Asm. Bob Auth

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local police departments and the Division of State Police (when issuing firearms purchaser ID cards) to automatically register eligible voters during the ID application process. It applies to people obtaining these firearm permits, who would be offered the option to decline registration. The law mirrors the existing automatic voter registration system used at New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission, requiring electronic transmission of eligibility information (age, citizenship, address) to the Secretary of State. All affected agencies must comply with current voter registration procedures, including providing clear opt-out notices to applicants.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the special appraisal process for land acquisitions under New Jersey's Green Acres and farmland preservation programs from June 30, 2024 to June 30, 2029 for lands in the Highlands Region. It allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for land preservation in the Highlands Region. The funds will support two specific programs: the Highlands Open Space Partnership Funding program to acquire land for recreation and conservation, and the Highlands Development Credit Purchase Program to protect land with ecological or agricultural significance. The bill also requires distribution of State aid to municipalities within the Highlands Region that host watershed lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's exclusion from administrative parole release to include inmates with prior felony convictions and those serving sentences for specific serious crimes like vehicular homicide, human trafficking, sexual extortion, or weapons violations. It bars individuals with any prior felony conviction (repeat offenders) and adds new crime categories to the existing exclusions under the "No Early Release Act," Graves Act, Megan's Law, and Sexually Violent Predator Act. Inmates must still meet other criteria, such as avoiding serious disciplinary infractions during incarceration and completing rehabilitation programs when possible. The change means more inmates will require a parole hearing rather than automatic release at their first eligibility date. This amendment updates the "Earn Your Way Out Act" (P.L.2019, c.364) to tighten parole eligibility standards.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A5216) prohibits health insurance companies and other covered entities (like HMOs) from limiting coverage based on how long anesthesia services are used before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. It directly affects patients requiring anesthesia and insurers authorized to sell health plans in New Jersey. The law defines "anesthesia services" using standard medical coding from the American Medical Association, ensuring coverage isn't restricted by time limits. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment for new or renewed insurance policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential buildings housing up to two households to install window exit devices (such as anchor plates, hooks, and rope systems) on every level above ground floor, ensuring safe egress during fires when ground exits are blocked. It directly affects property owners and landlords of such residential properties, mandating these fire escape mechanisms alongside existing smoke alarm and fire extinguisher requirements. Violations - specifically failing to install the escape mechanism - carry a penalty of up to $1,000, enforceable during occupancy changes or sales/leases through municipal fire safety inspections. The law takes immediate effect and directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to establish implementing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential buildings used by no more than two households to install "fire escape mechanisms" on each level above ground floor. These mechanisms - such as anchor plates, hooks, and rope systems - must allow safe window egress when ground exits are blocked by fire or smoke. The law applies to property owners during sales, leases, or occupancy changes, requiring certification of compliance from fire safety officials. Violations of the escape mechanism requirement carry a maximum penalty of $1,000, while separate penalties apply for non-compliant smoke alarms ($500) or fire extinguishers ($100).

Maddy summaryThis is a symbolic Assembly Resolution (not a law) condemning violent attacks on Jewish individuals in Amsterdam following a November 7, 2024 football match between Maccabi Tel Aviv and AFC Ajax. It specifically references incidents where Israeli fans were ambushed, assaulted, and targeted with anti-Semitic violence after pre-match anti-Arab actions by some fans, drawing a parallel to the 1938 Kristallnacht attacks. The resolution calls for Dutch authorities to apprehend perpetrators and expresses solidarity with victims, with no binding legal effect beyond New Jersey's official statement.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 169) urges the U.S. President and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate NBC for potentially violating FCC rules requiring equal broadcast time for political candidates. It specifically references NBC's November 2, 2024, airing of a *Saturday Night Live* skit featuring presidential candidate Kamala Harris without providing equivalent time to her opponent, Donald Trump, on the same program. The resolution argues NBC failed to comply with the "equal time" rule, which mandates broadcasters give all qualified candidates comparable access, and states that even NBC's last-minute provision of airtime during sports coverage on November 3 may not satisfy the requirement. If violations are confirmed, the resolution calls for the FCC to suspend NBC's broadcasting license. (Note: This is a symbolic resolution with no legal force; it does not change FCC rules or mandate action.)

Maddy summaryThis bill delays New Jersey's implementation of Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations until January 1, 2027 - pushing back the current 2025 deadline. It directly affects vehicle manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, requiring them to sell increasing percentages of zero-emission vehicles (capping at 40-75% of annual sales by 2035). The bill modifies New Jersey’s adoption of California’s 2021 ACT regulations, which mandate phased EV sales targets, by prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from enforcing these rules before 2027. The delay gives manufacturers more time to adapt to the requirements while maintaining the state’s alignment with California’s emissions program.