Asm. Craig Coughlin

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill ensures that district and county election boards, not judges, make the initial determination on whether ballots with unclear markings should be counted. The boards will use their judgment to decide if marks were intended to vote for a candidate (counting the ballot) or to identify the ballot (rejecting it). Currently, such decisions often required judicial review, but this bill shifts that authority to the election boards directly. This change affects how election results are finalized for ballots with ambiguous marks, streamlining the counting process without altering the criteria for ballot validity.

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA) to provide supplemental tax credits to housing developers who have received four-percent low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) but would qualify for nine-percent LIHTC. The supplemental credits cover the "project financing gap" for qualifying housing projects, ensuring developers receive a subsidy equivalent to a nine-percent LIHTC. The agency can award these credits to developers who demonstrate a financing gap, with the credit amount limited to the smaller of either the gap amount or the amount needed to reach a nine-percent subsidy level. Developers may transfer or sell these tax credits under specific conditions, including minimum sale amounts and restrictions on further transfers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" to improve transparency around vehicle recalls and provide fair compensation for dealers. It requires motor vehicle dealers to check for open recalls on used vehicles using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website before sale, inform prospective buyers about any recalls found, and not sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices. Dealers must also provide the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission with lists of vehicles with long-unfixed recalls (six months or more), triggering the Commission to send official notices to vehicle owners. The bill also establishes compensation requirements for dealers when parts are unavailable for recalled vehicles, requiring 1.75 percent of the vehicle's value per month for used vehicles or the manufacturer's suggested retail price for new vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5846) revises how New Jersey insurers define geographic areas for private passenger auto insurance pricing. It requires insurers to create new territorial rating plans using contiguous zip code+4 areas (instead of standard zip codes) that follow municipal boundaries, with a maximum of 100 territories per map - up from the current 50. These changes aim to create more precise risk-based pricing by better reflecting local driving conditions like traffic density and population mix. The bill directly affects auto insurers operating in New Jersey and the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, who must establish regulations to implement these standards.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (AR 193) expresses New Jersey's support for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and condemns federal budget cuts that would reduce SNAP funding by $300 billion over ten years. It urges the U.S. Senate to reject these cuts, noting that nearly 850,000 New Jersey residents - including vulnerable groups like seniors, children, veterans, and the disabled - rely on SNAP benefits to address food insecurity. The resolution specifically references the House of Representatives' May 22, 2025, vote approving these cuts as unconscionable.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the municipalities of Edison, Metuchen, and South Plainfield - each of which appoints members to the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission - to appoint one alternate member per municipality. The alternate serves a five-year term and may participate in commission meetings but can only vote when a regular member is absent or unable to serve. The bill does not alter the commission’s structure, duties, or membership size, but ensures continuity by mandating alternates for regular appointments. This applies specifically to the commission overseeing wildlife preservation in the designated area of Middlesex County.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 185) urges Comcast and the YES Network to renew their broadcast agreement before it expires on March 25, 2025. It directly affects hundreds of thousands of Comcast customers in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania who watch New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets games. The resolution highlights past disruptions (like the 2016 blackout) and recommends Comcast reimburse customers for broadcast interruptions while encouraging both parties to negotiate terms that avoid rate increases for Yankees fans.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Division of Pensions and Benefits to provide a detailed financial report to the State Health Benefits Commission before moving funds from the State portion of New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to the local government portion. The report must include current fund balances, expected claims, and premium projections for the local fund. Additionally, it mandates monthly reports to the commission on both State and local SHBP funds, covering cash balances, claims costs, and premiums collected. These requirements aim to increase transparency and oversight of the program's financial operations for state and local government employees and retirees.

Maddy summaryThis symbolic resolution (AR 178) condemns the U.S. House of Representatives for passing a budget resolution that would cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget over ten years, specifically targeting healthcare (Medicaid/Medicare), education, and SNAP benefits. It urges the U.S. Senate to reject the House resolution, citing potential severe impacts on New Jersey residents who rely on these programs: approximately 1.8 million low- and moderate-income people use NJ FamilyCare (Medicaid/CHIP), and 830,000 receive SNAP food assistance. The resolution states that funding cuts could reduce federal Medicaid support by up to $5.2 billion and threaten SNAP benefits through eligibility restrictions or benefit limits. As a procedural resolution, it does not change laws but expresses New Jersey's opposition to the proposed cuts.