Asm. John DiMaio

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public and private schools in New Jersey counties with high Lyme disease incidence to adopt a tick remediation policy by 18 months after the law takes effect. It mandates schools to implement pesticide-free, cost-effective solutions tailored to their county's specific environmental factors (like vegetation and deer populations), developed by the Environmental Protection Commissioner within 12 months. Schools must designate an integrated pest management coordinator to oversee implementation, maintain records, and educate staff about high-risk tick areas. The policy prioritizes non-chemical methods first, with low-impact pesticides permitted only if initial measures prove insufficient.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State Treasurer to sell surplus property located at 1600 Brooks Boulevard (4.30 acres, former Hillsborough Social Services Office) in Hillsborough Township, Somerset County. The property must be sold to the Manville Borough Board of Education for $870,000, or to the highest bidder via internet auction with that as the minimum price if the Board declines. It directly affects the State (as owner), the Manville Board of Education (as potential buyer), and local taxpayers (through the sale process). The bill is procedural, requiring no new policy changes beyond this specific property transaction, and took effect immediately upon approval.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A4135 (A4135) requires all counties to establish crisis intervention services programs for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers. The bill mandates counties provide up to 12 counseling sessions (with possible additional sessions within one year) for first responders affected by critical incidents like witnessing trauma, dangerous child crime investigations, or life-threatening rescues. Employers cannot require use of paid leave for counseling attendance, and if deemed unfit for duty during counseling, employees receive full pay/benefits for up to 30 days per incident. Counties must report program data annually to the state, and the state will reimburse counties for program costs. The law expands eligibility to include volunteer firefighters, 9-1-1 dispatchers, and state-employed officers residing in or working within the county.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State Treasurer (acting for the Department of Children and Families) to sell the former Hillsborough Social Services Office property at 1600 Brooks Boulevard in Hillsborough Township, Somerset County. The 4.3-acre property, now surplus to state needs, is to be sold to the Borough of Manville for $870,000. If the borough declines, the property will be sold via internet auction with a $870,000 minimum bid. The sale must follow terms approved by the State House Commission.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's agricultural trespass law by removing the requirement that trespassers must knowingly or recklessly enter farm lands. It now prohibits any entry (on foot, vehicle, or equipment) without written permission and expands protected property to include fences, equipment, crops, and trees. The bill adds new land types to coverage, such as adjacent wooded areas used with farms (for Christmas trees) and land for storing agricultural equipment. Civil penalties increase to $1,000 (plus attorney fees) for violations involving vehicles/equipment, versus $100 for basic trespass.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to increase penalties for false public alarms targeting places of worship. It defines a "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used permanently for religious services by a registered 501(c)(3) organization. Violations involving such locations become a second-degree crime (previously third-degree) and trigger a minimum $5,000 civil penalty - double the standard $2,000 penalty - plus reimbursement for emergency response costs. The law also requires annual reports from law enforcement on these offenses to the state's Office of Emergency Management.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how municipalities calculate impervious surfaces (like paved areas) for public parks within New Jersey's Highlands preservation area. Currently, parks must keep impervious surfaces under 3% of each individual park's area. The bill allows municipalities to combine all their municipal parks into one "lot" for this calculation, meaning the total impervious surface across all parks must stay under 3% of the combined park area. This adjustment makes it easier for towns to develop or maintain multiple parks without violating the 3% limit on each separate park. The change specifically excludes open waters and solar panels from the impervious surface calculation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new formula for distributing state school aid to New Jersey's public school districts. It calculates each district's aid by dividing the total projected state income tax revenue by the total projected student enrollment across all districts, then multiplying that per-pupil amount by the district's own projected enrollment. This method ensures state funding is distributed proportionally based on student population, directly affecting all public school districts in the state. The bill replaces previous funding mechanisms and takes effect immediately for the upcoming school year.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Pandemic Bill of Rights for the Welfare of Individuals," granting specific protections to all New Jersey residents during pandemics, disease outbreaks, or public health emergencies. It requires healthcare facilities to provide safeguards for nursing home residents and those with health conditions, ensure proper medical evaluation before discharge, guarantee adequate care and therapy, allow family visitation, and protect legal directives like "do not resuscitate" orders. The bill mandates that attorneys be designated as essential workers with open offices and ensures access to legal services during emergencies. The Commissioner of Health must publish these rights online and require all healthcare facilities to display them prominently.