Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Property Owner’s Protection Act," requires county recording offices to notify property owners whenever a deed transfer for their property is recorded. To enable this, it mandates that property owners provide preferred contact information (mailing or email) during recording, and recording offices must collect an additional $2 fee per deed to cover notification costs. The bill also requires new deeds to include specific details: a statement of true purchase price, exemption justification for fee-free transfers, "NEW CONSTRUCTION" labeling for new builds, and an affidavit confirming ownership. These changes directly affect property owners, recording offices, and anyone submitting deeds for real estate transfers in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1887 proposes to remove specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for state benefits. Currently, eligibility depends on service during defined conflict periods (e.g., WWII service between September 1940-December 1946), but this bill would amend the definition of "veteran" to eliminate those time-bound criteria. It directly affects veterans who served in conflicts like World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or later missions but may not meet the current narrow date windows. The change would broaden eligibility by focusing on service-connected status rather than exact historical dates. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1666) amends New Jersey law to allow people with certain past criminal convictions to serve on juries, removing an automatic disqualification. It directly affects individuals convicted of most serious crimes (indictable offenses) in New Jersey, other states, or federal court, provided they do not have a conviction for murder or aggravated sexual assault. The key change eliminates the automatic bar for these past convictions, though current incarceration for any serious offense still disqualifies someone. The bill maintains existing exceptions for murder (N.J.S.2C:11-3) and aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2), and does not apply to those currently serving prison sentences.

Maddy summaryAJR 31 designates July 24 of every year as "Josh Gibson Negro Leagues Appreciation Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day to honor Josh Gibson and the Negro Leagues. This is a ceremonial designation with no legal requirements or financial impact; it simply establishes a recurring day of commemoration. The bill takes effect immediately upon adoption.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3886) creates a pilot program allowing New Jersey's Division of Taxation to prepare simplified, pre-filled tax returns for eligible residents with straightforward tax situations. It targets NJ residents earning under $75,000 annually with income solely from W-2 wages (no self-employment), who filed simple returns in prior years. Taxpayers receive pre-filled forms by March 15 containing verified wage data and calculated tax liability, which they may choose to use or file manually without penalty. The program is voluntary, free, and aims to reduce filing complexity while requiring taxpayers to verify all information before submission.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's 9-1-1 trust fund law to explicitly allow state funds to cover costs incurred by counties and municipalities for 9-1-1 emergency services. It permits the use of trust fund money for expenses like emergency response training, operating costs, and equipment purchases related to maintaining 9-1-1 systems. The bill establishes a priority system for distributing funds, directing them first to county, regionalized, or large centralized 9-1-1 centers, then to other local providers. This change expands the fund's existing scope to directly support local governments' 9-1-1 operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1705) amends New Jersey law to define a law enforcement officer’s use of a chokehold - applying pressure to the throat, windpipe, or carotid artery - as "deadly force." It directly affects police officers in New Jersey, requiring them to justify such actions only when necessary to prevent death or serious injury to themselves or others. The key provision adds a specific definition to the statute, stating that hindering breathing or blood flow through a chokehold automatically constitutes deadly force, not just a lesser use of force. This change clarifies that chokeholds cannot be used in routine situations, only under the same strict circumstances as other deadly force scenarios. The bill is pending in the Assembly Public Safety Committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires businesses and public entities that handle personal information of New Jersey residents to notify affected customers promptly after a security breach involving unauthorized access to their data. It mandates written or electronic notice within the "most expedient time possible," including details about compromised information and steps to protect accounts, while eliminating the current option for "substitute notice" (like website postings) for large-scale breaches. Businesses must also cover the cost of providing customers with free credit reports from consumer reporting agencies for six months following a breach, with payment for up to 12 months of reports. The law applies to any entity maintaining computerized records with NJ residents' personal data and requires prior reporting of breaches to the State Police before customer notification.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires certain rooming and boarding houses, as well as cooperative sober living residences, to comply with municipal land use regulations like zoning rules. It specifically mandates that applicants for a state Class F license to operate a cooperative sober living residence must submit written approvals from local zoning, fire, health, and building authorities with their license application. Currently, these facilities were exempt from municipal land use regulations (though subject to construction codes), but this bill removes that exemption for land use. The change directly affects owners and operators of these housing types in New Jersey, requiring new paperwork for state licensing. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryAJR 57 designates May of each year as "Foster Care Month" in New Jersey to raise awareness about the state's foster care system and honor child welfare professionals. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition of the over 3,100 children in foster care and the professionals who help them find permanent homes. It has no substantive policy changes or financial impacts - it is a symbolic resolution aligning with National Foster Care Month. The measure takes effect immediately upon adoption.