Asm. Anthony Verrelli

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey legislative resolution (AJR 146) urges the U.S. Congress to pass legislation granting statehood to Washington, D.C. It directly affects D.C. residents, who pay federal taxes but lack voting representation in Congress despite having a population comparable to small states like Vermont and Wyoming. The resolution cites D.C. residents' 86% referendum support for statehood in 2016 and notes they share full U.S. citizenship responsibilities without full voting rights. It calls on Congress to enact the Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would grant D.C. two Senators and one House member, mirroring the rights of states.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1 million pilot program through New Jersey's Office of Planning Advocacy to reimburse municipalities for specific costs related to warehouse development planning. It directly affects local governments that update zoning ordinances or conduct mitigation studies for warehouse projects, requiring them to adopt warehouse-specific zoning consistent with state guidelines. Municipalities can apply for reimbursement for expenses like reexamining master plans or studying impacts of pending warehouse sites, with priority given to those needing financial assistance most. The program expires after the Office submits a report on its effectiveness, detailing how the funds were used and whether it should become permanent.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and state developmental/psychiatric facilities in New Jersey. It requires specific ratios (such as 1 nurse for every 4 medical/surgical patients, 1 nurse for every 2 critical care patients, and 1 unlicensed personnel for every 7 daytime patients) while mandating hospitals to implement an acuity-based staffing system to ensure adequate staffing levels. Hospitals found in violation may face civil penalties that increase with repeat offenses, with penalty revenue funding a dedicated "Patient Protection and Staffing Fund" to support nursing recruitment, retention, education, and inspector staffing. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Human Services to review staffing standards in developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals to align with these new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation to develop standards for a pedestrian overpass bridge connecting the Johnson Trolley Trail at its intersection with Interstate 295 in Mercer County. The standards must ensure the bridge accommodates pedestrians, bicycles, scooters, and low-speed electric devices. Before construction begins, the project sponsor must submit their design for department review and approval within 90 days. The department would then assume responsibility for the bridge's maintenance and operations, but the bill clarifies it is not obligated to build the bridge or maintain other parts of the trail.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A513 would provide tuition-free classroom training for eligible apprentices in registered apprenticeship programs. It directly affects low-income individuals whose household income is below New Jersey's median (determined by U.S. Census data), who are enrolled in apprenticeships and meet specific criteria: their employer doesn't cover tuition, they've exhausted federal aid, and they maintain active apprenticeship employment with good academic standing. The bill requires public colleges and vocational schools to waive tuition for these courses, funded through existing state workforce development funds or Wagner-Peyser Act dollars. This policy change aims to reduce financial barriers for apprentices pursuing vocational training.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to increase penalties for false public alarms targeting places of worship. It defines a "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used permanently for religious services by a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Violations involving such locations become a second-degree crime (previously third-degree) and trigger a minimum $5,000 civil penalty - double the standard $2,000 penalty - plus reimbursement for emergency response costs. The law also requires annual reports from law enforcement on these offenses to the state's Office of Emergency Management.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3425) increases New Jersey's Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefit from 40% to 60% of the federal EITC amount for qualifying residents. It directly affects low-to-moderate-income workers and families in New Jersey who already qualify for the federal EITC and file state taxes. The key change amends existing law to raise the state credit percentage, meaning eligible taxpayers would receive a larger refundable tax credit directly paid to them. This adjustment, effective for tax years beginning January 1, 2022, expands tax relief for working individuals and families without requiring new state program administration.

Maddy summaryBill A3450 establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and certain state facilities (like psychiatric hospitals and developmental centers) in New Jersey. It requires specific ratios based on unit type, such as one nurse for every five patients in medical/surgical units or one nurse for every patient under anesthesia. Facilities must implement an acuity-based staffing system (approved by nursing staff or their union) to adjust staffing based on patient needs, and maintain float pools of nurses. The Department of Health will enforce these standards through inspections and investigations of complaints filed by staff or the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's transportation authorities - including the Department of Transportation, Turnpike Authority, and others - to install rescue kits on all bridges over 100 feet long that cross waterways. Each kit must contain a rescue tube and life jacket for use by emergency responders in drowning incidents. The installation must be completed within six months of the law's effective date. The bill directly affects bridges under these agencies' jurisdiction, aiming to improve rapid response capabilities during water-related emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the compensation program for injured law enforcement officers and certain civilian employees from six to twelve months. It directly affects correctional officers, parole/probation officers, human services police, campus police, and civilian staff who work with inmates or detainees. The bill changes the qualifying injury standard from "serious bodily injury" (requiring risks of death or permanent disfigurement) to "bodily injury" (defined as physical pain, illness, or impairment of physical condition). Injured personnel will receive full wages plus supplemental payments to match their net pay for up to 12 months, covering both the initial period and the supplemental phase.