Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the current legal limit of 200 annual permits for beaver trapping. It allows the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife to issue as many permits as needed for managing beaver populations, without a fixed annual cap. The change applies to all permits, including those for landowners seeking to control beavers causing property damage. The bill does not alter other permit requirements, such as the $15 fee or the five-beaver limit per permit.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows small municipalities (under 12,000 population with no police department) to bypass standard civil service hiring rules under specific conditions. If the Civil Service Commission doesn't provide a certified hiring list within 30 days of a request, or if no suitable candidates are found on the list, the municipality may appoint a qualified candidate directly after signing a waiver approved by the Commission. The appointed candidate must complete a working test period to gain civil service status, and the Commission cannot later require the municipality to replace them even if a certified list is eventually issued. This applies to cities, towns, townships, villages, and boroughs seeking to fill vacancies faster.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of New Jersey to reimburse local governments (municipalities, counties, school districts, and fire districts) for property tax revenue lost during the **first tax year** when a veteran is approved for a 100% service-connected disability property tax exemption. It mandates that tax collectors provide the State with documentation of the uncollected taxes within 10 days of exemption approval, and the State Treasurer must issue reimbursement within 10 days of the next quarterly tax bill due date. The policy directly affects veterans who qualify for the exemption and the local governments that would otherwise lose revenue from their property taxes. It does not change the eligibility criteria for the veterans' exemption itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates residential mental health treatment facilities in New Jersey. It requires these facilities to provide 24/7 care meeting Level 3.5 clinical standards (per American Society of Addiction Medicine), limit treatment duration to prepare patients for community care, and eliminate post-care medical necessity reviews. Facilities must obtain a license from the Commissioner of Health, prove compliance with minimum standards, and cannot operate at the same location as substance use disorder facilities. The bill also exempts these facilities from New Jersey's certificate of need requirement for facility construction or expansion. Rules establishing specific licensing standards will be adopted by the Commissioner within 90 days of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3917) amends New Jersey's existing small business loan program administered by the Economic Development Authority (EDA). It requires the EDA to ensure at least 12% of all loan funds distributed annually go to small businesses owned or controlled by veterans, with priority given to those with service-connected disabilities as defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The policy directly affects veteran-owned small businesses seeking loans through the program, requiring the EDA to track and prioritize these applications. The change applies to the current EDA loan program without creating new funding, focusing on directing existing resources toward veteran entrepreneurs.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 114) symbolically recognizes the 100th anniversary of the establishment of formal diplomatic relations between the United States and Ireland, which began on October 7, 1924, when Irish Ambassador Timothy Smiddy presented credentials to President Calvin Coolidge. It commemorates Ireland’s first diplomatic mission to the U.S. and highlights historical ties, including Irish-American contributions to U.S. society and the enduring economic partnership between the two nations. The resolution has no legal effect or policy changes; it is a ceremonial gesture. Copies will be sent to Irish leadership and the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland as a symbolic acknowledgment of this milestone.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey from charging drivers a fee based on the number of miles they travel in a vehicle. It also bans the state from using public funds for any study, program, or pilot project related to such a fee. The bill defines a "mileage-based user fee" as a charge calculated by miles driven during a set period. This law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis resolution directs New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal most of Attorney General Directive 2018-6, which previously restricted local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities (ICE). It specifically urges the AG to remove barriers preventing police from sharing immigration status information with federal officials when investigating crimes. The resolution preserves provisions related to T-Visa and U-Visa certifications for victims of trafficking and crime, while modifying the directive to explicitly allow law enforcement to ask questions needed for these certifications and share immigration status details. This change would affect all New Jersey state, county, and local law enforcement agencies in their interactions with federal immigration authorities.

Maddy summaryACR 125 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would add a new right to New Jersey's state constitution, protecting the people's ability to fish, hunt, trap, and harvest wildlife using traditional methods. If approved, it would require state laws managing fish and wildlife to prioritize these activities while ensuring conservation for future generations. The amendment specifically mandates that traditional hunting and fishing methods remain the preferred approach for controlling invasive or overpopulated species. This would apply to all New Jersey residents who participate in these activities, though the amendment itself requires voter approval to take effect.

Maddy summaryThe Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act requires manufacturers and sellers of Internet-connected devices (like smartphones and tablets) sold in New Jersey to include a digital blocking feature that prevents access to obscene material, child exploitation content, and websites involved in human trafficking or prostitution. Companies must ensure the blocking works properly, provide a reporting system for users to flag unblocked obscene content or wrongly blocked material, and actively block child pornography and revenge pornography. Users aged 18+ can disable the blocking by paying a one-time $20 fee, and companies may pay a $20 opt-out fee per device; collected funds support the state’s Commission on Human Trafficking. Violations can result in fines up to $20,000 for repeat offenses, with lawsuits allowed for unreported unblocked content.