislation to codify these protections. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests federal action to maintain an open internet, directly affecting ISPs and all internet users nationwide.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new offenses to protect election workers and officials in New Jersey. It makes it a disorderly persons offense to intimidate, threaten, or interfere with election workers or officials while they perform duties, and to knowingly share their personal information online when it poses an imminent safety threat. Election workers (including county/municipal clerks and election staff) can request the Division of Elections to remove their personal information - such as home addresses, phone numbers, or photos - from public internet records if they provide evidence of a safety threat. The bill also establishes a presumption of safety risk if law enforcement issues a warning for election workers. These changes directly affect election workers who handle voting operations and seek protection from harassment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to add a "military-connected student" identifier to its student database, defined as a dependent of active-duty military, National Guard, or reserve personnel. School districts must notify a teacher when a military-connected student enrolls in their class, allowing teachers to monitor academic engagement and provide support. The bill also mandates annual reports on these students' attendance, test scores, and graduation rates, while allowing parents to opt their child out of the notification system. It applies to all public schools in New Jersey starting after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a tax credit program for New Jersey manufacturing employers who train apprentices in machine and metal trades. It provides a credit equal to 50% of an apprentice's wages, up to $7,500 per apprentice per year, for hiring unskilled or semi-skilled workers in occupations like machinists, toolmakers, or moldmakers. To qualify, employers must provide structured training involving at least 1,500 hours of work per year, wage progression, and formal instruction leading to skilled worker status. The credit applies to both corporate business tax and gross income tax, is nonrefundable, and covers apprenticeship programs lasting up to four years.

Maddy summaryACR 36 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $500 annually, phased in over five years (reaching $500 by 2027). It directly affects honorably discharged veterans and surviving spouses who meet residency requirements. The amendment would adjust the deduction amount incrementally: $300 in 2023, $350 in 2024, $400 in 2025, $450 in 2026, and $500 starting in 2027. This change would replace the current $250 deduction, which has not been raised since 1999. The proposal requires voter approval via referendum after legislative passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to provide public employers (non-State entities participating in SHBP) with detailed claims data upon written request. It mandates inclusion of 26 specific data points, including prescription utilization reports (top 50 drugs by volume/cost), medical claims summaries by diagnosis, and provider information, while maintaining HIPAA-compliant privacy safeguards. Public employers may request this data once per calendar year (reducing the prior 24-month limit), and employee majority representatives can also access it within 15 days of a public employer’s request. The bill directly affects public employers and their employees by increasing transparency into health plan spending and utilization patterns.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to verify the income of applicants before approving Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits. Specifically, DCA must cross-check applicants' income using data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development and the Division of Taxation. The law mandates full income verification for all applicants claiming no income, while allowing random or risk-based verification for others. This directly affects low-income households seeking energy assistance to help cover heating and cooling costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Attorney General or their designee to notify the union representing law enforcement officers before releasing public information about incidents where a person dies during a police encounter or in custody. The information covered includes officer identities, body camera footage, investigation reports, and related details. Currently, such information is subject to public disclosure, but this bill adds a mandatory step of union notification prior to release. The requirement applies immediately and overrides any existing policies on disclosing this information.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program requiring New Jersey state agencies to reserve at least 3% of their contracts for businesses owned and operated by people with disabilities. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned and controlled by a person with a disability, certified by organizations like Disability:IN, and based in New Jersey. The Department of the Treasury will administer the program, including verifying business eligibility, maintaining a list of certified businesses, and handling disputes. State agencies must report annually on contracts awarded under this program to track progress toward the 3% goal.