Asm. Jay Webber

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to allow for the early termination of terms for appointed municipal court positions (judges, public defenders, and prosecutors) when two or more municipalities enter into agreements to establish joint or shared municipal courts. Currently, municipal court judges serve three-year terms, while public defenders and prosecutors serve one-year terms under existing law. The bill modifies these terms to permit termination before their scheduled expiration date when municipalities form joint or shared court agreements. This change streamlines the transition process for municipalities that want to share court resources. The policy directly affects municipal court staff and the municipalities entering these joint or shared court agreements.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how municipalities calculate impervious surfaces (like paved areas) for public parks within New Jersey's Highlands preservation area. Currently, parks must keep impervious surfaces under 3% of each individual park's area. The bill allows municipalities to combine all their municipal parks into one "lot" for this calculation, meaning the total impervious surface across all parks must stay under 3% of the combined park area. This adjustment makes it easier for towns to develop or maintain multiple parks without violating the 3% limit on each separate park. The change specifically excludes open waters and solar panels from the impervious surface calculation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools to integrate age-appropriate lessons about the September 11, 2001 attacks into Social Studies curricula for elementary, middle, and high school students. It mandates coverage of six specific topics: historical context, the timeline of events, first responder heroism, humanitarian aid following the attacks, global counterterrorism responses, and strategies for promoting tolerance and diversity. Additionally, every public school must hold an annual commemorative event focused on conflict resolution, diversity, and cultural tolerance. The New Jersey Commissioner of Education will provide schools with sample lesson resources to support implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Health to establish a public awareness campaign called "Count the Kicks" to educate pregnant women in their third trimester about tracking their baby's movements. The campaign must provide information on why fetal movement indicates health, how to monitor kick counts per medical guidelines, and how tracking may reduce stillbirth. The Commissioner must make materials available online in English and Spanish and distribute them through clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, WIC offices, and community programs. The campaign must report its progress to the Governor and Legislature within two years of implementation. The bill directly affects pregnant women in New Jersey seeking guidance on fetal health monitoring.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires rail passenger services in New Jersey to provide customers with proof of payment at the time of purchase, clearly stating the service line(s) and the specific duration the pass is valid. It directly affects rail passengers who buy tickets or passes, eliminating the need for separate validation at stations. The key provision mandates that proof of payment must be valid without additional steps (like stamping), preventing fines for unvalidated tickets under current systems. This change applies to all rail services covered by the existing law, ensuring passengers can use their purchased passes immediately upon purchase.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes overtime pay (for hours worked over 40 in a week) from New Jersey's state income tax for employees subject to the state's overtime pay requirement (1.5 times regular hourly wage). It does not apply to executive, administrative, professional, farm, motor vehicle sales, outside sales, hotel, limousine, or bus carrier employees. Employers must not withhold state income tax on this exempt overtime compensation. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Auditor to annually issue a summary report on school district performance audits from the previous five years, including recommended best practices. School districts must submit certified responses within 60 days detailing their compliance with these recommendations and any implementation barriers. The State Auditor gains expanded authority to conduct follow-up audits on non-compliant districts and may require reimbursement from districts making false statements, with funds deposited into a dedicated "School District Performance Audit Reimbursement Fund." The bill mandates an annual $1.5 million appropriation from the state budget to cover these audit costs, reduced by funds collected through reimbursements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fourth-degree crime in New Jersey for operating a civilian drone equipped with a weapon. Specifically, it prohibits private individuals or businesses from using drones (defined as unmanned aircraft systems owned or operated by non-government entities) fitted with "anti-personnel devices," which include firearms, prohibited weapons, or any projectile designed to harm people. Violating this law carries a penalty of up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law applies only to civilian drones, not government or commercial operations under separate regulations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2701 prohibits cannabis retailers from operating within 200 feet of any school or place of worship. It defines "school" as any public or private school under state law and "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used regularly for religious services by a registered nonprofit. Existing retailers that already secured municipal approval and made significant investments to open near these locations are grandfathered for five years. The law directly affects cannabis retail businesses seeking new licenses or renewals, requiring compliance with this buffer zone requirement.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 77) is a symbolic statement of support for Ukraine and its citizens amid Russia's ongoing conflict. It condemns Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea, 2022 invasion, and violations of international law, while expressing solidarity with Ukraine's sovereignty and democratic aspirations. The resolution requires sending copies to Ukraine's U.S. and U.N. ambassadors but does not create new laws or affect any specific group. It is a non-binding declaration reflecting New Jersey's position, not a policy change.