Asm. Bob Auth

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to explain toll and charge increases to legislative committees before implementing them, including automatic increases. Authorities must detail financial reasons, impacts on commuters and businesses, revenue use plans, and alternatives considered. The bill also prohibits toll or charge increases exceeding 2% over any five-year period. It directly affects NJTA and SJTA operations and the public who pay tolls on their highways.

Maddy summaryS 3466 extends the special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs in the Highlands Region through 2029, requiring landowners to be provided with two appraisal values when selling property for preservation. The bill allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for land preservation, with $5 million for recreation and conservation and $2.5 million for farmland preservation. It creates a new "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund" to support land acquisition and conservation efforts in the Highlands Region, including matching federal funding for watershed protection. The bill also requires distributing state aid to municipalities hosting watershed lands that don't receive existing watershed moratorium offset aid.

Maddy summaryACR 157 is a symbolic resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, directly affirming support for Hindu Americans in New Jersey. It formally declares the state's stance against prejudice toward Hinduism ("Sanatana Dharma") and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes and Hindu contributions to U.S. society. The resolution requires transmission to the Governor, New Jersey’s congressional delegation, and the Hindu American Foundation in Washington, DC. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create legal obligations but serves as a public statement of the state’s position. It recognizes Hinduism’s global significance and the community’s economic and cultural contributions to New Jersey and the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5419) prohibits licensed health care professionals in New Jersey from providing medical, surgical, or therapeutic gender-affirming care to individuals under 21 years old. It specifically defines "gender-affirming health care services" to include medications and treatments for gender dysphoria but explicitly excludes behavioral, mental, or psychiatric care. Violating this prohibition subjects professionals to disciplinary action for professional misconduct under existing laws. The law takes immediate effect and requires the Division of Consumer Affairs and Health Department to adopt implementing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric and gas public utilities serving New Jersey customers to locate 40% of their emergency call center operations within the state. It directly affects all electric and gas utilities that distribute power or gas to end users in New Jersey. The key provision mandates that these utilities must maintain at least 40% of their emergency call center staff and facilities physically located in New Jersey, ensuring local access for customer assistance during outages or emergencies. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for retail theft offenses based on the value of stolen goods, with shoplifting over $500 becoming a third-degree crime. It creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales) and upgrades penalties for "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime. The bill establishes a retail theft unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, and includes new requirements for gift card retailers to prevent fraud through packaging standards and third-party reseller record-keeping. It also creates extended prison terms for repeat retail theft offenders and increases penalties for tax evasion related to retail theft.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires public school districts to incorporate cursive handwriting instruction into the curriculum for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. It mandates that schools use specific activities and materials to help students achieve legible cursive reading and writing proficiency by the end of third grade. The policy directly affects all elementary students in New Jersey public schools, with no exemptions specified in the bill text.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county clerks to publicly report provisional ballot data for each election district during primary and general elections. Starting on election day (not the following day), counties must post online updates every 24 hours showing the number of provisional ballots cast and their results in each district, along with early voting and election-day totals. County clerks must also provide a final report within 30 days of election certification detailing all provisional ballots counted per district. These reports will be posted on county websites and the state election division site, making election results more transparent in real time. The bill amends existing law to require district-level detail and earlier reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands when juveniles aged 15+ can be sent to adult court for motor vehicle theft. It adds "theft or unlawful taking of a motor vehicle" to the list of offenses eligible for waiver to adult court, but only if the juvenile has previously been found delinquent for a similar offense. The bill also clarifies that using a minor (under 18) in vehicle theft is a strict liability crime, meaning adults cannot claim they mistakenly believed the minor was older. This makes the offense a second-degree crime punishable by 5-10 years in prison or a $150,000 fine.