Rep. Jay Webber

Maddy summaryACR 21 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring all state tax bills and tax increase proposals to pass both the New Jersey Assembly and Senate by a three-fifths majority vote (60% or more), instead of the current simple majority. This change would apply to both the final passage of tax bills and any amendments made to them during the legislative process. The amendment would directly affect all legislation related to new state taxes or tax increases, making it harder to pass such measures without broader bipartisan support. If approved by voters, this rule would apply to bills introduced after January 9, 2007. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to integrate age-appropriate lessons about the September 11, 2001 attacks into Social Studies curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students. It mandates specific content, including the historical context, timeline of events, recognition of first responders and Flight 93 passengers' sacrifice, and lessons on humanitarian aid and tolerance. Additionally, schools must hold annual commemorative events focused on conflict resolution, diversity, and cultural acceptance. The Commissioner of Education will provide sample resources to support implementation, with the law taking effect in the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care professionals to provide new or expecting parents who receive positive test results for Down syndrome or other conditions diagnosed before birth (prenatally) or after birth (postnatally) with written information about outcomes and referrals to support services. The state Department of Health must establish a hotline, maintain a website with resources, and expand peer support programs to connect parents with community assistance and evidence-based information. The bill coordinates with a federal law and seeks federal funding to implement these services without requiring state funds for initial implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates New Jersey's Transfer Inheritance Tax, which previously taxed beneficiaries receiving assets from estates. It repeals all related statutes (including those taxing siblings, non-relatives, and other "lateral" transfers at up to 16%) and takes effect for deaths on or after July 1, 2015. The change ends New Jersey's status as one of only six states with an inheritance tax and one of two states (with Maryland) imposing both an inheritance tax and an estate tax. Existing tax obligations for deaths before this date remain unaffected.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-3170) increases penalties for specific crimes committed during a declared state of emergency in New Jersey. It upgrades robbery, burglary, and unauthorized entry into buildings or facilities to higher criminal degrees (e.g., first or second degree instead of lower classifications) when these acts occur during an emergency. The key mechanism is amending statutes to automatically elevate sentencing levels for these offenses in emergency jurisdictions, affecting anyone committing such crimes during declared emergencies. The bill does not create new offenses but changes penalties for existing crimes under emergency conditions. It is currently pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the State Debt Capacity Advisory Commission to analyze New Jersey's debt affordability. The commission must publish an annual report by December 1st, including detailed projections of state debt payments, revenue estimates for debt service, and comparisons of debt ratios to other states. The report provides nonbinding advisory information to assist the Governor and Legislature in evaluating future debt decisions, but does not constitute an official state disclosure. The commission consists of nine members, including the State Auditor, Legislative Budget Officer, and public experts appointed by legislative leaders. The report will be publicly accessible online and updated as needed to inform fiscal planning.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey election law to allow district boards, election superintendents, or county clerks to request police officers be assigned specifically to polling places located at public schools. The request must be for maintaining order and providing security during elections. Police presence at other polling locations remains restricted under current law. The bill requires detailed public records of all such assignments, including location, reason, officer details, and duration. It does not change general restrictions on police at non-school polling sites or ballot drop boxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3209) eliminates automatic quarterly tax increases on petroleum products in New Jersey. It stops the existing system where taxes on gasoline, diesel, and other fuels would adjust based on retail price surveys. Instead, it freezes the tax rates at their 2016 levels (with some transitional periods for diesel), preventing future automatic hikes tied to fuel prices. This directly affects petroleum companies selling these products within New Jersey, as they will no longer face quarterly tax rate changes based on market prices. The bill preserves the base tax structure but removes the automatic adjustment mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to refund a portion of registration fees for passenger cars and noncommercial trucks when owners sell, destroy, or transfer the vehicle before the registration expires. The refund amount equals the percentage of the unexpired registration term (calculated annually), but no refunds are available for registrations with less than one year remaining. It also maintains existing provisions for transferring unexpired registration to another vehicle ($4.50 fee) and for family transfers or joint registrations. The bill directly affects vehicle owners who sell or lose their vehicles before their registration period ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes clear procedures for accessing a deceased person's safe-deposit box to locate their original will or burial documents. It allows "interested persons" (such as spouses, adult children, parents, or named executors) to request access by providing a copy of the death certificate and an affidavit stating their interest in the will or burial arrangements. The bank or financial institution (the "lessor") must then open the box in their presence, remove only the will or burial documents, and send the original to the county Surrogate by certified mail, while providing a photocopy to the requester. The bill does not permit access if a court order exists, a valid objection is raised, or the box's key is unavailable.