Asm. Gabe Rodriguez

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Agriculture and the Division of Fish and Wildlife to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on geese population control. It requires identifying nonlethal methods first, using humane lethal methods (excluding gassing) only when necessary, and creating memorandums of understanding between agencies. The bill mandates posting clear fact sheets online about approved methods and circumstances for use. It also requires property development best practices that discourage geese by minimizing natural turf grass and promoting native plants that don't attract them. These changes apply to state agencies managing wildlife and property development projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands protections for cooperating witnesses in New Jersey by authorizing state funding for their safety and relocation. It amends existing law to include cooperating witnesses (those testifying for prosecutors or working with law enforcement, including confidential informants) under the Crime Victim's Bill of Rights, guaranteeing them protection from harm and access to safety-related services. The bill specifically directs the Victim and Witness Advocacy Fund to cover relocation expenses for witnesses and their household members, plus safety costs like crisis response, counseling, and emergency services. These changes directly affect witnesses who cooperate with prosecutions and their families, ensuring they receive concrete support to safely participate in criminal justice proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes pension benefits for New Jersey teachers by moving all current non-retired members of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) into a single benefit tier (previously called "Tier 1"), granting them the same retirement benefits as members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll teachers earning above minimum salary but not meeting work-hour requirements into TAPF within 60 days of enactment. Teachers in the separate Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) can automatically transfer their service credit to TAPF for retirement eligibility (but not pension amount calculations), with contributions staying in DCRP; they may opt out within six months of notification. The bill also allows TAPF members with long-term disability insurance to apply for disability retirement within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands the definition of "burglar's tools" to include devices or software designed to bypass keyless locking mechanisms (like smart locks or digital keypads). It makes manufacturing, possessing, or publishing instructions for such tools a crime: manufacturing or publishing is a fourth-degree offense (up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine), while mere possession is a lesser disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine). The law directly affects individuals who create, distribute, or possess tools specifically adapted to access premises without physical keys. It targets modern security vulnerabilities without altering existing burglary statutes for traditional methods. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for drivers who knowingly leave the scene of a motor vehicle accident causing death or injury. It raises the fine from $2,500-$5,000 to $5,000-$10,000 and requires first-time offenders to forfeit their driver's license for one year. Repeat offenders permanently lose their license, though the existing 180-day imprisonment term remains unchanged. The law applies directly to drivers involved in such accidents who fail to stop, report, or provide assistance.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A2365 extends in-state tuition eligibility to spouses and dependents of military service members who move due to a service member's transfer. It allows these individuals to maintain in-state tuition rates at public colleges in New Jersey if they were already enrolled before the transfer and maintain continuous enrollment. The bill specifically applies to spouses and dependents who were attending school in New Jersey prior to the military relocation, ensuring they don't lose tuition benefits during temporary moves. This change directly affects military families facing frequent relocations, removing a barrier to educational affordability during service-related transfers. The policy update amends existing law (P.L.1985, c.231) to include these scenarios without requiring new funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Senior Citizen Tenant Protection Act," allows New Jersey residents aged 55 or older who have lived continuously in the same rental unit for 10 years and earn $80,000 or less annually to apply for protected status. Once approved, landlords cannot raise their rent by more than an annual index factor tied to regional inflation (based on the Consumer Price Index), preventing rent hikes that outpace fixed incomes like Social Security. Landlords may request a waiver for financial hardship, but must prove they cannot earn a reasonable return without it, and waivers do not override local rent control laws. The law aims to protect long-term senior tenants from displacement due to unaffordable rent increases.

Maddy summaryThis bill, "The Voter Convenience Act," would allow voters in New Jersey municipalities to cast ballots at any polling place within their municipality on election day, rather than being restricted to their specific assigned polling location. It directs the Secretary of State and county election officials to create uniform guidelines enabling electronic check-in (using existing poll books) and automatic ballot assignment to the voter's correct election district at any polling site. Voters would simply walk into any polling place in their municipality, have their identity verified electronically, and receive the correct ballot for their district without needing to go to a specific district table. The bill also permits potential countywide implementation where voters could use designated locations across their entire county.

Maddy summaryAJR 47 designates January 13 of each year as "Korean American Day" in New Jersey to honor the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the U.S. on January 13, 1903. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day. It directly affects the Korean American community in New Jersey by formally recognizing their historical contributions and cultural impact. The resolution focuses solely on commemoration, with no new policy or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the EMT Workforce Development Partnership within New Jersey's Department of Health, providing free training to high school students (16+), college students, and community residents to become certified emergency medical technicians (EMTs). It requires participants to work as paid or volunteer EMTs for at least two years in their local community after certification to avoid repaying training costs. The partnership involves collaboration between the Department of Health, schools, hospitals, and certified training agencies, with $1.5 million appropriated from the state general fund to cover implementation. Participants who complete the training and pass the certification exam receive temporary EMT certification, while those who don't fulfill the service requirement must reimburse the training agency. The bill aims to expand local EMT workforce access through accessible, no-cost training pathways.