Asm. Erik Peterson

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes rules for selecting and overseeing state commissioners to an Article V constitutional convention. It requires commissioners to meet specific qualifications (e.g., U.S. citizenship for 5+ years, New Jersey residency for 3+ years, no recent federal office or lobbying roles) and mandates appointment via a joint legislative resolution. Commissioners are prohibited from supporting changes to the "one state, one vote" rule or amendments altering specific constitutional guarantees (including the Bill of Rights and key amendments like the 14th and 19th). The bill also creates an advisory committee to handle vacancies and allows the legislature to recall commissioners or impose additional instructions, with criminal penalties for violations as noted in the title.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Local Government Services to audit certain shared services agreements and authorities entered into by municipalities. It mandates audits based on annual spending: annually for agreements over $10 million, every two years for $2-10 million, and every 30 months for under $2 million. The Division must employ a licensed CPA for these audits, submit results to the Local Finance Board, and publish findings online. This directly affects municipalities using shared services under the Uniform Shared Services Act (2007), Municipal Energy Authority Act (2015), and Regional Rehabilitation Authority Act (2023).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey high school students to pass a civics test identical to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization test (60 correct answers out of 100) to graduate. Students must take the test in ninth grade and retake it each year until they pass, with schools documenting the result on their transcripts. The policy directly affects all New Jersey public high school students seeking graduation, beginning with the 2015-2016 school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the expiration period for New Jersey state agency rules from seven years to five years. It requires legislative approval - via a concurrent resolution passed by both the Assembly and Senate - to readopt any rule after its five-year expiration date. Without such approval, the rule expires permanently, and the agency cannot propose or adopt it again for five years. The bill applies to all rules adopted after its effective date and aims to increase legislative oversight of agency regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill, now law as P.L.2025, c.272, provides employment protections for New Jersey paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 9-1-1 dispatchers) diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against employees who take leave for qualifying PTSD treatment, requiring reinstatement to their previous position after documented recovery. Employers violating these protections face civil fines ($5,000 for first violation, $10,000 for subsequent), court-ordered reinstatement, lost wages, and attorney fees. The law applies only when PTSD arises from on-the-job trauma or vicarious trauma experienced during official duties.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding assembly resolution (AR 84) expressing New Jersey's support for Israel following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attacks. It condemns Hamas as a terrorist organization, details the attacks' casualties (including 1,400 Israelis killed and 30 Americans), and states the resolution "stands with Israel as it defends itself." The resolution has no legal effect; it will be formally transmitted to Israel's leadership, the U.S. ambassador to Israel, and New Jersey's congressional delegation. It directly affects no individuals or policies, serving only as a symbolic statement of support.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how energy tax payments are handled in New Jersey. It requires energy companies (like gas, electric, and utility providers) to pay their taxes directly to local municipalities instead of the state, ensuring the full $740 million annual property tax relief aid is distributed directly to towns and cities. The State Treasurer will determine each municipality's share based on historical payments and direct energy taxpayers to make payments to specific local governments. This replaces the previous system where the state collected taxes and redistributed funds, aiming to streamline relief for municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the State Treasurer's authority to annually adjust the tax rates on petroleum products based on changing fuel prices. It freezes the tax rates at levels determined by 2016 data, eliminating future quarterly or annual adjustments tied to average retail fuel prices. This directly affects petroleum companies that pay the tax on gasoline, diesel, and other fuels, as their tax burden will no longer automatically change with market prices. The bill ensures tax rates remain fixed at the 2016 benchmark, preventing future adjustments by the Treasurer.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telemarketers making sales calls in New Jersey to display their actual name and phone number (or the seller's customer service number during business hours) on caller ID systems. It directly affects telemarketers who make unsolicited sales calls to New Jersey residents. The key provision mandates that telemarketers must transmit this information within the first 30 seconds of a call, preventing them from blocking or misrepresenting their identity. This aims to help consumers identify callers before answering, reducing fraud and unwanted calls.

Maddy summaryBill A 546 repeals New Jersey’s prohibition on certain businesses selling single-use products (like plastic straws or utensils), directly affecting restaurants, retailers, and food service establishments that previously faced restrictions. It also amends the Clean Communities Program Fund to adjust how state funds support litter cleanup and education initiatives, including distributing money to municipalities and counties based on housing units or road mileage. The bill removes sections 1-9 of P.L.2020, c.117, which established the single-use product ban, and takes effect immediately. This change shifts policy from restricting single-use items to enabling their sale without legal barriers.