Asm. Bob Auth

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Internet service providers (ISPs) in New Jersey to keep subscribers' personally identifiable information confidential unless the subscriber provides written authorization to share it. It defines "personally identifiable information" broadly to include names, addresses, phone numbers, browsing history, location data, and communication contents. ISPs must notify subscribers in writing about this requirement and cannot deny service for refusing to authorize disclosure. Exceptions apply for routine business activities (like order fulfillment) or disclosures required by law under New Jersey's wiretapping regulations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires courts to conduct a criminal background check for any name change application. Applicants must consent in writing, pay for the check, and provide fingerprints for verification against state and federal records. The bill prohibits name changes for individuals convicted of violent crimes (like assault or robbery) or domestic violence offenses (including stalking or harassment), unless the request is for religious reasons. Courts must also notify victims or their immediate family members if an applicant with such a conviction seeks a name change. The bill is pending and would not take effect until three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1448) amends New Jersey law to explicitly exempt active duty members of the U.S. military from firearm restrictions while on duty. It adds active duty military personnel to the existing list of individuals already permitted to carry firearms under specific conditions (N.J.S.2C:39-6(1)). The change clarifies that military members traveling between duty locations or on active duty can carry weapons as authorized by military regulations, without needing additional state permits. It does not create new rights but formally incorporates military personnel into current exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all school bus drivers in New Jersey - employed by public school districts, private schools, or parochial schools - to undergo unannounced drug and alcohol testing twice each school year. It mandates testing for alcohol, narcotics, and habit-producing drugs under state law, with results reported to the employer (school board or contractor). Drivers who test positive, refuse testing, or are disqualified by the Commissioner of Education lose immediate eligibility to operate school buses, though they can challenge test results through a formal appeal process. The law applies to all drivers transporting students and requires employers to verify testing compliance annually with county superintendents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires toll road operators and bi-state agencies in New Jersey to allow drivers to choose their own towing company after being involved in an accident on their facilities. The legislation amends existing state laws to give drivers the option to select a towing service rather than having one assigned by the road operator. This change directly affects drivers who experience vehicle breakdowns or accidents on toll roads and the towing companies that provide services at these locations. The bill does not mandate specific towing companies or set pricing rules, but rather establishes the right of drivers to make their own selection when towing is necessary.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring certain municipalities to adopt rules controlling tree removal and replacement. It specifically applies to Tier A municipalities under the state's stormwater program - those meeting criteria like being in urban areas with high population density, specific stormwater systems, or designated discharge points. The law stops the DEP from enforcing this requirement, which was recently added to the stormwater permit program in 2023. The change affects only Tier A municipalities, not all local governments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey law enforcement agencies - including municipal, county, and state police departments, as well as educational institutions with campus police - to adopt written policies for cooperating with federal immigration authorities upon request. It defines "law enforcement officer" broadly to include those with arrest powers under state law. The bill also mandates that the state defend officers in civil lawsuits arising from cooperation (unless misconduct occurred) and cover settlement costs for officers following the policy. This directly affects thousands of officers across New Jersey’s 566 municipalities and educational institutions with police forces. The policy change would standardize cooperation with federal immigration enforcement at the local level.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3404) amends New Jersey's "Earn Your Way Out Act" to expand who is ineligible for administrative parole release - without a hearing - when first eligible. It specifically blocks inmates with prior convictions for any serious offense (indictable offense) and those currently serving sentences for certain crimes, including vehicular homicide, human trafficking, sexual extortion, and stalking. The bill broadens existing exclusions beyond current law (which already blocked some offenses under NERA and Megan's Law) by adding new categories of crimes to the list. This proposed change would affect inmates who meet these criteria, preventing them from automatic parole under the current process. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides housing expense reimbursements to surviving spouses of police officers, firefighters, sheriffs, and corrections officers killed in the line of duty. It covers up to $15,000 annually for rent/mortgage payments and property taxes on their primary residence, for as long as dependent children live there - until the youngest child graduates high school or finishes undergraduate studies. Funding comes from voluntary taxpayer contributions added to New Jersey income tax returns, deposited into a dedicated "Fallen Public Safety Officer Surviving Spouse Housing Assistance Fund." Reimbursements are explicitly excluded from taxable income under New Jersey's gross income tax law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 296) increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 in New Jersey. It expands the definition of human trafficking to cover all forms of child exploitation (both sexual and labor), not just sexual activity. Offenders face mandatory life imprisonment without parole, a $25,000 fine (funded to a victim assistance program), and restitution based on the victim’s labor value. The law directly affects individuals convicted of trafficking children, replacing current penalties that allowed parole eligibility after 20 years. This change applies to all child trafficking offenses, regardless of whether the perpetrator mistakenly believed the child was 18 or older.