Asm. Erik Peterson

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's disability parking program to include individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia who have limited, impaired, or unsafe walking ability. It adds this condition to the existing definition of "person with a disability" for parking privileges, requiring certification from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. Eligible individuals and their caregivers can then obtain the standard disability placard or license plates displaying the wheelchair symbol. This change allows them to use reserved parking spaces without altering current requirements for obtaining the placard or plates.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4773) requires the Secretary of State to adjust census data used for redistricting by excluding undocumented immigrants from population counts. It directs the Secretary to develop an accurate legal resident count using datasets like Census citizenship data and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission records. The adjusted data would then determine boundaries for congressional, state legislative, county, municipal, and school districts. This change aims to ensure districts reflect the population of legal residents only, rather than including undocumented immigrants in apportionment calculations.

Maddy summaryBill A4771 requires individuals and businesses receiving New Jersey state benefits - including contracts, loans, tax breaks, grants, or licenses - to certify that they are authorized to be in the U.S. under federal law. It directly affects anyone seeking state financial assistance or privileges, including employers who must verify employees' work eligibility. The bill mandates the Department of Labor to create a standard certification form requiring this verification, with penalties only for knowingly false statements. State agencies must incorporate this form into existing application processes rather than creating a new system. The policy aims to ensure state benefits are reserved for those legally permitted to reside or work in the U.S.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's "Design Professional Self-Certification Act" (A4360, now law as P.L.2024, c.58) creates a program allowing licensed architects and professional engineers to self-certify that certain construction projects comply with building codes. It directly affects qualified design professionals who can now submit construction permit applications with self-certification forms for eligible projects (like renovations under specific size limits for residential or commercial buildings), bypassing full code reviews by local agencies. Local building departments must then conduct a simple "supervisory check" to confirm all required documents are present and issue permits - same as before - within 1-5 days. This applies only to projects not excluded (e.g., structural alterations requiring special inspections, new kitchens, or electrical upgrades over 400 amps), with the Department of Community Affairs setting qualification rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks following fertilization, with exceptions when the pregnancy threatens the woman's life, results from rape (requiring prior reporting to law enforcement), or results from rape or incest involving a minor (also requiring prior reporting). Physicians must determine the probable post-fertilization age before performing an abortion and document the specific exception being used. The bill requires specific informed consent forms, prohibits performing abortions in violation of these rules (which would be a third-degree crime), and mandates appropriate medical care if a child is born alive following an abortion under an exception.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens campaign finance transparency in New Jersey by requiring independent expenditure committees (groups that spend money on elections without direct candidate support) to report large contributions and expenditures more frequently, especially in the days before elections. It mandates that these committees report contributions over $7,500 within 24-72 hours before elections and file quarterly reports after elections until their campaign accounts close. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for investigating campaign finance violations from two to four years after an election. Additionally, it exempts all campaign finance reports filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission from standard redaction requirements that apply to other public records, making these reports more accessible to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local governments to notify their governing bodies when a sex offender who committed a crime against a minor (under 18) registers to live in the municipality. It prohibits such offenders from residing within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, or playgrounds, with exceptions for those already living there, in correctional facilities, or granted specific exemptions by a court or parole board. The bill applies only to sex offenders convicted of offenses against minors, not all registered sex offenders. Its goal is to enhance public safety by reducing proximity between these offenders and children gathering in designated areas.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 137) urges Congress and the President to pass the "Laken Riley Act." The resolution states the Act would require federal custody for migrants who enter the U.S. illegally and are accused of theft or burglary. It references the 2024 murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student, by Venezuelan migrant Jose Antonio Ibarra - who had prior minor arrests (including shoplifting) but wasn't detained due to gaps in immigration enforcement. The resolution claims this policy would prevent similar tragedies by ensuring such individuals face federal custody. The resolution itself has no legal effect and serves only as a symbolic endorsement of the proposed federal legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring Tier A municipalities to adopt ordinances controlling tree removal and replacement as part of the Municipal Stormwater Regulation Program. Tier A municipalities are defined as those located in urbanized areas meeting specific population density and stormwater discharge criteria (e.g., population over 1,000 in urbanized areas, population density ≥1,000/sq mile). The bill directly reverses a November 2023 DEP rule that mandated these tree ordinances for Tier A communities. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4256) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6. The directive currently restricts state, county, and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities in specific ways, such as providing assistance solely to enforce civil immigration law or extending detention based only on immigration detainer requests. If passed, the bill would eliminate these restrictions, allowing law enforcement to share information and cooperate with federal immigration authorities under federal law. The bill directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies operating under the Attorney General's authority.