Asm. Claire Swift

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to authorize current members of the New Jersey State Legislature to solemnize marriages and civil unions while serving in office. It directly affects all sitting state assembly members and senators, adding them to the existing list of authorized officiants (which includes judges, clergy, and certified civil celebrants). The key mechanism is an amendment to Section 37:1-13, explicitly including "every current member of the New Jersey State Legislature" in the list of individuals permitted to legally officiate weddings. This is a procedural change to officiant qualifications, not a substantive shift in marriage law.

Maddy summaryACR 38 proposes a constitutional amendment to extend New Jersey's existing $250 annual property tax deduction for veterans to Gold Star families. Specifically, it would allow parents, siblings, children, legal guardians, or other legal custodians of service members who died on active duty or from combat injuries to claim the deduction - currently available to honorably discharged veterans and unmarried surviving spouses. The amendment would maintain the $250 deduction amount and limit eligibility to one deduction per family, with priority among eligible relatives determined by law. This change requires voter approval through a constitutional referendum, as it modifies the state constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change the retirement system for New Jersey's Administrative Law Judges. Currently, these judges participate in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP), but the bill would transfer them to the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) within 90 days of the bill's effective date. Administrative Law Judges currently in the DCRP would have 30 days to opt out by submitting a waiver to the Division of Pensions and Benefits. The bill specifies that their service credit in the DCRP would transfer to PERS, and the state would cover any unfunded liability for the benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prevent the expungement (deletion of records) of any arrest, charge, or conviction related to domestic violence. It affects individuals who have been arrested or charged with domestic violence offenses, even if they were not convicted (dismissed, acquitted, or discharged without conviction). The bill adds domestic violence offenses to the list of crimes that cannot be expunged, which already includes serious offenses like murder, kidnapping, and sexual assault. This change would apply to all domestic violence cases in New Jersey, regardless of whether a conviction occurred.

Maddy summaryThe Opportunity Scholarship Act establishes a five-year pilot program providing tax credits to New Jersey taxpayers who contribute to scholarship organizations. These organizations would distribute scholarships to low-income children (from households earning no more than 250% of the federal poverty threshold) attending chronically failing schools in eight targeted districts (Asbury Park, Camden, Elizabeth, Lakewood, Newark, Orange, Passaic, and Perth Amboy). The program would award up to 10,000 scholarships in its final year, with schools receiving scholarship students required to accept them without additional fees and provide annual assessments to track student progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes income limits on New Jersey's tax exclusion for pension and retirement income. Currently, taxpayers aged 62 or older (or disabled) with incomes up to $150,000 can exclude some pension income, with reduced exclusions for those earning $100,000-$150,000. The bill eliminates the $150,000 income cap and the reduced exclusion for higher earners, allowing all eligible taxpayers to claim the full exclusion regardless of income level. It would affect New Jersey residents who receive pension or retirement income as part of their income, particularly those with higher incomes who currently receive reduced tax benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the sales tax rate in New Jersey's urban enterprise zones (UEZs) from 3.5% to 7% over seven years (2016-2022), with the percentage of tax revenue dedicated to the Enterprise Zone Assistance Fund increasing annually from 12.5% to 50%. The fund supports public improvements, economic development projects, and upgraded municipal services within designated enterprise zones. After 2022, all sales tax collected in UEZs will be deposited into the General Fund instead of the assistance fund. The bill directly affects businesses operating within designated enterprise zones and the municipalities where these zones are located.

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes occupying an empty or vacant home without the owner's permission, addressing what the bill calls "squatting." It creates three specific offenses: forcibly entering a vacant dwelling (housebreaking), taking up residence without permission (unlawful occupancy), and reentering after a court-ordered eviction (unlawful reentry). All are classified as fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill presumes a person knows they lack permission unless they provide a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details, changing the current process where owners must seek civil court eviction.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A777) ensures religious services can continue during New Jersey Governor-declared state or public health emergencies. It directly affects religious institutions and congregants by preventing restrictions on gathering for worship, travel to places of worship, or penalties for practicing faith during emergencies. The key provision prohibits emergency declarations from infringing these rights, while still requiring religious groups to follow universal health/safety rules applicable to all essential businesses. The bill takes immediate effect and focuses solely on preserving religious assembly rights without altering general emergency authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to allow any member who participated in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations to qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits if they develop a disability linked to that work. It presumes that health conditions from 9/11 exposure (like respiratory illnesses or PTSD) resulted from their duties if they worked at least eight hours at the site, or if they had a documented injury preventing further participation. Members who later retire on ordinary disability or service retirement can also seek recalculated benefits if they develop qualifying 9/11-related disabilities. The policy change applies to all PERS members, regardless of when they joined the system, removing previous restrictions that limited eligibility to specific roles like emergency medical technicians.