Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to add a special notation to vehicle registrations for drivers who are deaf or hard of hearing. To qualify, applicants must provide medical verification of 41 dB or greater hearing loss from an ENT or an audiologist certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. The notation would only appear in law enforcement systems during traffic stops to alert officers, and would apply to registrations issued or renewed 180 days after the bill takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires websites and online platforms to verify the age of users attempting to access content containing a "substantial portion" of material harmful to minors (defined as content with over one-third harmful material, such as explicit sexual content or lacking artistic value for minors). It applies to entities like social media platforms and websites, prohibiting minors under 18 from accessing such content unless the platform verifies their age and confirms the content is suitable for them. Platforms must use reasonable age verification methods (e.g., digital ID checks) and follow division-established standards for content suitability. The bill is pending before the New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee after being introduced on April 4, 2024.

Maddy summaryAJR 164 designates the fourth Saturday of September each year as "New Jersey Hunting and Fishing Day" to promote participation in these activities. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance and directs the Division of Fish and Wildlife to publicize the day and coordinate at least one of the state's free fishing days with it. This procedural resolution does not create new laws but aims to highlight hunting and fishing's role in recreation, conservation, and economic activity. It directly affects state officials responsible for implementation and the public through designated events.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 108) urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to establish an inpatient hospital facility at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. It directly addresses veterans in southern New Jersey, where 119,200 residents live across eight counties and currently lack local inpatient VA care - forcing many to travel hours to facilities like the outdated East Orange Veterans Medical Center. The resolution highlights that establishing the facility at the base would reduce travel times (currently multiple hours for some veterans) and leverage existing veteran services at the location. As a non-binding request, it formally asks the VA to consider this action and will be sent to the VA Secretary and New Jersey’s congressional delegation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey county sheriffs to issue firearms identification cards and permits to purchase handguns, currently only issued by municipal police chiefs or the State Police superintendent. It would also authorize county sheriffs to accept applications for permits to carry handguns, expanding their current authority in this area. Under current law, residents must apply to their local police department or the State Police superintendent for these permits, but this bill would give county sheriffs the same authority. This is a procedural change to the application process for firearm permits and identification cards, providing more local access for residents.

Maddy summaryAssembly Resolution 107 urges the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to redirect funding away from current transportation providers for disabled veterans and instead support existing county paratransit services and non-profit organizations (like ARC of New Jersey and Easterseals) that already provide transportation for seniors and people with disabilities. It specifically addresses disabled veterans in New Jersey - approximately 53,000 with service-connected disabilities - who use VA medical centers in East Orange and Lyons, where current transportation has been reported as inadequate (leaving veterans stranded for hours or overnight). The resolution proposes that VA funding enable these established networks to expand their services to cover veterans’ medical travel needs, rather than relying on underfunded or inconsistent VA or volunteer-provided transport. This is a non-binding request to the VA, not a legislative mandate.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Transit Accountability Act (A4096) requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to hire an independent auditor within 90 days to examine its financial management and budget reporting practices since the 2018 Executive Order No. 5 assessment. The audit must cover pandemic impacts on service demand and finances, evaluate current funding adequacy, and recommend improvements to governance, hiring, and customer service. NJT must submit the audit findings to the Governor and Legislature, then adopt the recommended policies within six months (with an option to explain exceptions). This bill directly affects NJT's operational transparency and financial accountability, aiming to address historical funding mismanagement identified in prior assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for optometrists in New Jersey by allowing them to prescribe more pharmaceutical agents (including some controlled substances), administer certain immunizations (for coronaviruses, influenza, and varicella-zoster virus), and perform simple ophthalmologic procedures like non-invasive laser treatments. It clarifies that optometrists must complete specific training and credentialing to provide these expanded services, including evidence of competence through accredited education programs. The bill directly affects licensed optometrists in New Jersey and their patients, who will have access to a broader range of eye care services from optometrists. The legislation updates the legal definition of optometry practice to better align with optometrists' doctoral education and clinical training.

Maddy summaryThe Electricity Bill Transparency Act requires New Jersey electric utilities to separately list three specific charges on customer bills: the sales tax imposed by the Sales and Use Tax Act, the societal benefits charge, and clean energy charges. Utilities must also itemize how much of the societal benefits charge funds each specific program, such as energy efficiency initiatives or low-income assistance. This bill affects all residential and commercial electricity customers in New Jersey by making non-utility related charges more transparent on their bills. The policy change aims to help customers understand the breakdown of their electricity costs beyond the base service charge. This requirement applies to all electric utilities providing service in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a program allowing local governments and qualified nonprofit organizations to acquire development easements on privately-owned woodlands that support agricultural production. To qualify, woodlands must be at least five acres, managed with approved stewardship plans, supportive of existing farmland, and located in designated agricultural areas. The program would use funds from the Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund to provide grants covering up to 80% of acquisition costs for local governments and 50% for nonprofits, with funding prioritized for farmland preservation first, farmland with appurtenant woodlands second, and woodlands supportive of farmland third. The easements would permanently restrict development while allowing landowners to maintain private ownership and property tax obligations.