Asm. Sean Kean

Maddy summaryThis bill criminalizes squatting in vacant homes by creating three new offenses: "housebreaking" (forcibly entering without permission to live there), "unlawful occupancy" (living in a vacant home without permission), and "unlawful reentry" (returning after being evicted via court order). It presumes people know they lack permission unless they have a notarized rental agreement with the owner's contact details. The law directly affects individuals occupying vacant properties without legal authorization, making these acts fourth-degree crimes punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. The bill aims to replace current eviction processes with criminal penalties for unauthorized occupancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 519) changes how New Jersey handles funds in inactive online gaming accounts. It requires casinos to treat money left in accounts inactive for three years as "unclaimed property" under state law, instead of splitting it 50/50 between the casino and the casino control fund. Before closing such accounts, casinos must attempt to contact account holders via mail, phone, or computer. This directly affects online gamblers who do not access their accounts for three years, shifting the funds to the unclaimed property process. The change takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new parking facilities with eight or more spaces to reserve at least 1% of total spaces (minimum one space) exclusively for people who cannot walk without a wheelchair. These spaces must be located closer to building entrances than standard disability parking, clearly marked with the International Symbol of Access, and meet specific width requirements (12 feet). For non-residential facilities, the exclusive use period is 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; outside these hours, individuals with valid disability placards may use them. The bill applies to all new construction after implementation and mandates an educational campaign about the new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the income eligibility limit for New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program. It increases the annual income threshold from $80,000 to $160,000 for tax year 2017 (and subsequent years), allowing more seniors (65+) and disabled residents to qualify. The program reimburses eligible homeowners and renters for property tax differences between their base year and current year, based on income and residency requirements. It directly affects low-to-moderate-income residents who own or rent qualifying homes as their primary residence.

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic resolution (AR 64) introduced by the New Jersey Assembly. It condemns Hamas's October 7, 2023, terrorist attacks against Israel and reaffirms New Jersey's support for Israel and the Jewish people. The resolution states it will be sent to Israel's U.S. ambassador and New Jersey's congressional representatives. It does not create new laws or policies, but expresses legislative support following the attacks.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $10 million grant program to support New Jersey's volunteer fire companies. It creates a permanent fund within the Division of Fire Safety to provide annual grants covering operational costs and emergency equipment (like protective gear, tools, and maintenance), but not new vehicles or buildings. Volunteer fire companies must apply with detailed plans for how funds will be used to sustain operations, and recipients must report on expenditures and impacts. The program aims to strengthen community fire services through direct financial support to local volunteer departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3145) increases state aid to New Jersey municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over five years to reverse previous aid cuts. It directly affects all municipalities by requiring them to reduce their annual property tax levies by the amount of the additional state aid received. Key provisions update how the fund's distributions are calculated and require that new aid amounts be subtracted from each municipality's local tax levy. The bill modifies existing laws (P.L.1997, c.167 and P.L.2007, c.62) to implement this adjustment. It does not change the total annual fund amount but ensures municipalities cannot increase their tax burden while receiving more state aid.

Maddy summaryACR 65 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee New Jersey registered voters the right to vote in person at their local polling place on election day. It would also require voters to submit a written request before receiving a mail-in ballot, preventing automatic distribution of mail-in ballots to all voters. This amendment would bar the Legislature or Governor from passing laws or issuing orders that limit in-person voting or automatically send mail-in ballots. If approved by voters, the changes would become part of the state constitution. The bill is currently in the early stages of review by the Assembly committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1574, "Drew's Law") establishes a 15 miles per hour speed limit on roads passing through or directly adjacent to public parks during specific times: when the park is open, children are visible from the roadway, or children are entering/exiting park events. It directly affects drivers in these areas and applies to state-owned parks (defined as parks, recreation facilities, or playgrounds under state control), while allowing counties or municipalities to adopt similar limits for their local parks. Violating this speed limit increases fines from $50-$200 to $100-$400 under current law. The bill aims to improve safety near parks following a tragic incident involving a child, but focuses solely on the policy change without advocating outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes income-based limits on New Jersey's tax exclusion for pension and retirement income. Currently, taxpayers with higher incomes face reduced or eliminated exclusions (e.g., capping exclusions at $150,000 gross income for 2021-2022). The bill eliminates these income thresholds, allowing all eligible pensioners aged 62+ or disabled (per the law) to exclude their full pension amount from state taxes regardless of income level. It directly affects New Jersey residents receiving pension, retirement, or disability benefits who meet age/disability criteria. The change modifies existing tax code sections (N.J.S.54A:6-10 and P.L.1977, c.273) to remove the income restrictions.