Asm. Bob Auth

Maddy summaryThis bill would increase penalties for motor vehicle theft in New Jersey, upgrading it from a third-degree crime to a second-degree crime. Currently, motor vehicle theft is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $15,000 fine, but the bill would increase the maximum sentence to 10 years and the fine to $150,000. The bill also authorizes courts to sentence minors under 18 convicted of motor vehicle theft to home detention, allowing them to leave home only for court appearances, probation appointments, attorney meetings (with notice), or other court-approved reasons. Additionally, it requires courts to schedule a hearing for minors arrested for motor vehicle theft within 48 hours of arrest.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for motor vehicle theft and carjacking in New Jersey, imposing fines of $500 for a first offense, $750 for a second offense, and $1,000 for third or subsequent offenses, along with possible driving privilege suspensions up to 10 years. It establishes a presumption of pretrial detention for defendants who commit motor vehicle theft or carjacking followed by subsequent, interdependent crimes within a short timeframe. The presumption can be rebutted by the defendant with a preponderance of evidence, but if not, the defendant would be detained before trial. This makes certain sequences of crimes a first-degree offense punishable by 10-20 years in prison or a $200,000 fine.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Auditor to conduct a performance audit of the Division of Unemployment Insurance (DUI) within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The audit must examine how the division uses federal and state funds, whether staffing levels meet its legal duties, the efficiency of its operations (especially during emergencies), and evaluate its IT system's replacement costs. The State Auditor must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The audit directly affects the DUI division's operations and compliance, with findings potentially guiding future resource allocation and system improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits foreign governments and foreign persons (including non-U.S. individuals and entities with foreign ownership) from acquiring new ownership of agricultural or horticultural land or agricultural woodlands in New Jersey after the bill's effective date. Existing foreign owners may retain their land for up to five years, after which they must sell it to a domestic entity (individual, trust, or business) with a deed requiring the land to remain in agricultural use. The bill also mandates annual reports from the State Agriculture Secretary tracking foreign ownership acreage, nationalities of owners, and land use patterns. These provisions aim to limit foreign control over agricultural land while allowing a transition period for current foreign owners.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Community Wealth Preservation Program" to help residents purchase homes at sheriff's sales after foreclosure. It allows qualifying buyers who will live in the home as their primary residence for 84 months to pay a 3.5% deposit (instead of 20%) and have 90 business days to complete the purchase with no interest for the first 60 days. Buyers must complete HUD-approved homebuyer education and provide mortgage pre-approval documentation, with penalties up to $500,000 for not occupying as primary residence. The program requires sheriff's offices to provide clear program information in plain language, excludes investment properties, and gives nonprofit community development corporations special rights to purchase properties while preserving affordability for future buyers.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a fourth-degree crime for a landlord or property owner to knowingly rent a dwelling that violates housing safety regulations (an "illegal occupancy") and causes serious injury or death to someone. It directly affects landlords who rent properties failing to meet health/safety codes, zoning rules, or housing standards. Violators face up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both. The law does not replace existing civil penalties, such as requiring landlords to cover tenant relocation costs under current law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes a legal presumption that joint legal and physical custody is in a child's best interest, meaning courts must assume both parents should share decision-making authority and the child should spend equal or nearly equal time with each parent. A parent seeking to avoid joint custody must provide clear and convincing evidence that it would harm the child, and the court must document its reasoning if it deviates from this presumption. The bill does not change the requirement that custody arrangements must align with the child's best interests but shifts the starting point for court decisions to joint custody. It applies to all child custody cases in New Jersey and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow Class Two special law enforcement officers to carry firearms at all times while in New Jersey, rather than only while on duty. It also permits arson investigators to carry firearms at all times while in the state. The bill establishes new requirements for all special law enforcement officers, including age limits (21-75 years old) and mandatory drug testing at appointment. It clarifies that Class Two special law enforcement officers have the same legal protections and immunity from civil liability as regular law enforcement officers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1808 requires hospitals to annually report drug-related attempted and completed suicides involving minors (under 18) to the New Jersey Poison Control Center. Hospitals must provide data on the minor's age, ethnicity, gender, race, and the specific drug used, while protecting all personal identifiers under privacy laws. The Poison Control Center then compiles this data into an annual report for the Governor and Legislature. The bill specifically covers suicides involving drugs and does not require disclosure of confidential health information. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases financial aid to New Jersey municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years, restoring approximately $331 million in reduced aid payments that municipalities received during fiscal years 2009-2011. In fiscal year 2023, municipalities will receive 50% of the difference between their 2008 and 2012 aid distributions, with full restoration beginning in 2024. Municipalities must subtract any additional aid received from their property tax levy calculations and cannot anticipate this aid when creating annual budgets. The bill requires municipalities to amend their budgets to properly reflect the total aid amount, ensuring the aid directly reduces the amount they need to raise through property taxes.