Asm. Don Guardian

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3661) makes it a fourth-degree crime to knowingly and actively participate in a criminal street gang while promoting or assisting others in committing specific violent or serious offenses. It directly affects individuals who knowingly help gang members carry out crimes like robbery, carjacking, assault, sexual assault, arson, burglary, kidnapping, extortion, or certain drug/firearm violations. The law defines a "criminal street gang" as three or more people meeting specific criteria (such as shared symbols, clothing, or prior criminal activity) and sets penalties of up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal presumption requiring pretrial detention for drivers charged with reckless vehicular homicide under two specific circumstances: (1) when operating a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol/drugs with a blood alcohol concentration at or above the legal limit (0.08%), or (2) when operating under the influence near schools (within 1,000 feet of school property, through designated school crossings, or where juveniles were known to be present). It directly affects drivers convicted of DUI-related vehicular homicide in these scenarios, mandating detention before trial unless the court finds exceptional circumstances. The presumption applies to violations of sections 2C:11-5(b)(1) and (b)(3) of New Jersey law. This change modifies sentencing procedures without altering the underlying criminal charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New Jersey allocates revenue from hotel and motel occupancy fees, directing 100% of the funds to arts, historical heritage, and tourism programs instead of the previous 40%. It specifies exact percentages: 56.7% for the State Council on the Arts (with a minimum $31.9 million annually after 2021), 9.6% for the Historical Commission ($5.5 million minimum), 31.9% for tourism advertising ($17.6 million minimum), and 1.8% for the Cultural Trust ($720,000 minimum). The bill directly affects hotels, motels, and online booking platforms (like Airbnb) that collect and remit this fee. It ensures these funds are legally required to be spent on designated cultural and tourism purposes, with minimum annual allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a model ordinance restricting where convicted sex offenders (with moderate/high reoffense risk) can live near schools or child-focused areas. Municipalities adopting this exact model ordinance will receive free legal defense from the Attorney General if challenged in court. The model cannot force offenders to relocate or violate constitutional travel rights. It directly affects municipalities seeking to enforce such restrictions and convicted sex offenders subject to registration requirements. The Attorney General must issue the model within 90 days and defend all identical ordinances at no cost to the municipality.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3666) allows New Jersey municipalities governed by the Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law to adopt instant run-off voting (IRV) for local elections where a single candidate is elected. It permits voters to rank candidates in order of preference, with votes transferring to next choices if no candidate wins a majority of first-choice votes. The process eliminates last-place candidates sequentially, redistributing their votes until one candidate achieves a majority, or a tie occurs. Municipalities must adopt IRV via ordinance, and implementation requires the Secretary of State to certify updated voting equipment and ballots before use.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits operating drones below 250 feet over school property without permission. Specifically, it makes it a disorderly persons offense to use a drone for surveillance, hover over school grounds, or use school buildings as takeoff/landing areas without the superintendent's written authorization. The law applies to all public and nonpublic K-12 schools in New Jersey. Violations carry penalties of up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The bill aims to protect student safety and privacy by restricting unauthorized drone activity near schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse municipalities for a portion of lost property tax revenue caused by exempting permanently disabled veterans' primary homes from property taxes. It directly affects disabled veterans who qualify for the total exemption (e.g., those with paraplegia, blindness, or amputations from service-connected disabilities) and the municipalities that collect property taxes. The state must pay each municipality 10% of the exempted tax amount annually, plus an additional 2% to cover administrative costs. Currently, municipalities bear the full cost of these exemptions without state reimbursement.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 104) urges Congress and the President to increase federal funding for fusion energy research. It specifically calls for higher appropriations to the Department of Energy's Fusion Energy Sciences program to support the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) in New Jersey and the international ITER project in France. The resolution highlights fusion energy's potential as a sustainable, clean power source with no long-term radioactive waste, while noting PPPL's leadership and the economic benefits of public-private partnerships. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change funding levels but formally advocates for greater investment in this research area.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A-3678) requires licensed adult day care centers to make reasonable efforts to accommodate participants' religious dietary needs. It directly affects centers that provide daytime care for functionally or cognitively impaired adults (defined as facilities licensed under state law or offering structured community programs under 12 hours daily). The key provision mandates centers to adjust food services to meet religious dietary requirements, provided it aligns with their operational capacity. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges to keep naloxone nasal spray in secure, accessible locations across campus residence halls for opioid overdose emergencies. It permits licensed medical staff (like nurses or doctors) and trained resident assistants to administer the medication during suspected overdoses, based on their good-faith belief. Institutions must develop policies designating a medical supervisor, requiring staff training on proper administration and overdose prevention, and mandating hospital transport after naloxone use - even if symptoms improve. The law also provides liability protection for good-faith actions by medical staff, resident assistants, or pharmacists following the bill's guidelines.