Asm. Shavonda Sumter

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) for installing highway guard rail along Route 208 in specific towns: Franklin Lakes, Wyckoff, Hawthorne, Glen Rock, Fair Lawn, and Oakland. It targets sections of Route 208 without existing guard rail, focusing on areas where installation is deemed necessary to protect motorists and residents living adjacent to the highway. The funding allows NJDOT to bypass standard 2015 Roadway Design Manual requirements for this specific project. The bill directs the funds specifically for capital construction of guard rail along the entire route segment in the listed municipalities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New Jersey municipalities to adopt a "land-based property tax system," where buildings and structures (taxable improvements) are taxed at a lower rate than the land itself - currently, all properties use a single tax rate. Municipalities in existing or former urban enterprise zones can implement this immediately via ordinance, while other municipalities must apply to the Director of Taxation for approval after seven years, with standards preventing approval if lands are preserved for open space or farmland. The tax rate difference can be phased in gradually, and municipalities may later return to a single tax rate through a new ordinance. The policy requires a constitutional amendment approved by voters to become effective, aiming to encourage redevelopment of vacant urban land.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that when appointing members to state boards, commissions, or similar bodies established by law, the appointing official (such as the Governor, Senate President, or Assembly Speaker) must prioritize achieving racial and gender diversity that reflects New Jersey’s population. The goal of diversity becomes a primary consideration for all appointments made after the bill’s effective date, unless it conflicts with specific circumstances or the law creating the body. The bill defines "gender" to include gender identity and "race" as based on physical characteristics or shared ancestry. This policy change directly affects how officials select members for these state entities, aiming to improve representation without mandating specific quotas.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2301) creates a fourth-degree crime for intentionally interfering with someone else's electronic device to harass them. It directly affects individuals who tamper with devices like phones, computers, smart home systems, or security equipment with the intent to harass. The law defines "electronic device" broadly to include any device that transmits, receives, or records information electronically. Violations carry penalties of up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The bill aims to address harassment through digital interference by criminalizing specific acts with clear penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 billion in supplemental funding for after-school recreation programs in urban areas. It directs the Commissioner of Education to allocate these funds through a competitive application process to improve playgrounds, pools, and recreational infrastructure; reopen closed parks; and support mentorship programs with computer science, home economics, and life skills education. The funding directly affects urban communities and schools by expanding access to safe after-school activities and educational resources. The bill creates no new programs but provides concrete financial support for existing infrastructure and educational initiatives in underserved urban neighborhoods.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Community Wealth Preservation Program" to help residents purchase homes at sheriff's sales after foreclosure. It allows qualifying buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence for 84 months to pay a 3.5% deposit (instead of 20%) and have 90 business days to complete the purchase with no interest for the first 60 days. Buyers must complete HUD-approved homebuyer education and provide mortgage pre-approval documentation, with penalties up to $500,000 for not occupying as primary residence. The program requires sheriff's offices to provide clear program information in plain language, excludes investment properties, and gives nonprofit community development corporations special rights to purchase properties while preserving affordability for future buyers.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to prevent the denial of expungement requests for dismissed charges. Specifically, it removes a barrier that previously allowed courts to deny expungement if civil litigation involving the same arrest was pending. The change applies directly to individuals seeking to expunge records under N.J.S.2C:52-6 (for charges dismissed without conviction), ensuring their expungement applications cannot be blocked by ongoing civil cases. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A856 establishes the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DDEI) as a new principal department within the Executive Branch, replacing the current State Office of Diversity and Inclusion. The bill transfers existing diversity functions from the Department of Treasury and the Division on Civil Rights to the new department, requiring state agencies to develop annual diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility plans. It also mandates that entities receiving state development subsidies or financial assistance must create and implement strategic diversity plans detailing their efforts to promote diversity in hiring, procurement, and business opportunities. The commissioner of DDEI will oversee these requirements, coordinate statewide initiatives, and ensure compliance with diversity standards across state government and recipient entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide all vehicle and licensing services - such as license renewals, registration, and ID cards - in person at every MVC agency location, without mandatory appointments. It mandates walk-in service for all customers (with accommodations when locations aren't fully booked), emergency license printing, and an online scheduling system for commercial driver’s license tests. The MVC must also create and distribute informational brochures (both online and in print) detailing all available services. These changes directly affect MVC customers seeking in-person vehicle and license services across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities with populations over 60,000 and violent crime rates exceeding 10 incidents per 1,000 residents (based on the state's Uniform Crime Report) to maintain a full-time police force of at least four officers per 1,000 residents. Violent crime is defined as murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault under the UCR. The requirement applies to cities meeting both population and crime rate thresholds, using the most recent state-published crime data. The law would take effect six months after enactment.