Asm. Erik Peterson

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A406 amends the "Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act" to strengthen protections against coercion and fraud. It upgrades two offenses to first-degree crimes: coercing a terminally ill patient to request end-of-life medication (previously a third-degree crime) or forging a patient's request (previously a second-degree crime). The bill imposes a mandatory 25-year prison sentence without parole eligibility for these offenses. It directly affects healthcare providers, family members, or others who might attempt to manipulate a patient's decision under the existing medical aid-in-dying law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create and implement guidelines by September 1, 2023, for how public school districts prepare students for state-mandated assessments. The guidelines must include best practices for schools, specifically addressing how much classroom time should be dedicated to test preparation. It directly affects all public school districts in New Jersey that administer state assessments. The key provision focuses on limiting instructional time spent on test-specific drills, aiming to balance assessment readiness with broader learning.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 29) is a symbolic statement urging the U.S. President to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) and stop funding it. It directly addresses the President, citing concerns about the WHO's pandemic response - including delayed actions, inconsistent guidance on masks, and perceived deference to China during the COVID-19 crisis - as reasons for withdrawal. The resolution does not create new law or change policy but expresses the New Jersey General Assembly’s position that the WHO’s failures and broad authority warrant U.S. disengagement. It is a non-binding request, not a legislative mandate.

Maddy summaryACR 73 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring voter approval for New Jersey state bond refundings that increase the total debt beyond the original principal amount plus refinancing costs. Currently, bond refundings that provide "debt service savings" (lower interest payments) can proceed without voter approval under existing rules. This bill would mandate voter approval via general election for any refunding that increases the principal debt amount beyond the original bonds being refinanced plus necessary costs. It directly affects state budget decisions by requiring public consent for certain debt refinancing actions that would otherwise be approved by the legislature and budget oversight committees.

Maddy summaryA2573 would allow victims of first or second degree crimes and the nearest relatives of murder victims to witness the entire parole hearing process, regardless of whether they submit a written statement or testify. Currently, these individuals can provide statements or testify at hearings, but this bill explicitly extends their right to observe all proceedings without requiring active participation. The parole board must notify them of this opportunity when an inmate's parole is under consideration. This change provides victims and families with the option to be present for the full hearing, enhancing their involvement in the parole process.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new packaging requirements for cannabis products to prevent appeal to minors, prohibiting designs that might attract children (such as toys, cartoon characters, or candy-like features) and requiring clear consumer warnings with poison control contact information. It creates a new disorderly persons offense for individuals who know or should reasonably know that a minor (defined as under 16) is likely to gain access to improperly stored cannabis at their premises. The penalties for this offense mirror those for providing alcohol to minors. The bill also codifies existing packaging and labeling regulations from the Cannabis Regulatory Commission to ensure consistent safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the income limit for certain sources of income that disqualify New Jersey taxpayers from claiming a retirement income exclusion. Currently, individuals aged 62+ cannot claim the exclusion if they earn over $3,000 from sources like wages or business income; the bill raises this threshold to $25,000. However, taxpayers with total gross income exceeding $100,000 remain ineligible for the exclusion regardless of this change. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents aged 62+ receiving retirement income who also earn income from other sources.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2568) requires vendors working on state computer contracts to certify they haven’t been convicted of specific computer crimes (like hacking or unauthorized access) and that their employees/subcontractors also have no such convictions. It creates a state registry of individuals convicted of these crimes, which must be checked before awarding contracts. Vendors violating this rule face fines of $5,000-$50,000 per violation, three-year contract bans, or other penalties. The bill also mandates that vendors and government agencies report computer crime incidents to the Division of Criminal Justice.

Maddy summaryBill A2535 creates a new legal option for homeowners in New Jersey who believe a residential mortgage lender violated the Fair Foreclosure Act (P.L.1995, c.244). It allows individuals to sue lenders directly in Superior Court for violations, seeking actual financial damages or $1,000 (whichever is greater), plus attorney fees and court costs. The bill amends the existing Fair Foreclosure Act to add this private enforcement mechanism, directly affecting mortgage lenders who must now face potential lawsuits for foreclosure-related violations. The law would take effect four months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies New Jersey's Open Public Records Act by specifying that public agencies don't need to convert electronic records to a requested format. Agencies must provide records in the requested format only if they already maintain records in that format; otherwise, they can either convert the record (charging reasonable conversion costs) or provide it in their existing electronic format. The bill aims to simplify the process for responding to public record requests and reduce potential legal disputes between agencies and requesters.