Asm. Gary Schaer

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. If bodily injury occurs, assaulting a law enforcement officer would become a second-degree crime (5-10 years in prison) rather than third-degree under current law. The bill also requires offenders to submit to testing for communicable diseases when assaulting these professionals, with positive results shared with the victim. It expands the list of protected professionals to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel under the assault with bodily fluids provision. These changes would apply to offenses occurring after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution 159 commemorates the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people (including American citizens) and took hostages. The resolution mourns the victims, condemns terrorism, stands in solidarity with both Israelis and Palestinians affected by the conflict, and calls for the release of all hostages and support for a peaceful resolution. It directs that copies be sent to Israel's U.S. Ambassador, the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, and New Jersey's congressional representatives. As a symbolic gesture, it does not enact new laws or directly affect any group with policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4853) authorizes New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to appoint an antisemitism monitor at any public or private institution of higher education in the state. The monitor must review campus policies on antisemitism, assess efforts to create a safe environment for Jewish students and staff, and establish an anonymous reporting system for incidents. Institutions are required to implement the monitor's recommendations and provide necessary support, with non-compliance potentially leading to reduced state funding or loss of student aid eligibility. The bill defines antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 working definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates notification requirements for utility assistance programs in New Jersey. It requires state agencies (like the Department of Community Affairs) and utilities (electric, water, gas providers) to prominently display current information about available assistance programs - including consumer protections - on customer bills, in payment-related communications, and on websites. The bill repeals a separate 2021 law that mandated monthly pandemic-era notifications about utility assistance programs, which had expired 18 months after the state of emergency ended. These changes apply to residential customers receiving utility services, ensuring they can easily access information about programs that help with bill payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to award academic credit to students who earn a score of 3 or higher on Advanced Placement (AP) exams or 50 or higher on College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) assessments. It directly affects high school students who take these exams before enrolling in college and public institutions of higher education. The law mandates that institutions post their credit policies online, report policies to the Higher Education Secretary, and allow limited exemptions for specific courses if institutions provide data showing different score requirements are necessary for student success. Students must be pursuing an associate or bachelor's degree and have completed the exams while in high school (grades 9-12) to qualify.

Maddy summaryThis bill restricts political contributions from legislative aides to their employing legislator. It prohibits aides (current or who worked for the legislator within the past two years) from giving more than $30 per election to the legislator's campaign, and bans the legislator or campaign from soliciting or accepting such contributions. Violating these limits is a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison and a $10,000 fine. The law directly affects legislative aides and campaign committees in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the sale, distribution, import, or manufacture of children's products intended for children under six that contain lead, mercury, or cadmium. It requires manufacturers to issue immediate recalls if they discover such products, and retailers must remove recalled items from shelves within 48 hours and return inventory within 14 business days at the manufacturer's cost. Manufacturers must then destroy recalled products within 60 business days to prevent public access. Violations carry penalties including fines up to $20,000 for initial offenses, or criminal charges with up to 10 years in prison for repeated failures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4823) gives New Jersey's State Parole Board the authority to refer specific inmates to the Attorney General and county prosecutors for evaluation regarding involuntary civil commitment. It directly affects inmates who are deemed dangerous due to mental illness or who are classified as "sexually violent predators," particularly those convicted of certain sexual offenses with a documented pattern of repetitive behavior. The key mechanism requires the Parole Board to notify the Attorney General and prosecutor at least 90 days before an inmate's release (either at term expiration or parole eligibility) if they determine the inmate may need involuntary commitment. This expands existing law by explicitly including the Parole Board in the referral process, which previously only applied to the Corrections Commissioner or Juvenile Justice Commission.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large distribution facilities (100,000+ square feet) or those in overburdened communities (50,000+ square feet) that generate 50+ truck trips daily to obtain a permit from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and annually implement air pollution reduction measures. The permit program mandates facilities to earn points through specific actions like purchasing electric trucks, installing solar power, or using cleaner equipment to achieve zero emissions by 2050. Facilities must pay annual permit fees and face penalties of $10,000-$20,000 per violation for non-compliance, while the DEP will monitor compliance through truck counting, emissions monitoring, and facility inspections.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $65 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to purchase specific properties from New Jersey Transit (NJT). The EDA must buy these properties at appraised "highest and best use" value and can develop, lease, or sell them for commercial or residential use to maximize economic potential. NJT retains a 33% share of proceeds from any future sale or lease of these properties. The EDA must notify the Joint Budget Oversight Committee before purchasing or developing the properties, requiring a joint presentation with NJT about the transaction terms.