Asm. Julio Marenco

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to display a person's full legal name - including Roman numerals - on specific driver's licenses, identification cards, and permits. It directly affects residents whose legal names (as recorded on birth certificates) include Roman numerals (e.g., "John Smith III"), ensuring their name appears exactly as documented without omitting the numeral. The MVC must display the full legal name if applicants provide standard verification documents proving identity, age, and residence. This change applies to all standard licenses, permits, and REAL ID documents without altering existing name-change procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to launch a 90-day pilot program in the state's 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates (based on the latest Uniform Crime Report). Participating police departments would receive ballistics scanning devices to analyze firearm evidence at crime scenes, instantly uploading data to help investigators identify patterns and connect cases more quickly. After the pilot, each department must submit a report to the Attorney General detailing device usage and recommending continued use, with the Attorney General then advising the Governor and Legislature on whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The initiative directly affects law enforcement agencies in high-crime areas by introducing new investigative tools and requiring data-driven evaluations of their effectiveness.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Eviction and Homelessness Prevention Program to provide rental assistance to New Jersey tenants who can't pay rent due to pandemic-related circumstances. The program offers different assistance levels based on income: deep subsidies for very low-income households to limit rent to 40% of income, shallow subsidies up to $800 per month for low-income households, and $250 flat grants for moderate-income households paying more than 50% of income on rent. Eligible households can receive assistance for up to two years, with income reevaluations every six months to adjust support as needed. The program is funded by $300 million in CARES Act funds, with the goal of preventing evictions and homelessness while protecting public health.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey financial institutions (like banks, credit unions, and mortgage servicers) to allow homeowners (mortgagors) to choose biweekly payments (every two weeks), bimonthly payments (twice monthly), or extra payments directly to their mortgage principal - without penalties. It mandates that any amount paid beyond the annual required total in biweekly plans must reduce the principal balance. The law applies to all new mortgage agreements signed six months after enactment and affects homeowners seeking more flexible repayment options to potentially pay off loans faster. It does not change existing mortgage terms but expands payment choices for future agreements.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability retroactive to the date the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determined their total disability. It directly affects veterans who qualify under the law (e.g., those with paraplegia, blindness, or amputations) by requiring municipalities to refund property taxes paid since that determination date. The state must reimburse municipalities 102% of the refunded taxes to cover the cost of returning payments to veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide property tax rebates to New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. Eligible veterans would receive a rebate equal to their disability percentage of the property taxes paid on their primary residence, with the rebate capped at $5,000 annually. The program is limited to veterans with gross income under $200,000 and does not apply to veterans already exempt from property taxes due to 100% disability ratings. Veterans would need to apply annually for the rebate, and funding would depend on annual legislative appropriations. The bill specifically targets veterans with less than 100% service-connected disability ratings who currently pay property taxes on their primary residence.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retail theft offenses based on the value of stolen goods, with shoplifting over $500 becoming a third-degree crime. It creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales) and upgrades penalties for "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime. The bill establishes a retail theft unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, and includes new requirements for gift card retailers to prevent fraud through packaging standards and third-party reseller record-keeping. It also creates extended prison terms for repeat retail theft offenders and increases penalties for tax evasion related to retail theft.