Asm. Jay Webber

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5314) prohibits commissioners or heads of principal departments in New Jersey's Executive Branch from holding additional jobs that require spending most working hours outside New Jersey or being absent for extended periods. It directly affects top state agency leaders, such as department heads. The law requires these officials to request an exemption from a five-member committee if they seek such additional employment, with exemptions only granted if the role aligns with their current responsibilities. The bill amends existing state law (R.S.52:14-7) to add this restriction, aiming to ensure these officials remain available for state duties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5316) upgrades the criminal classification for auto theft when it occurs during specific burglaries in New Jersey. It raises auto theft to a second-degree crime if committed during residential burglary (breaking into a home without violence) and to a first-degree crime if committed during home invasion burglary (breaking into a home with violence or weapons). Currently, auto theft is a third-degree crime (3-5 year prison term) unless the vehicle is worth $75,000+ or multiple vehicles are stolen. The bill ensures auto theft convictions won’t merge with burglary convictions, meaning offenders face separate sentences for both crimes. It directly affects individuals who steal vehicles while committing these types of burglaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill permits certain home-based businesses to operate as "permitted accessory uses" in residential zones across New Jersey, directly affecting homeowners running small businesses from their homes. It sets specific conditions: the business must be compatible with residential neighborhoods, limit visitor traffic and deliveries to normal residential levels, avoid visible signage or parking, and not create noise, pollution, or illegal activity. Municipalities may establish minor local standards for visitor volume or traffic but cannot override existing ordinances that conflict with these state guidelines. The bill does not apply to common interest communities (like condos with deed restrictions) that already prohibit home businesses, nor does it limit municipalities' authority to address neighborhood nuisances.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allocate $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to preserve land in New Jersey's Highlands Region. It redirects $5 million from the existing Green Acres program (for recreation and conservation) and $2.5 million from the Farmland Preservation program into a new Highlands Preservation Fund managed by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council. The fund will be used to acquire land for recreation, conservation, and farmland preservation through fee simple purchases, conservation easements, and development rights. The bill specifies that funds can't be used for contaminated land or land already preserved, and prioritizes areas identified in the Highlands regional master plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an affirmative defense for victims of human trafficking who commit crimes as a direct result of their trafficking situation. It applies to any crime listed in New Jersey's criminal code if the defendant was a trafficking victim at the time of the offense and the crime was directly caused by the trafficking. The defense remains available even if the trafficking case against the defendant didn't result in a conviction. The bill also establishes a "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund" that receives fines from trafficking-related convictions to support survivors.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state employees in career, senior executive, and unclassified positions from working remotely. It amends state law to require that the Civil Service Commission's rules for work hours and overtime pay must not permit remote work, ending the existing 2022 telework pilot program that allowed up to two remote days weekly. The prohibition takes immediate effect upon enactment and applies specifically to employees in those service categories. The bill does not change overtime or holiday pay rules but removes remote work as an option for affected employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the special appraisal process for land acquisitions under New Jersey's Green Acres and farmland preservation programs from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2029 for lands in the Highlands Region. It allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for land preservation in the Highlands Region. The funds will support two specific programs: the Highlands Open Space Partnership Funding program to acquire land for recreation and conservation, and the Highlands Development Credit Purchase Program to protect land with ecological or agricultural significance. The bill also requires distribution of State aid to municipalities within the Highlands Region that host watershed lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state legislators to obtain a cost estimate (fiscal note) for any bill that creates a new state-funded program or expands an existing one. It directly affects lawmakers drafting bills and the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, who must request these estimates from the Division of Budget and Accounting. The key mechanism expands current law - previously requiring cost estimates only for bills affecting state spending or revenue - to specifically mandate them for all new program creations or expansions. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryACR 146 establishes a "Joint Committee on Human Trafficking" in New Jersey as a procedural measure. The committee will assess current human trafficking initiatives, programs, and supports within the state, consulting agencies like the New Jersey Department of Law and Public Safety and the Human Trafficking Unit. It must submit annual reports with findings and recommendations to legislative leaders, including potential legislative proposals. This resolution does not enact new laws or directly affect any group; it solely creates a study committee to evaluate existing efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary licensing process for military spouses moving to New Jersey due to a spouse's military assignment. It requires state professional boards to issue temporary licenses to spouses who hold an unencumbered (active, no disciplinary issues) license in another state, allowing them to immediately practice their profession while their full license application is processed. The bill repeals previous requirements (P.L.2013, c.264) and ensures military spouses can apply for full licensure under standard rules. It directly affects nonresident military spouses seeking to work in licensed professions like nursing, teaching, or engineering within New Jersey.