Asm. Wayne DeAngelo

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution 66 urges Congress to oppose any U.S.-United Kingdom trade agreement unless the Good Friday Agreement and other Irish peace process elements are preserved. The resolution states that the U.S. should link trade deal approval to maintaining the 1998 peace agreement, which established power-sharing in Northern Ireland and prevented a hard border with Ireland. It specifically references concerns that the UK's efforts to reinterpret Brexit-related Northern Ireland Protocol terms could undermine the peace agreement. As a non-binding resolution, it does not create new law but formally requests Congress take this position on future trade negotiations.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey residents to obtain special license plates honoring all five U.S. military academies: the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy, and United States Coast Guard Academy. Vehicle owners would pay a $15 fee in addition to standard registration costs to get these plates, which would display each academy's name and emblem. The Motor Vehicle Commission would design the plates in consultation with the Adjutant General, following standard registration rules. The plates would be available to any New Jersey vehicle owner who applies through the Commission's website.

Maddy summaryAJR 55 designates March 16 each year as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey to recognize service dogs that assist veterans with conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and seizure disorders. The resolution directly affects veterans, service dog organizations (such as Paws Healing Heroes in Glassboro), and the public by raising awareness of these animals' role in veteran support. Its key mechanism is an annual designation requiring the Governor to issue a proclamation encouraging public observance. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a law with funding or regulatory changes, and it takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an exemption from New Jersey's Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act for commercial or industrial development within designated "commercial corridors" in the Highlands Region. A commercial corridor is defined as land with frontage on a State, county, or rail thoroughfare that's zoned for commercial or industrial use, or that a municipality deems necessary for economic viability. The exemption allows municipalities to exercise their planning or zoning authority for development in these corridors without being deemed inconsistent with the regional master plan. This specifically exempts construction or reconstruction of commercial or industrial development in these corridors from the Highlands permitting review program. The bill aims to balance environmental protection with appropriate economic development in the Highlands Region.

Maddy summaryACR 35 is a ceremonial resolution recognizing the 138th anniversary of the Knights of Columbus. It formally honors the organization's charitable work and membership, directing that copies be sent to the Knights of Columbus New Jersey State Council. This resolution has no legal effect beyond expressing the state's acknowledgment of the group's contributions. It does not create new laws, funding, or obligations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A2300 allocates $650,000 in supplemental funding to the Division of State Police specifically for trooper recruitment and retention. The funds will be used to boost salaries for troopers at Step 9 of the existing salary scale under the State Troopers Fraternal Association collective bargaining agreement. This supplemental appropriation supplements the state's 2024 budget (P.L.2023, c.74) and must be distributed per authority granted to the Civil Service Commission. The bill directly affects current troopers at Step 9 by providing targeted salary support to address staffing challenges.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of specific buildings - including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, public housing, and other multi-occupant properties - to test their drinking water annually for Legionella bacteria. Testing must be performed by a Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)-accredited lab using DEP-developed best practices, with results submitted to the DEP. If Legionella levels exceed the DEP's established standard, owners must immediately notify residents and begin remediation within 30 days, completing it within six months, followed by retesting to confirm resolution. Violations would be treated as breaches of the Safe Drinking Water Act, potentially resulting in civil penalties up to $25,000 per incident.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Go Build" program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD). The program aims to increase public awareness of and access to construction careers and training by providing education about the industry, offering workforce training for construction trades, and recruiting workers for both training programs and jobs. Key mechanisms include marketing through media and websites, partnering with construction companies and schools, and consulting with similar programs in Alabama and Georgia. DOLWD must report on the program's progress and effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature within five years. The initiative directly affects New Jersey residents seeking construction careers and the state's workforce development system.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds the Vietnam Veterans of America to New Jersey's existing law granting paid leave for public employees to attend conventions of recognized veteran organizations. It specifically allows state, county, and municipal employees who are authorized representatives of the Vietnam Veterans of America to take up to five days of paid leave annually for convention attendance, with unused days not carrying over. The law already covered numerous other veteran groups (like the American Legion and Disabled American Veterans), and this bill also removes two defunct organizations from the list. The change applies immediately to all eligible public employees across New Jersey's government sectors.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $50,000 accidental death benefit for surviving spouses, children, or parents of New Jersey State Police recruits who die during required pre-service training or related complications. It reclassifies such deaths as occurring "in the line of duty" for benefit purposes, addressing a current gap where recruits aren't covered until after training completion. The benefit is retroactive to the recruit's death date for cases before this law's enactment, with specific payment tiers (e.g., $50,000 minimum for spouses, 70% of final compensation for children if no spouse exists). Survivors have 12 months from the bill's effective date to apply.