Asm. Gary Schaer

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most retail stores in New Jersey from charging customers extra fees for using credit cards instead of cash or checks. It directly affects retail mercantile establishments (like stores selling goods or services) by banning credit card surcharges, though it allows gas stations to charge different prices for cash vs. credit if prices cover their costs. The key mechanism is a clear ban on surcharges for general retail, with the gas station exception requiring prices to match operational expenses. Violations could result in fines up to $20,000 per offense under New Jersey's consumer fraud law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution urges Congress to require VA hospitals to provide all routine medical screenings for women veterans on-site at each facility. Currently, women veterans often must travel to external providers for screenings like mammograms or Pap tests, adding time and cost to their care. The resolution requests federal action to eliminate this burden by ensuring VA hospitals can offer all necessary screenings internally through adequate funding. It does not create new law but advocates for a policy change in VA care access.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2895) increases penalties for criminal street gang recruitment in New Jersey by imposing mandatory minimum prison sentences of 5-15 years for people who recruit minors (7 years for those under 18, 10 years for those under 14) and for those who cause or encourage minors to join gangs. It establishes new restrictions requiring convicted recruiters to live at least 500 feet from schools and playgrounds, and bans them from jobs involving 80% or more child contact. The bill creates accomplice liability for those who recruit gang members, making them responsible for crimes committed by recruited minors. It applies to anyone convicted of recruiting minors or doing so on school property.

Maddy summaryACR 94 is a concurrent resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide (1915-1923, during which approximately 1.5 million Armenians perished) and condemning Azerbaijan's attacks against civilians in the Republic of Artsakh, supported by Turkey. It directs New Jersey to acknowledge the genocide as a historic and international issue, reject state association with genocide denial, and promote education about the genocide and its relevance to modern conflicts. The resolution also urges the U.S. government to recognize Artsakh's right to self-determination. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create legal obligations but sets state policy for commemoration and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill shortens the timeframe municipalities must wait before taking action to rehabilitate certain abandoned properties from six months to three months. It directly affects municipalities (which can now act more quickly), property owners (who must submit rehabilitation plans within three months or risk losing control), and tax sale certificate holders (who must initiate foreclosure within three months). Key provisions reduce the unoccupied period required for a property to be deemed abandoned and tighten deadlines for submitting rehabilitation plans or initiating foreclosure proceedings. The goal is to accelerate the rehabilitation of deteriorating properties that create community safety and blight issues.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public and private school buildings in New Jersey to install carbon monoxide detectors unless a hazard assessment determines no risk exists. Schools must comply with detectors meeting Underwriters Laboratories standard 2034, with placement and exemptions governed by rules from the Commissioner of Community Affairs. Local fire safety inspectors or the Department of Community Affairs will enforce the requirement during construction permit reviews and routine inspections, and may charge fees to cover inspection costs. The law applies to all school structures used for instruction, including new construction and existing facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2934) amends New Jersey's assault law to specifically address assaults occurring during unpermitted mass gatherings on public beaches. It defines such gatherings as events advertised on public media (like social media), without municipal permits, and declared by authorities as straining community resources. For assaults committed under these conditions, the law upgrades the penalty: simple assault becomes a disorderly persons offense with a potential fine up to $10,000 (instead of the usual $1,000 maximum), though imprisonment limits remain unchanged. This directly affects individuals who commit assaults at these gatherings after receiving public warnings about the unpermitted event.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's wiretap law to allow law enforcement to obtain court-approved wiretap orders for investigating four specific crimes: luring or enticing a child, identity theft, stalking, and third or fourth degree cyber-harassment. It adds these offenses to the existing list of crimes for which wiretaps may be authorized, requiring law enforcement to still demonstrate probable cause to a judge. The policy change affects law enforcement agencies and individuals suspected of committing these crimes, without altering the standard judicial approval process. This update aligns wiretap authorization with modern digital and interpersonal crimes while maintaining existing legal safeguards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords who rent space to child care facilities (like daycares or preschools) to install and maintain lead-removing water filters at all water outlets used for drinking, food prep, or baby formula if they previously refused to allow water system replacement of lead pipes. Landlords must install filters certified to meet safety standards (like NSF/ANSI 42/53), maintain them, and annually certify compliance to the environmental agency. Failure to comply can result in daily fines of up to $500, and tenants can force rent into court-ordered escrow until filters are installed. If the landlord's refusal causes children or staff to have elevated lead levels, they face unlimited financial liability for damages.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2894 requires municipalities to inspect single- and two-family rental properties for lead paint hazards at least once every five years (every two years for properties with encapsulation), with fees covering inspection costs. Municipalities must either conduct inspections through their own agencies or hire certified contractors, then report results annually to the Department of Community Affairs, including high-risk areas. The bill establishes a $20 fee per unit for a Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund, while exempting properties built after 1978, certified lead-free, or seasonal rentals (less than six months annually). This shifts inspection responsibility from the state Department of Community Affairs to local municipalities.