Asm. John DiMaio

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6286) creates a new crime called "political violence" for acts targeting individuals due to their political affiliation or expression, such as assault, kidnapping, or homicide committed to interfere with or retaliate against political views. It increases penalties for these acts (e.g., upgrading murder to first-degree if politically motivated) and establishes a permissive inference that targeting based on politics implies criminal intent. An independent "Political Violence Review Board" will collect and analyze data on such cases, tracking arrests, charges, trial outcomes, and disparities based on race, gender, or political affiliation. The board aims to identify systemic biases in how law enforcement and prosecutors handle these incidents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts and the municipalities where students reside to create shared services agreements specifically for verifying student residency. School districts must annually submit a list of all enrolled students' addresses to each relevant municipality by November 1, and municipalities must verify those addresses within 30 days, reporting unverified addresses back to the district. Unverified addresses trigger additional review by the school district. Non-compliant school districts face fines of up to $500 per violation, enforced by the Commissioner of Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a proportional property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans who are honorably discharged and have a service-connected permanent disability rated at 10% or higher. It directly affects qualifying veterans (and their surviving spouses) by reducing their property taxes in line with their disability rating, with a $10,000 cap for exemptions below 100% disability. Veterans deemed unemployable due to service-connected disability receive a full 100% exemption, matching current benefits for those with 100% disability ratings. The bill also requires the state to reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax costs for these exemptions, including administrative expenses, through annual reporting by local tax authorities.

Maddy summaryThis bill would change New Jersey's income tax system to a flat tax rate of 5.9% for taxable income over specific thresholds. For single filers, married individuals filing separately, and estates/trusts, the tax would apply to income over $37,500. For married couples filing jointly, heads of household, and surviving spouses, the tax would apply to income over $75,000. Taxpayers with income below these thresholds would not owe any income tax under this bill. This would replace New Jersey's current progressive tax system, which has rates ranging from 1.4% to 10.75% across multiple income brackets.

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a bill) establishing a special committee. It creates the "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation" with 12 members (6 appointed by the Assembly Speaker, 6 by the Minority Leader). The committee's sole purpose is to investigate New Jersey's historical, legal, and geographic claims to Staten Island - including colonial land grants, the 1834 boundary compact, and relevant case law - and to report on lawful avenues for annexation, subject to consent from Staten Island residents, New York State, and Congress. The committee must publish a final report after completing its work.

Maddy summaryBill A5939 transfers authority for inspecting on-farm dairy processing activities from the New Jersey Department of Health to the Department of Agriculture. It requires the Agriculture Department to collaborate with the Department of Health and local health boards when conducting these inspections. The bill also allows the Agriculture Secretary to create necessary rules under state administrative law. This change directly affects dairy farmers who process milk on their farms, as their inspections will now be managed by the Agriculture Department instead of Health. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy bill. It honors the late Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. (who served in Congress from 1997 until his death in 2024), specifically recognizing his founding role in the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. The resolution urges New Jersey's current and future U.S. Congress members to join and support this bipartisan task force, which focuses on advancing brain injury awareness, research, and policy. It has no effect on laws or funding - it is purely a commemorative statement.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" to improve transparency around vehicle recalls and provide fair compensation for dealers. It requires motor vehicle dealers to check for open recalls on used vehicles using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website before sale, inform prospective buyers about any recalls found, and not sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices. Dealers must also provide the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission with lists of vehicles with long-unfixed recalls (six months or more), triggering the Commission to send official notices to vehicle owners. The bill also establishes compensation requirements for dealers when parts are unavailable for recalled vehicles, requiring 1.75 percent of the vehicle's value per month for used vehicles or the manufacturer's suggested retail price for new vehicles.