Asm. Gary Schaer

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 34) expresses formal support for the Abraham Accords - peace agreements between Israel and several Middle Eastern nations including the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan. It urges U.S. federal officials to continue promoting peace dialogue in the region and recognizes the importance of mutual understanding and coexistence among religious communities. Copies of the resolution will be sent to the President, Secretary of State, and New Jersey’s congressional representatives as a symbolic gesture of endorsement. The resolution does not create new laws or directly affect any specific group but serves as a public statement of support for diplomatic efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to provide recipients of state payments with the option to receive them as paper checks. It applies to state employees (who can request paper checks in writing), unemployment insurance claimants (who must sign a form to choose paper checks, debit cards, or direct deposit), and taxpayers eligible for state tax refunds. Agencies must provide written notice of payment options and maintain signed records of recipients' choices. The bill ensures these individuals can select paper checks instead of automatic debit cards or direct deposit, which was the previous default for unemployment benefits.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Caregiver's Assistance Act creates a tax credit for residents who pay for care of elderly relatives. Caregivers with income under $100,000 (or $50,000 for certain filers) can get 22.5% back on up to $3,000 annually in qualified care costs. Eligible expenses include home health services, adult day care, home modifications, and personal care assistance for qualifying seniors aged 60+ (or 50+ with disability) who meet income requirements. The credit does not apply to costs covered by insurance or government programs, and it's in addition to existing dependent deductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to inspect single- and two-family rental dwellings for lead paint hazards at least every five years (every two years for properties with lead remediation), using either local agencies or state-certified contractors. It directly affects landlords and property owners in these dwellings, with exemptions for homes built after 1978, lead-free certified units, and seasonal rentals under six months. Municipalities must report inspection results to the state and collect fees - $20 per unit - to fund lead hazard control efforts. The state will compile public reports on high-risk areas and lead inspection activity annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health and the Board of Nursing to provide homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification exams in multiple languages. Specifically, exams must be available in English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, and Tagalog - minimum languages specified - both in writing and orally. The law mandates these language options to help non-English speakers access certification, directly affecting individuals seeking these healthcare roles. It takes effect six months after enactment, with rules to implement the requirement developed under existing administrative procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers the Division of Food and Nutrition from New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to the Department of Human Services, effective immediately. It appropriates $128.241 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to the State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation. The funds will pay for acquiring development easements or full ownership of farmland, provide grants to counties/municipalities (up to 80% of costs), and support non-profits (up to 50% of costs) for eligible farmland preservation projects under state laws. All preserved farmland acquired with these funds must include agricultural deed restrictions when resold or leased.

Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy bill. It formally expresses the New Jersey General Assembly's appreciation to all its staff members - including the Chief Clerk, committee staff, administrative personnel, and others - for their dedication and service during legislative sessions. The resolution commends their "outstanding dedication, cooperation, and excellent work" in supporting the Assembly's operations. It requires the Clerk to send copies of the resolution to every staff member. As a procedural measure, it has no legal effect or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's county-based real property assessment pilot program to include Passaic County, adding it to the existing pilot county (Gloucester). It requires Passaic County to appoint a full-time county assessor with specific qualifications, and mandates that all municipalities within Passaic complete property revaluations within three years. The county covers initial revaluation costs, with the state reimbursing Passaic over three years using existing state funds. This directly affects Passaic County residents through property tax assessments and shifts responsibility for assessment appeals from municipalities to the county.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's wiretap authorization law to allow law enforcement to seek court orders for wiretaps when investigating four specific crimes: luring or enticing a child, identity theft, stalking, and cyber-harassment (specifically the third/fourth degree offenses under N.J.S.2C:33-4.1). It directly affects law enforcement agencies (like the Attorney General's office and county prosecutors) who can now request these wiretap orders for these offenses, as they were previously excluded from the list of authorized crimes. The key mechanism is amending existing wiretap statute language to add these four offenses to the list of crimes where wiretap evidence may be sought. This change would not alter current wiretap procedures but broadens the scope of crimes eligible for such surveillance.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a three-year pilot program for barbering licensure in four New Jersey cities (Elizabeth, Passaic, Paterson, and Perth Amboy) by an additional three years. It allows barbers who previously worked in another state or country without barbering licenses to obtain a 120-day provisional permit (extendable) to practice under supervision while applying for a full license, without violating state law. The program reduces barriers for immigrants and out-of-state professionals seeking barbering jobs in these cities by permitting temporary work authorization during licensing processing.