Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryACR 109 is a symbolic resolution passed by the New Jersey legislature expressing support for U.S. and New Jersey law enforcement officers. It urges all levels of government to take action to improve officer safety and well-being through concrete steps like increasing staffing, enhancing equipment and training, strengthening penalties for assaults on officers, and expanding mental health resources. The resolution directly affects law enforcement officers nationwide by calling for systemic support measures, though it does not create new laws or funding. It was introduced in January 2026 and referred to the Assembly Public Safety Committee, reflecting bipartisan concern over rising officer assaults and mental health challenges.

Maddy summaryACR 15 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit New Jersey government's power to take private property (eminent domain) to only "essential public purposes." It would remove current authority to take land specifically for "blighted area" redevelopment, which is currently permitted under the state constitution. The amendment would define essential public purposes to include utility corridors, schools, hospitals, transportation projects, waste facilities, and recreational sites. This change would prevent government from using eminent domain to acquire land solely to redevelop blighted neighborhoods, though it allows for tax exemptions for private redevelopment projects under specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that New Jersey's Fish and Game Council holds sole authority to regulate freshwater fishing, hunting, and trapping activities. It amends statutes to remove the Department of Environmental Protection's regulatory role and explicitly states the Council, not the Department, will establish and enforce the State Fish and Game Code. The Council (a 11-member body appointed by the Governor) will determine regulations for fish, game birds, and animals based on scientific research, including seasons, limits, and methods. This change directly affects how hunting and fishing rules are developed and implemented across the state.

Maddy summaryAJR 18 is a non-binding New Jersey joint resolution urging the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) as a potential treatment for veterans with treatment-resistant PTSD or traumatic brain injury (TBI). It does not create new programs or funding but requests the VA conduct research on HBOT's efficacy, referencing existing VA pilot programs and prior evidence reviews. The resolution directly addresses the VA, not veterans or healthcare providers, and focuses on gathering evidence to inform future treatment options. It was introduced in the New Jersey Assembly's Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's investor-owned electric utilities to create and maintain a toll-free phone number for the public to report two specific hazards: damaged power lines or equipment, and trees or vegetation touching power lines. Utilities must list this number on every customer bill and on their website's homepage. The law directly affects both the public (by providing a reporting tool) and the utilities (by mandating this communication system). It takes effect immediately after enactment, with a 60-day delay before full implementation.

Maddy summaryACR 51 is a non-binding resolution urging New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to amend a 1954 decree. The resolution seeks to require New York City to maintain year-round "voids" (empty space) in its reservoirs, rather than filling them to 105% capacity during May 1-June 15 (a historically flood-prone period). This would aim to reduce flooding risks for nearly 2 million New Jersey residents living downstream, as historical floods (like those in 2004-2006) occurred when NYC reservoirs were near capacity. A 2007 study cited in the resolution found that 20% year-round voids could have prevented flooding at 214 structures in towns like Trenton and Ewing.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey concurrent resolution (ACR 20) urges Congress to pass H.R.128, which would direct the Department of Homeland Security to treat illicit fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction under existing federal law. It specifically targets illegal fentanyl manufacturing and trafficking networks, not medical or legal uses of fentanyl. The bill aligns with a prior House resolution (H.Res.1172) arguing this classification would strengthen efforts to disrupt international fentanyl trafficking. The resolution does not change current medical fentanyl regulations or harm reduction programs. It is a state-level request for federal legislative action, not a binding law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to allow students receiving equivalent instruction outside public school (such as homeschoolers or private school students) to join extracurricular activities - including sports, clubs, and theater - in their resident district. Students must provide proof of residency, meet the same eligibility and tryout standards as enrolled students, and follow all activity rules. For sports, students cannot transfer solely to gain athletic advantages, and districts must let them access required physical exams if offered to enrolled students. The law applies immediately upon enactment and ensures equal access to activities without changing eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryACR 69 is a concurrent resolution declaring that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) 2021 rules implementing the "Advanced Clean Trucks" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. The resolution states the DEP adopted these rules - requiring 55-75% zero-emission truck sales by 2035 - without following a legal requirement to notify environmental committees, as mandated by 2003 law authorizing only California's "phase 2" low-emission vehicle program. The resolution gives the DEP 30 days to amend or withdraw the rules, or the legislature may later pass another resolution to invalidate them. This procedural action directly affects the DEP's rulemaking authority and the timeline for truck manufacturers to comply with the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows small New Jersey municipalities (under 12,000 population without police departments) to hire qualified candidates without civil service exams if the Civil Service Commission fails to provide a certified hiring list within 30 days or if the list yields no suitable candidates. The municipality must use a waiver form approved by the Commission, and the hired candidate must complete a working test period to gain civil service status. The Commission cannot require the municipality to replace such hires later, even if a standard eligible list becomes available.