Asm. John DiMaio

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for New Jersey to select, instruct, and oversee commissioners who will represent the state at an Article V convention for proposing constitutional amendments. It sets specific eligibility requirements for commissioners (including citizenship, residency, age, and expertise in constitutional matters), requires them to take an oath, and prohibits them from supporting changes to the traditional one-vote-per-state rule or amendments that alter specific constitutional guarantees like the Bill of Rights and several key amendments. The bill creates an advisory committee to monitor commissioners' compliance with their instructions and to recommend recalls when commissioners exceed their authority, with procedures for filling vacancies. It also establishes criminal penalties (third-degree crimes) for commissioners who exceed their authority or for anyone who bribes, threatens, or obstructs commissioners during the convention.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires criminal history background checks for individuals applying for or renewing licenses in specific health care professions, specifically adding applied behavior analysts, creative arts therapists, and dietitians to the list of professions requiring these checks. Background checks must be conducted as part of the licensing application process, and licensing boards may deny or revoke licenses based on criminal history that meets existing standards. The requirement does not apply to nurse aides, personal care assistants, or homemaker-home health aides, who are already covered by other background check laws. This change expands existing background check rules to new health care fields without altering current exemptions.

Maddy summaryThe "Real Estate Consumer Protection Enhancement Act" (S 3192) establishes clearer definitions and duties for different types of real estate agents and brokers in New Jersey. The bill requires written agency disclosure before services begin, mandates specific duties including loyalty, confidentiality, and disclosure of material information, and sets requirements for property condition disclosures in residential transactions. It also establishes specific signage requirements at open houses and updates continuing education requirements to include specific hours on agency topics for real estate licensees. This legislation directly affects real estate brokerage firms, agents, and consumers involved in real estate transactions across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires criminal history background checks for individuals applying for an initial license in three specific health care professions: applied behavior analysis, creative arts and activities therapy, and dietetics and nutrition. The background check must be completed before a license is issued, aligning these professions with existing requirements for other licensed health care fields. Existing rules allowing licensing boards to deny or revoke a license based on criminal history will continue to apply to these applicants. The requirement takes effect for applications received on or after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clearer definitions and duties for different types of real estate agents in New Jersey, including buyer's agents, seller's agents, dual agents, designated agents, and transaction brokers. It requires real estate professionals to provide written disclosures about their agency relationship before or at the time of signing a brokerage agreement, and mandates specific signage at open houses to inform prospective buyers about the agent's representation. The bill also requires real estate licensees to complete at least one hour of agency-related continuing education during each biennial license renewal period. These provisions directly affect homebuyers, sellers, and real estate professionals in New Jersey by enhancing transparency and consumer protections in real estate transactions.

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 summaryThe bill would broaden veterans' benefits eligibility by removing specific war or conflict service requirements. Instead of needing to have served during designated wars (like World War II or Vietnam), veterans would only need at least 90 days of active duty service (excluding basic training), or Reserve members would need to serve the full period called to active duty. Veterans discharged due to service-connected disabilities would qualify regardless of service duration. This change would expand access to benefits including civil service hiring preference, retirement allowances, and the ability to purchase military service credit for retirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public high school students in grades 10-12 who participate in school-sponsored sports to replace their physical education class with a study hall during their sport's athletic season. Students must get written parental approval and have their coach confirm their participation, and their athletic involvement will count toward their graduation physical education credit requirement. The bill does not affect students not in sports, younger grades, or the existing requirement for health and safety education courses. It applies starting the 2024-2025 school year.

Maddy summaryThis resolution opposes any proposal to reclassify the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (currently a 70,000-acre federal site spanning New Jersey and Pennsylvania) as a National Park and Preserve, including a specific plan by the Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve Alliance. It specifically addresses concerns that such a change could restrict recreational activities like hunting, harm local tourism businesses in Sussex and Warren counties, and potentially lead to federal acquisition of private land near the area. The resolution does not change any park designations but formally expresses New Jersey's position against the proposed reclassification. It aims to protect local economic interests and recreational access for residents and visitors in the affected counties.