Maddy summaryThis bill (A1381) proposes to expand New Jersey's cyber-harassment law to make it a more serious offense when an adult (18 or older) harasses a minor online, removing the previous requirement that the offender must impersonate a minor. The key change clarifies that targeting minors online with threats, lewd content, or criminal threats becomes a third-degree crime (with potential 3-5 year prison time), while other cyber-harassment remains a less severe fourth-degree offense. It also requires courts to order minors convicted of cyber-harassment to complete educational programs about online safety, and imposes fines on parents who fail to ensure their minor complies with these court orders. The bill aims to strengthen protections for minors by broadening criminal penalties and adding accountability for both offenders and parents.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A1696 updates optometrists' scope of practice by expanding their ability to provide eye care services. The bill allows optometrists to prescribe pharmaceutical agents (including controlled substances under specific conditions), administer immunizations for coronaviruses, flu, and shingles (for patients 18+), and perform minor procedures like removing superficial foreign bodies or treating chalazions. It also permits certain non-invasive laser/ultrasound treatments (e.g., trabeculoplasty) using only topical anesthesia, while explicitly prohibiting invasive eye surgery, orbital procedures, or general anesthesia. These changes apply to all optometrists practicing in New Jersey and require adherence to CDC guidelines for immunizations and reporting to the state immunization registry.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2849) prohibits electric public utilities from charging customers for electricity during service interruptions. It requires utilities to reduce fixed monthly charges proportionally based on the duration of the outage. The bill also mandates that utilities repair damaged street lights under their maintenance within 10 business days of notification and prohibits billing customers for street light service until repairs are complete. These changes directly affect residential and business customers of electric utilities in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to issue two separate property tax bills instead of one. The first bill covers taxes for municipal services (like roads and police), while the second covers taxes for county, school, fire district, and other special district services. It also requires fire districts, school districts, and county governments to share the cost of refunds when property assessments are reduced through appeals. Property taxpayers directly receive these dual bills, and local taxing districts must collectively cover refund expenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent "Veteran Obituary Fund" within New Jersey's Department of the Treasury to cover costs for veterans' obituaries. Taxpayers can deduct donations to the fund (up to $50,000 annually) from their state income tax, with property donations over $500 requiring an independent appraisal. The fund accepts money or property donations from any source, which the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs administers to pay for veteran obituaries. It directly affects New Jersey taxpayers who donate to the fund and veterans' families, as it ensures obituary costs - averaging several hundred dollars - are covered without burdening families.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes certain elected legal officials, including county prosecutors, judges, and assistant attorneys general, to carry firearms at all times within New Jersey. To do so, they must complete a state-approved firearms training course and annually qualify in handgun use. The law amends New Jersey's firearm statute to exempt these specific roles from standard restrictions, without affecting the general public. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.
Maddy summaryACR 29 is a New Jersey legislative resolution requesting Congress to call an Article V convention of states. The bill seeks to propose constitutional amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. It functions as a continuing application, meaning New Jersey's request remains active until two-thirds of states make similar requests on the same issue. This is a procedural step (not a law) to initiate a potential constitutional convention process, directly affecting New Jersey's legislative action and the broader state-level effort to influence federal governance.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Pandemic Bill of Rights for the Welfare of Individuals," granting specific protections to all New Jersey residents during pandemics, disease outbreaks, or public health emergencies. It requires health care facilities to safeguard nursing home residents and those with preexisting conditions, ensure proper medical evaluation before discharge, provide adequate care and therapies, allow family visitation, and maintain attorney access as essential services. The Commissioner of Health must publish these rights online, and all health care facilities must post them prominently. The bill directly affects vulnerable populations like nursing home residents and patients in medical facilities, aiming to prevent repeat of issues seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as restricted family access and inadequate care.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey election law to allow district boards, election superintendents, or county clerks to request police officers be assigned specifically to polling places located at public schools. The request must be for maintaining order and providing security during elections. Police presence at other polling locations remains restricted under current law. The bill requires detailed public records of all such assignments, including location, reason, officer details, and duration. It does not change general restrictions on police at non-school polling sites or ballot drop boxes.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's Property Tax Relief and Education Empowerment Program, providing property tax relief to residents while offering educational grants to eligible students attending nonpublic schools. It directly affects low-income students (households earning ≤3.7x the federal poverty level for a family of four) who previously attended public school for at least 100 days and switch to a participating nonpublic school. The program provides grants equal to 50% of the public school district's per-pupil spending (capped at the nonpublic school's fees), paid directly to the nonpublic school by the student's resident district. This funding reduces the public school district's budget by the grant amount, with the savings used to lower local school taxes in the following year.