Asm. Anthony Verrelli

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the minimum age to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card in New Jersey from 18 to 21 years. It directly affects individuals under 21 who wish to purchase rifles or shotguns (excluding antique models), as they would no longer be eligible for the required card. The key provision amends New Jersey Statute 2C:58-3(c)(4) to increase the age threshold for this specific permit. The change applies only to rifles and shotguns, not handguns (which already require a 21+ age for permits). The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) agencies - nonprofit organizations managing homelessness services in New Jersey - to remain open during public health emergencies. It mandates the Department of Community Affairs to fund one agency per "populous county" (county with 350,000+ residents) to manage homelessness prevention services in those areas. If federal pandemic funding is insufficient, the agency head may request state funds from the General Fund to cover gaps. The law directly affects agencies in populous counties and the residents they serve, ensuring continuous access to homelessness prevention during emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands protections for cooperating witnesses in New Jersey by authorizing state funding for their safety and relocation. It amends existing law to include cooperating witnesses (those testifying for prosecutors or working with law enforcement, including confidential informants) under the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights, guaranteeing them protection from harm and access to safety-related services. The bill specifically directs the Victim and Witness Advocacy Fund to cover relocation expenses for witnesses and their household members, plus safety costs like crisis response, counseling, and emergency services. These changes directly affect witnesses who cooperate with prosecutions and their families, ensuring they receive concrete support to safely participate in criminal justice proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Revolutionary War Park Study Commission" to evaluate forming a National Historical Park incorporating Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton Battle Monument, and Princeton Battlefield State Park. The 9-member commission - including state officials, bipartisan legislative appointees, and historical experts - will assess feasibility, impacts on historical preservation and local tourism, and potential challenges like land management changes. It must issue a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year, analyzing advantages, disadvantages, and solutions for creating the park. The study focuses solely on evaluating options ahead of the U.S. founding's 250th anniversary, with no immediate policy changes or park creation.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans landlords from using credit scores or credit reports to screen applicants for affordable housing programs. It directly affects low- and moderate-income renters applying for subsidized housing or units restricted to income-eligible households. The law requires landlords to conduct individualized assessments of applicants' ability to pay rent, rather than relying on credit scores, which often unfairly reject tenants facing financial hardship. It also defines key terms like "affordable housing applicant" and specifies income thresholds based on rent share, not total rent.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to develop and publish accessibility standards for a pedestrian overpass bridge connecting the Johnson Trolley Trail at its intersection with Interstate 295 in Mercer County. It mandates that project sponsors submit bridge designs to NJDOT for review (within 90 days) to ensure compliance with these standards before construction begins. NJDOT would then assume responsibility for the bridge's long-term maintenance and operations after construction. The bill explicitly states NJDOT is neither required to build the bridge nor maintain other sections of the Johnson Trolley Trail corridor.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's Bridge Year Pilot Program to exempt students with disabilities from the requirement to take college credits during their bridge year. Instead, these students may participate in vocational programs or transition services as outlined in their Individualized Education Program (IEP), determined by their IEP team and parent/guardian. It also adjusts age eligibility to allow students who would turn 20 during the program to participate if their IEP requires it. The bill applies to students in the 2021 and 2022 graduating classes enrolled in the pilot program.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1806) amends New Jersey's cannabis regulations but does not establish THC potency limits as its title suggests. Instead, it focuses on licensing procedures, age verification, packaging, and labeling requirements for cannabis businesses. Key provisions include mandatory ID checks for purchasers (requiring photo ID showing age), restrictions on packaging resembling children's products or cartoon characters, and requirements for child-resistant packaging and clear health warnings on products. The bill directly affects cannabis retailers, distributors, and cultivators operating in New Jersey by setting new operational standards for licensing, security, and consumer safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1772) provides free undergraduate tuition and mandatory student fees at New Jersey public colleges for dependents of qualifying veterans. It directly affects children (ages 17-26), spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners of veterans who were New Jersey residents when entering active duty and who were killed in action, declared POW/MIA, permanently and totally disabled (100% service-connected), or died from a service-connected disability. To qualify, dependents must be New Jersey residents, enrolled full-time in good standing at a public institution, and have applied for all available state and federal grants/scholarships. Benefits are capped at the credit hours needed for a bachelor’s degree (at four-year colleges) or associate degree (at community colleges), and spouse/partner benefits expire after 10 years or upon remarriage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses bidding on New Jersey state contracts exceeding $50,000 to disclose all labor or employment law violations (including wage, safety, or workers' compensation breaches) from the past two years. State agencies evaluating bids must assess the seriousness of disclosed violations and may disqualify bidders whose violations pose a significant health/safety risk or show disregard for the law. It directly affects contractors seeking state work by adding a transparency requirement tied to their labor compliance record. The policy change focuses on ensuring contractors have a clean labor record before securing public contracts.