Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Local Redevelopment and Housing Law to explicitly exclude farmland from the definitions of "redevelopment area" and "rehabilitation area." Specifically, it removes land actively used for agriculture or horticulture (and taxed under the Farmland Assessment Act of 1964) from these categories. The change prevents farmland from being classified as an area needing redevelopment or rehabilitation under the law. This directly affects agricultural landowners who qualify under the Farmland Assessment Act, ensuring their land cannot be designated for redevelopment projects under this statute. The amendment applies to redevelopment plans adopted after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3835) prohibits requiring individuals to receive or disclose COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition for accessing services or rights. It bans asking about vaccination, mandating vaccines, or demanding proof for 15 specific areas, including employment, education (schools/universities), healthcare, business services, public spaces (parks, restaurants), and government activities. The law makes it unlawful to discriminate against unvaccinated people or those who refuse to disclose their status. Violators face civil penalties of $25,000 plus attorney fees in court, enforceable immediately upon passage. It directly affects all New Jersey residents interacting with businesses, schools, healthcare providers, or public venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey institutions of higher education from requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccination or provide proof of vaccination as a condition for enrollment, course attendance, or participation in campus programs. It directly affects colleges and universities in New Jersey and the students they serve. The law takes immediate effect, removing vaccination mandates for these educational activities without exceptions for health or safety reasons.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey correctional facilities (including prisons, jails, and youth detention centers) to verify the immigration status of every inmate. If an inmate is not a U.S. citizen or is not lawfully present in the United States, the facility must transfer them to federal immigration officials instead of releasing them to the general public. Facilities must document status details, and if they cannot determine it after due diligence, they must assume the inmate is unlawfully present. Violating these rules subjects the facility to civil penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "safe haven" system allowing people to anonymously surrender domestic companion animals (pets) to shelters, pounds, veterinary hospitals, or police stations without disclosing their identity or providing owner information. Facilities must accept animals during operating hours, post clear signage about drop-off procedures, and provide necessary care without attempting to reunite animals with previous owners. It also requires the Department of Health to create a public education program, including school materials for grades 3-12, and a 24-hour hotline to inform the public about the safe haven process. The law takes immediate effect and applies to all municipalities and animal care facilities in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 104) urges Congress and the President to enact immigration policies that better serve national interests. It cites U.S. Customs and Border Protection data showing 3.2 million border encounters in fiscal year 2023 as justification, noting New Jersey has an estimated 755,000 undocumented immigrants. The resolution specifically requests Congress pass comprehensive immigration reform and the President immediately enforce existing immigration laws. It does not create new laws but formally requests federal action, with copies sent to all relevant federal officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey law to automatically classify burglary of a residence as a second-degree crime, rather than the current third-degree classification. Specifically, it upgrades burglary involving any dwelling or structure adapted for overnight accommodation (regardless of whether weapons were used or injury occurred) to second-degree burglary. As a result, offenders convicted of this upgraded crime must serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole, per the No Early Release Act (NERA). This directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglaries, increasing their mandatory prison time compared to current third-degree burglary penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 in New Jersey. It changes the punishment for any trafficking of a child (for sexual activity or forced labor) from a minimum 20-year sentence to life imprisonment without parole. Convicted individuals must also pay fines of at least $25,000, which fund a survivor assistance program. The law applies to all forms of child trafficking, regardless of whether the perpetrator mistakenly believed the child was 18 or older.

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 prohibits New Jersey state entities, including the Commissioner of Health, from requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine as a condition for attending public K-12 schools. It directly affects students and families in New Jersey's public primary and secondary schools by removing a vaccination mandate for attendance. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment, preventing state-level enforcement of such requirements.