Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary study commission to help New Jersey municipalities better understand and address their affordable housing obligations. The commission would consist of six members appointed by various state officials and the League of Municipalities, and it would operate independently within the Department of Community Affairs. Its main tasks include reviewing the history of affordable housing in the state, analyzing past guidance given to local governments, estimating future housing needs based on population growth, and holding public hearings to gather input. Within one year of starting, the commission must publish a report with recommendations for both municipalities and state agencies on how to meet housing obligations, after which the commission will automatically dissolve.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual cigarette and tobacco tax revenue allocated to the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research from $1 million to $10 million and creates a dedicated, non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the state treasury. The fund will be managed by the State Treasurer and used exclusively for grants and contracts supporting general cancer research and pediatric cancer research, with at least $5 million each year designated for each category. By establishing a revolving fund, the bill ensures that money and any earned interest remain available for future research projects rather than being transferred to the general budget each year.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires school bus drivers and personnel to call 911 in potential life-threatening emergencies involving students. It mandates that school buses transporting students with disabilities be equipped with specific safety features (though exact features aren't detailed in the text). The bill also requires annual safety training for all bus personnel, including emergency procedures and recognizing signs of life-threatening situations for students with disabilities. Funding for these requirements is included through an appropriation. The bill directly affects school bus operators, drivers, aides, and students with disabilities in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires life imprisonment without parole for anyone convicted of murder committed while committing specific sex offenses (like rape or sexual assault under N.J.S.2C:14-2 or 2C:14-3), regardless of the victim's age. It directly affects defendants convicted of such murders by eliminating the prior requirement that the victim be under 18. The key provision amends New Jersey's murder statute to mandate life without parole for these cases, overriding existing sentencing options. This change applies to all victims of these sex offense-related murders, not just minors, and does not create new offenses - only modifies sentencing for existing murder charges meeting these criteria.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4428) creates a new criminal offense called "political violence," defined as committing violent acts (such as assault, kidnapping, or terrorism) specifically to interfere with or retaliate against someone because of their political affiliation (e.g., party membership) or political expression (e.g., attending protests, donating to campaigns). It increases penalties for these offenses, requiring separate sentencing for both the underlying violent crime and the political violence charge. The bill also establishes an independent "Political Violence Review Board" to collect and analyze data on complaints, identifying potential disparities in how cases are handled based on race, gender, or political affiliation. This directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals targeted for political reasons, while requiring oversight of how such cases are investigated and prosecuted.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows high school juniors and seniors (grades 11-12) to miss up to three school days per year for college visits, tours of technical schools, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Absences for military enlistment prep - like testing, medical evaluations, or interviews - are specifically designated as excused. Schools cannot list these absences on student transcripts, job applications, or attendance records, and they won’t affect a student’s perfect attendance status. The policy aims to support college and career pathway exploration while ensuring no academic or administrative disadvantage for participating students.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new fourth-degree crime for using GPS or location tracking devices to monitor a vehicle with the intent to commit an unlawful act (such as domestic violence, sexual assault, or vehicle theft). It directly affects individuals who misuse tracking technology to harass or threaten others. The key provision mandates a minimum 5-year prison sentence for this offense - replacing the standard penalty of up to 18 months - under New Jersey’s sentencing law for fourth-degree crimes. This change applies to any tracking device used with unlawful intent, regardless of the specific crime involved. The bill is pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes how regional school districts in New Jersey apportion costs (like school funding) among participating municipalities. It allows districts to base these costs partly or entirely on property assessments, rather than solely on student enrollment, but only if three conditions are met: all municipalities have recent property revaluations within five years of each other, or all have property valuation ratios above 90%, or all are within 5% of each other's ratios. This ensures property-based cost sharing is fair and accurate across municipalities. The bill directly affects local governments that participate in regional school districts.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 410) requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to appear before legislative committees before implementing toll or charge increases - including automatic increases. Authorities must provide detailed explanations of financial justification, public impact, revenue use, and alternatives to avoid hikes. The bill also prohibits NJTA/SJTA from raising tolls or charges by more than 2% over any five-year period. These changes directly affect commuters, businesses, and the public who pay tolls on NJTA/SJTA highways.
Maddy summaryThis bill makes knowingly making a false report of child abuse or neglect a crime. It targets individuals who submit false reports under New Jersey's child abuse reporting law, imposing a third-degree criminal penalty (up to 5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine) and adding a separate civil penalty of up to $10,000. The civil penalty funds the Department of Children and Families. The law applies immediately upon enactment and directly affects people who file false reports, not the victims or reporting systems.