Asm. Mike Venezia

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Police to notify local law enforcement when a background check reveals someone is prohibited from buying firearms or ammunition. Specifically, if a background check shows a person has a criminal record, domestic violence conviction, or other disqualifying history (as defined in N.J.S. 2C:39-7), the State Police must inform the local chief law enforcement officer. Retail gun dealers must run these background checks and submit results to the State Police, who then trigger the local notification. The law applies to all firearm and ammunition purchases requiring a background check, directly affecting dealers, State Police, and local police departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1669) requires landlords in New Jersey to attach a copy of a municipal inspection or occupancy certificate to residential leases and deliver it to tenants at lease signing, with tenants acknowledging receipt by initialing the certificate. Landlords must provide this certificate within 30 days if omitted, or tenants may void the lease and vacate without further payment. If a tenant exercises this right, landlords must return security deposits plus interest within 30 days. The bill directly affects landlords of units subject to municipal inspection requirements and ensures tenants know rental units have passed safety inspections before moving in.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces the minimum cost threshold for public works projects that may include project labor agreements from $5 million to $3 million. It affects state and local government entities (such as counties, municipalities, and school districts) managing construction, renovation, or demolition projects over $3 million. The key change expands the scope of projects where project labor agreements - pre-hire contracts between employers and unions - can be required. This adjustment lowers the financial barrier for applying such agreements to smaller public construction projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program to reward employees who report tax law violations by employers in New Jersey's construction industry. Whistleblowers who provide specific, credible information leading to an administrative or judicial action against an employer can receive 15% to 30% of recovered taxes, penalties, and interest, or up to 10% if the tip came from media or government sources. It excludes employees who obtained information through their official duties or planned the violations themselves, and includes protections against retaliation under New Jersey's Conscientious Employee Protection Act. The program applies specifically to employers engaged in building, construction, repair, or maintenance work as defined in the bill.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3521) allows eligible individuals convicted of certain offenses to petition courts for expungement of their records if they were victims of domestic violence or substantial abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) that contributed to their conviction. It applies to most convictions except murder or sex offenses requiring Megan’s Law registration. Eligible people may file petitions after completing probation, parole, or incarceration, and courts must consider evidence like domestic violence reports, victim service records, or professional testimony to verify the abuse connection. The expungement process mirrors existing state procedures, removing barriers to employment and housing for survivors seeking to move past abuse-related convictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Office of Homelessness Prevention to partner with county agencies or nonprofits in every county to help homeless individuals obtain essential identification and birth certificates. It directly affects people experiencing homelessness by removing barriers to accessing these critical documents needed for housing, employment, and services. The key mechanism involves the Office contracting with local organizations to issue ID and coordinate birth certificate access, with $2 million in state funding allocated based on each county's homeless population. The funds are intended to cover the costs of these services through the contracted entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students receiving Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) grants to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their major. Students must notify the Higher Education Secretary before the academic year starts, which reduces their regular academic year disbursement by a specific amount. The Secretary must annually report how many students used the summer option and their graduation rates within standard timeframes. It directly affects EOF grant recipients at participating New Jersey institutions, implementing a 2016 commission recommendation to improve college affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed child care centers in New Jersey with existing audio-visual systems to retain all recordings for 180 days. It directly affects centers that already have such systems installed, not those without them. The key provision mandates that the Department of Children and Families or a designated organization must review the recordings before deletion. Centers may delete recordings after 180 days, but must follow this review process. The bill does not require new installations of surveillance systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the New Jersey Immigrant Trust Act (A-1400), prohibits state and local government agencies - including law enforcement, schools, and hospitals - from cooperating with federal immigration authorities on immigration detainer requests that lack judicial warrants. It directly affects immigrants and their families by ensuring they can access public services like healthcare and education without fear of deportation. Key provisions ban agencies from holding individuals beyond their release date based on federal immigration detainers (like I-247 forms) and require them to prioritize local safety over federal immigration enforcement. The law aims to prevent unconstitutional detentions and maintain community trust in public services, as federal detainers have been found to violate constitutional rights in multiple courts.

Maddy summaryACR 78 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) introduced by New Jersey Assembly members to condemn hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing Hinduism as one of the world's largest religions and highlighting Hindu Americans' contributions to U.S. society. The resolution requires copies to be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's congressional delegation, and the Hindu American Foundation in Washington, DC. It does not create new legal requirements or policies, but serves as a public statement of support.