Asm. Bob Auth

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and independent colleges to provide academic accommodations for students serving in the National Guard, Reserves, or active duty military. It gives students who miss classes due to military obligations (like deployments or drills) options to receive a pass/fail grade, incomplete, or withdrawal - plus refunds for tuition and fees if they withdraw. Institutions must notify students of these rights, create written contracts with professors to address missed coursework, and provide accommodations like lecture notes or tutoring. Additionally, schools must accept up to 30 college credits for undergraduate military experience (and 12 for graduate programs) based on American Council on Education evaluations. The law directly affects student veterans and military-affiliated learners enrolled in New Jersey higher education.

Maddy summaryACR 107 is a non-binding resolution urging the New Jersey Department of Education to pause the development and implementation of new Student Learning Standards for two years. It directly affects the Department of Education and State Board of Education by requesting a temporary halt to creating new standards, while pending legislative bills about curriculum and learning loss are reviewed. The resolution cites parent concerns about current standards, pandemic-related learning loss, and declining U.S. education rankings as reasons for the pause. It does not change existing standards but asks for a two-year moratorium to allow the Legislature to address related issues.

Maddy summaryAJR 21 designates the third full week in December each year as "Teen Driver Safety Awareness Week" in New Jersey, honoring Kyleigh D’Alessio, a 16-year-old who died in a teen-driven crash. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public awareness activities to promote safe driving among teenagers. It does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise community awareness about teen driving risks, referencing New Jersey's statistics on teen crashes and fatalities. This is a commemorative resolution, not a substantive legislative measure.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges New Jersey's state and federal agencies to pause sonar testing and wind turbine mapping near offshore wind projects. It cites NOAA data showing 12 whale deaths (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphin deaths in February 2023 off New Jersey's coast - deaths occurring near active wind development sites. The resolution requests an immediate moratorium to allow scientific study of whether these activities interfere with marine mammals' navigation and communication. It specifically targets the Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The resolution does not create new law but calls for a pause while investigations continue.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the display or flying of flags from organizations designated as terrorist by the U.S. Department of State on any New Jersey state property, including schools, parks, hospitals, and government offices. State entities violating this rule face immediate loss of state funding, with penalties determined by the Secretary of State and Treasury Director. The law explicitly allows such flags for news, theatrical, historical, or educational purposes. It defines "state property" broadly to cover all state-owned or leased land and buildings. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council to study how state agencies use artificial intelligence and provide recommendations for ethical, safe implementation. The council, composed of the state's Chief Technology Officer, two legislative members (appointed by chamber leaders with party balance), and two public AI experts (appointed by the Governor), will assess AI's benefits and risks, develop guidelines to prevent biased decision-making and protect data privacy, and recommend best practices for state agencies. The council must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting and then dissolve. This directly affects state agencies that will use the council's guidance for AI procurement and implementation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3702) makes it a fourth-degree crime for a landlord or property owner to knowingly rent a dwelling that qualifies as "illegal occupancy" (violating housing codes, zoning, or health/safety regulations) when that rental causes serious bodily injury or death to another person. Landlords convicted face up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The bill does not replace existing civil penalties for illegal occupancy but adds criminal liability specifically when harm occurs. It directly affects landlords who rent unsafe properties they knowingly allow to remain non-compliant.

Maddy summaryACR 69 is a concurrent resolution declaring that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) 2021 rules implementing the "Advanced Clean Trucks" program are inconsistent with legislative intent. The resolution states the DEP adopted these rules - requiring 55-75% zero-emission truck sales by 2035 - without following a legal requirement to notify environmental committees, as mandated by 2003 law authorizing only California's "phase 2" low-emission vehicle program. The resolution gives the DEP 30 days to amend or withdraw the rules, or the legislature may later pass another resolution to invalidate them. This procedural action directly affects the DEP's rulemaking authority and the timeline for truck manufacturers to comply with the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to limit annual state spending growth to one percent per year for six years. It requires all state budget appropriations to be specific dollar amounts (not general language) and creates a "Revenue Responsibility Fund" for revenue exceeding two percent of the estimated annual revenue. The fund must first be used to pay down the state's unfunded public employee pension liabilities, and only if those liabilities are fully covered can the fund be used for emergencies or to reduce property taxes with a two-thirds legislative vote. This directly affects state budgeting decisions and public employee pension obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most large commercial trucks (over 26,001 lbs gross weight) operating in New Jersey to install GPS navigation systems that provide two specific safety features: real-time alerts about low-clearance bridges and weight restrictions, and dynamic route planning adjusted for the vehicle's exact height and weight. It excludes vehicles operated by government agencies, schools, or religious organizations. The Motor Vehicle Commission must create implementing rules, and the requirement takes effect 180 days after enactment. The bill directly affects commercial trucking companies and drivers operating eligible vehicles on New Jersey highways.