Asm. Erik Peterson

Maddy summaryThis bill shifts the burden of proof in New Jersey firearm permit applications from applicants to authorities. If an application for a handgun permit or firearms purchaser identification card is denied, the chief of police or Superintendent of State Police must now prove the applicant meets one of the disqualifying criteria listed in state law. The bill requires authorities to provide a written statement within 10 days of denial, specifying the reason and evidence for the denial. This change affects anyone applying for a handgun permit or firearms purchaser ID card in New Jersey. The bill does not alter the list of disqualifying factors but changes who must demonstrate why an applicant is ineligible.

Maddy summaryThis resolution creates a special committee called the "Assembly Select Committee on New Jersey Transit and the Bound Brook Flood" to investigate a 2021 flood event in Bound Brook, New Jersey. The committee will examine New Jersey Transit's role in the failure of a flood control system during Hurricane Ida (September 1, 2021), specifically whether a train blocking a flood gate contributed to the flooding that damaged homes and businesses. The committee will review NJ Transit's finances, operations, and management related to the flood control system and may recommend legislative actions to prevent similar failures in the future. This is a procedural resolution establishing an investigative body, not a law changing policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to provide equivalent scholarships to student-athletes who lose their athletic scholarships due to serious injuries sustained while participating in intercollegiate sports. If a student-athlete is medically deemed unable to continue competing because of an injury directly related to their sport, the institution must offer a scholarship equal to the lost athletic award. The new scholarship, combined with any prior athletic scholarships, must cover up to five academic years or until the student completes their undergraduate degree - whichever comes first. Public institutions may choose to provide additional years beyond this limit, but are not required to do so.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's automatic voter registration process at Motor Vehicle Commission locations. It specifically prohibits automatic voter registration for applicants seeking standard driver's licenses or identification cards, while maintaining the process for REAL ID applicants. Currently, eligible applicants for REAL ID licenses (which require proof of legal presence) are automatically registered to vote unless they decline. The bill changes the eligibility definition to exclude standard license applicants from this automatic registration process. This would prevent people applying for standard licenses (who don't need to provide proof of legal presence) from being automatically registered to vote at MVD locations.

Maddy summaryACR 74 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit New Jersey from using bond proceeds to balance its annual state budget. It would amend the state constitution to define "revenue" for budgeting purposes as excluding funds from bond sales or debt, except for new capital projects not previously authorized by law. This directly affects the state government's budgeting process by requiring annual appropriations to be covered by actual revenue, not borrowed funds. The amendment aims to prevent the practice of using bond proceeds to cover regular operating expenses instead of balancing the budget with current revenue.

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 requires New Jersey school districts to permit graduating high school students to wear a military sash or stole (issued by a U.S. military branch) during graduation ceremonies. It directly affects students who have completed all diploma requirements but are not necessarily active military members - unlike the existing law, which only covered dress uniforms for active service members. The key provision expands the allowable military attire to include sashes/stoles worn atop graduation robes, without requiring active service status or completion of basic training. The change applies immediately to all public school graduation ceremonies across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1111) requires commercial trucks over 26,000 pounds gross weight to have GPS systems that provide real-time alerts about low-clearance bridges and weight restrictions, plus route directions adjusted for the vehicle's specific height and weight. It directly affects most commercial freight haulers operating in New Jersey, excluding government vehicles, school buses, and religious/charitable transportation. The GPS must display infrastructure warnings and dynamically reroute based on the truck's size when entered by the driver. The Motor Vehicle Commission will create implementation rules, with the law taking effect 180 days after enactment.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A410) requires New Jersey public school districts to provide vouchers to parents who withdraw their child from public school due to objections about curriculum materials or activities they deem "harmful." The voucher covers 75% of the nonpublic school's tuition and fees, calculated based on the district's per-pupil spending and prorated for remaining school days. It specifically defines "harmful" objections to include conflicts with parental beliefs about sex, sexuality, gender identity, religion, or morality. The bill applies to parents of students enrolled in public schools who choose to enroll in nonpublic schools for these reasons.