Asm. Mike Inganamort

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits credit card companies from using a new merchant category code (a specific identifier for business types) to categorize stores selling firearms or ammunition separately. Instead, such stores must be classified under general merchandise or sporting goods categories, as they have been historically. Financial institutions and payment processors are barred from requiring or assigning a firearms-specific code, and any contract violating this is void. Violations can result in administrative fines up to $10,000 per incident, enforced by New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to conduct and publicly post cost-benefit analyses before approving long-term property tax exemptions for redevelopment projects. It mandates that urban renewal entities submitting exemption applications include a detailed analysis of the project's financial impact on the municipality, county, school district, and other taxing districts. Municipalities must post both the applicant's analysis and their own independent assessment on their website (or DCA's website if they lack one), and the Department of Community Affairs must create a statewide database compiling all approved exemptions and their financial findings. These requirements directly affect municipalities making approval decisions, urban renewal projects seeking exemptions, and local governments bearing financial impacts from such exemptions. The goal is to increase transparency and ensure local governments can evaluate whether tax exemptions generate sufficient revenue returns.

Maddy summaryAJR 78 designates November 7 of each year as "Remembering Victims of Communism Day" in New Jersey. The bill requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials, organizations, and citizens to observe the day with appropriate events. It does not create new laws or programs but formally recognizes historical communist regimes' impacts, citing events like the Soviet Revolution, Great Leap Forward, and Khmer Rouge atrocities. The resolution focuses on commemoration rather than policy action.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution urges the New Jersey Supreme Court to replace the term "Drug Court" with "Recovery Court" in all judicial publications when referring to the state's supervised treatment program for substance use disorders. It directly affects the New Jersey Supreme Court's public communications, as the resolution requests they update terminology used in reports, websites, and other materials. The resolution argues that "Drug Court" is misleading because it emphasizes drug abuse while ignoring alcohol treatment and the program's core focus on holistic recovery, as established under N.J.S.A. 2C:35-14. The change is purely linguistic and does not alter the program's legal structure or eligibility criteria.

Maddy summaryACR 20 proposes a constitutional amendment that would give New Jersey voters direct power to enact or repeal specific fiscal policies through initiative and referendum. Voters could approve changes such as reducing state spending by up to 10%, eliminating specific appropriations, lowering tax revenue by up to 10%, repealing tax laws, or suspending long-term debt issuance for one year. To qualify for a statewide vote, a petition would need signatures from at least 25% of voters who voted for governor in each of 14 counties. The Legislature could override voter-approved fiscal restraints with a two-thirds vote in both houses within 45 days of approval. This would be the first time New Jersey voters could directly control these specific fiscal decisions through a constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the age restriction that previously required retired law enforcement officers in New Jersey to be 75 years old or younger to receive a permit to carry a handgun without establishing "justifiable need." It removes the current requirement that retired officers must be under 75 to obtain such permits without proving a specific need for carrying a handgun. The change allows retired officers of any age to apply for a permit to carry a handgun without having to demonstrate a specific need for the weapon. This affects all retired law enforcement officers in New Jersey who wish to carry handguns for personal protection or other purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within New Jersey's government to protect children at risk of abuse or neglect. The Child Advocate, appointed by the Governor, will monitor how state agencies and private entities provide child welfare services, investigate complaints, and ensure children in state custody receive appropriate care. The office will have the authority to review facilities like juvenile detention centers and group homes, require agencies to develop corrective action plans for systemic issues, and maintain a 24-hour hotline for public concerns. The Child Advocate will report annually to the Governor, Attorney General, and Legislature on findings and recommendations for improving child welfare services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3218) requires New Jersey's Secretary of State and county voter registration commissioners to conduct a one-time audit of the Statewide Voter Registration System within 90 days of the law taking effect. The audit must identify: (1) ineligible voters who successfully registered, (2) attempts by ineligible people to register (even if rejected), and (3) whether current procedures for removing ineligible voters are working as required by law. The officials must jointly develop uniform audit methods and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within 30 days of completing the audit, detailing findings and recommendations. The bill focuses solely on verifying the accuracy of voter registration records, not changing voting rules or eligibility standards.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 16) expresses support for a proposed federal bill called the "Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act." The federal bill would require the President to submit a detailed report to Congress about fugitives living abroad whom the U.S. has sought to extradite, including the number of cases, countries involved, diplomatic efforts, resolution rates, and barriers to extradition. It specifically aims to provide data to evaluate and improve U.S. extradition efforts, named after two New Jersey victims - Walter Patterson (murdered in 1962) and State Trooper Werner Foerster (murdered in 1973) - whose alleged killers escaped to Portugal and Cuba. The resolution itself has no legal effect but formally urges federal action.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state agencies from requiring electric heating or water heating systems as the sole or primary option in buildings until a required report is issued. It mandates the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to hold at least six public hearings across the state within 18 months, gathering input on costs, environmental impacts, and effects on workers and low-income residents. The DCA must then submit a report within 24 months, summarizing findings and recommending actions for reducing emissions from buildings. The bill does not ban voluntary electric system use or incentives, nor does it prevent individuals from choosing electric systems.