Asm. Bob Auth

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow elected officials (including U.S. Senators, U.S. House members, and locally elected officials) and their appointed chief of staff to carry firearms in New Jersey, subject to specific training requirements. The exemption applies at all times while in the state but only for the duration of the elected official's term. Before carrying a firearm, both elected officials and their chief of staff must complete a Police Training Commission-approved firearms course and annually qualify in firearm use. This policy change expands existing exemptions for carrying firearms to include these government positions while maintaining standardized training and qualification requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to submit monthly data on handgun permit and firearm purchaser ID card applications to the Attorney General. The data must include applicant demographics (race, ethnicity, gender identity), application status (approved/denied), denial reasons, and location details. The Attorney General must compile this information and publish initial and monthly reports online starting from June 2022. This affects all local law enforcement agencies handling firearm permits and provides the public with transparency about licensing outcomes.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey schools and colleges to designate sports teams based on biological sex at birth (male, female, or coed), prohibiting students identified as male from participating on teams designated for females. If a student's sex is disputed, they must provide a physician's statement verifying reproductive anatomy, natural testosterone levels, and genetic makeup. The bill shields schools from penalties for maintaining sex-specific teams and allows students or schools to sue for violations or retaliation within two years, seeking damages and legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" to improve transparency around vehicle recalls and provide fair compensation for dealers. It requires motor vehicle dealers to check for open recalls on used vehicles using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website before sale, inform prospective buyers about any recalls found, and not sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices. Dealers must also provide the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission with lists of vehicles with long-unfixed recalls (six months or more), triggering the Commission to send official notices to vehicle owners. The bill also establishes compensation requirements for dealers when parts are unavailable for recalled vehicles, requiring 1.75 percent of the vehicle's value per month for used vehicles or the manufacturer's suggested retail price for new vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey local governments - including cities, counties, school districts, and public agencies - from naming public property (such as roads, schools, parks, or buildings) after a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the federal government. Local governments must remove existing names within 30 days and rename the property within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The state will maintain an annual list of such organizations and reimburse local governments for costs related to removal and renaming. Violations may result in daily deductions from state aid allocated to the local government.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities to approve community group home locations before the state can license them. Specifically, applicants must obtain a written certificate from local officials confirming the proposed home complies with all existing zoning and land use regulations in the municipality. The Department of Human Services cannot issue or renew a license for a community group home without this certificate. The bill directly affects developers seeking to open such homes and local governments responsible for reviewing site compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exclude certain retirement savings contributions, qualified withdrawals, and rollovers from New Jersey's gross income tax calculation. It specifically applies to contributions to 401(k) plans, 401(a) pension plans, 403(b) annuity plans, 457 deferred compensation plans, Thrift Savings Plans, and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Qualified withdrawals from these accounts and rollovers from Traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs would not count toward taxable income. The policy aims to provide tax advantages for retirement savings, potentially encouraging more New Jersey residents to save for retirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local police departments and the Division of State Police (which issue firearm purchaser ID cards) to implement automatic voter registration for eligible residents. It mandates that these agencies electronically transmit voter registration information to the state Secretary of State, similar to the existing process at New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission. Individuals applying for firearm ID cards would be offered the option to decline automatic registration. The bill directly affects people obtaining firearm purchaser identification cards at participating police locations, expanding automatic voter registration to these new points of contact.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey laws that allowed undocumented students who attended high school in the state for three or more years, graduated from a New Jersey high school, and met other specific conditions to qualify for in-state tuition rates and state financial aid at public colleges and universities. It eliminates eligibility for these students, meaning they will no longer receive in-state tuition benefits or state aid programs that were previously available under the repealed laws (P.L.2013, c.170 and P.L.2018, c.12). The bill does not affect current eligibility for students with T or U visas (victims of trafficking or domestic violence) or dependents of H-1B, O-1, or O-2 visa holders. The repeal takes effect immediately, removing the policy framework that previously supported these students' access to higher education benefits.