Rep. John DiMaio

Maddy summaryACR 121 is a procedural resolution proposing a special session of the New Jersey Legislature focused solely on property tax relief and reform. It would require the presiding officers of both legislative houses to convene the session within seven days of the resolution's passage, dedicating it entirely to developing solutions for New Jersey's high property taxes. The resolution states that these taxes - among the highest in the nation - disproportionately burden residents, including the elderly, young people, and low-income families, while supporting schools and local governments. This measure does not enact tax changes itself but creates a dedicated legislative process to consider such reforms.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4428) creates a new criminal offense called "political violence," defined as committing violent acts (such as assault, kidnapping, or terrorism) specifically to interfere with or retaliate against someone because of their political affiliation (e.g., party membership) or political expression (e.g., attending protests, donating to campaigns). It increases penalties for these offenses, requiring separate sentencing for both the underlying violent crime and the political violence charge. The bill also establishes an independent "Political Violence Review Board" to collect and analyze data on complaints, identifying potential disparities in how cases are handled based on race, gender, or political affiliation. This directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals targeted for political reasons, while requiring oversight of how such cases are investigated and prosecuted.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fourth-degree crime for using GPS or location tracking devices to monitor a vehicle with the intent to commit an unlawful act (such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or vehicle theft). It directly affects individuals who misuse tracking technology to harass or threaten others. The key provision mandates a minimum 5-year prison sentence for this offense - replacing the standard penalty of up to 18 months - under New Jersey’s sentencing law for fourth-degree crimes. This change applies to any tracking device used with unlawful intent, regardless of the specific crime involved. The bill is pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes knowingly making a false report of child abuse or neglect a crime. It targets individuals who submit false reports under New Jersey's child abuse reporting law, imposing a third-degree criminal penalty (up to 5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine) and adding a separate civil penalty of up to $10,000. The civil penalty funds the Department of Children and Families. The law applies immediately upon enactment and directly affects people who file false reports, not the victims or reporting systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. It provides a proportional exemption based on disability percentage (up to 100%), covering veterans with conditions like paralysis, amputations, or total blindness, and caps partial exemptions at $10,000. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans or those who died in service also qualify for similar exemptions. Crucially, the state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the lost tax revenue from these exemptions to offset costs. The law amends existing veteran property tax protections under P.L.1948, c.259.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to teach water safety as part of the health education curriculum for students in grades K-12, starting with the 2018-2019 school year. It mandates instruction on four specific topics: proper use of flotation devices, awareness of water conditions, dangers of rip currents and how to respond, and the importance of swimming in lifeguard-monitored areas. The law directly affects every student in New Jersey public schools, integrating water safety into existing health education standards. It aims to address drowning as a leading cause of accidental death by providing practical safety knowledge. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault statute (N.J.S. 2C:12-1) to increase penalties for assaulting specific public safety personnel. It designates assault on a Class Two special law enforcement officer while performing duties as aggravated assault, and adds that causing bodily injury through arson (violating N.J.S. 2C:17-1) that harms emergency services personnel (including firemen, medical staff, and law enforcement) is also aggravated assault. The bill does not include provisions allowing arson investigators to carry firearms, as that detail is absent from the provided bill text. The summary is based solely on the assault statute amendments included in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a loan program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) to help beginning farmers purchase essential assets. It directly affects new or limited-experience farmers (defined as those with ≤10 years of farming in NJ, low/moderate net worth, or first-time farmers under federal rules) who need capital for agricultural land, farm buildings, or equipment. The program requires applicants to prove farming experience, residency, and plan to use loans solely for farming activities, with NJEDA setting interest rates and eligibility criteria. Loans must finance purchases within New Jersey, and NJEDA may require financial reviews to ensure borrower viability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every New Jersey public school with a library to post a complete, up-to-date list of all library resources - such as books, magazines, DVDs, and digital databases - on its public website in an easily accessible location. Schools must add any newly purchased or ordered resources to the list within 10 days. The school library media specialist is responsible for maintaining the list, or if no specialist exists, the principal must assign a staff member to handle it. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes squatting in vacant homes by creating three new offenses: "housebreaking" (forcibly entering without permission to live there), "unlawful occupancy" (living in a vacant home without permission), and "unlawful reentry" (returning after being evicted via court order). It presumes people know they lack permission unless they have a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details. The law directly affects individuals occupying vacant properties without legal authorization, making these acts fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill aims to replace current eviction processes with criminal penalties for unauthorized occupancy.