Asm. John Azzariti

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a tax credit program allowing New Jersey taxpayers to receive a 75% credit against their state income tax for donations to approved scholarship organizations. It directly affects nonpublic school students who meet income criteria (household income ≤2.6x the federal reduced-price lunch threshold) attending schools complying with anti-discrimination and anti-bullying laws. The key mechanism requires scholarship organizations to spend 95% of donations on student aid, limit administrative costs to 5%, and adhere to strict eligibility rules. The program would have been capped at $37.5 million annually (adjusted for inflation), but the bill was withdrawn from consideration on June 13, 2024, and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $500,000 in state funding from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) for the New Jersey SOS Veterans Stakeholders Group. The funding directly supports the group’s existing services for New Jersey veterans, including financial assistance, housing support, emergency transportation, and benefits counseling. The bill adds this amount to the DMVA’s "Veterans Program Support" budget line, ensuring the group can continue its community-based outreach and coordination with other veteran service providers. This is a funding allocation, not a new policy, and it specifically aids veterans in New Jersey who access these support services.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies rules for food and service stands (like cafes or newsstands) in New Jersey state, county, and municipal buildings. It maintains priority for the New Jersey Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired to operate stands currently run by blind individuals, but adds new rules when stands become vacant: after 3 months, the stand becomes available to a disabled person-owned business (51% disability-owned); after 6 months, to a veteran-owned business (51% veteran-owned); and after 9 months, to any licensed business. Disabled and veteran-owned businesses would not pay license fees or rentals for these stands. The bill ensures no contracts in place before the law's effective date are affected.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits all New Jersey state agencies, courts, and local governments from applying, implementing, or enforcing any policies or rules created by international organizations. It specifically targets entities like the United Nations, World Health Organization, and World Economic Forum, defining "international organization" broadly as any body established by multinational agreements or international law. The law takes immediate effect and would prevent state entities from adopting such external policies in their operations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4474) requires Pretrial Services to recommend pretrial detention for certain repeat offenders. It mandates this recommendation when a defendant has two or more prior arrests with pending charges, and their current charge is a serious criminal offense or domestic violence involving a minor. The bill specifies that Pretrial Services must advise against release if the defendant faces a new charge for a crime that carries a mandatory prison term or involves domestic violence against a minor. This change directly affects defendants meeting these criteria during pretrial hearings, making the "no release" recommendation a strong factor for courts to consider.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens campaign finance transparency in New Jersey by requiring independent expenditure committees (groups that spend money on elections without direct candidate support) to report large contributions and expenditures more frequently, especially in the days before elections. It mandates that these committees report contributions over $7,500 within 24-72 hours before elections and file quarterly reports after elections until their campaign accounts close. The bill also extends the statute of limitations for investigating campaign finance violations from two to four years after an election. Additionally, it exempts all campaign finance reports filed with the Election Law Enforcement Commission from standard redaction requirements that apply to other public records, making these reports more accessible to the public.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires local governments to notify their governing bodies when a sex offender who committed a crime against a minor (under 18) registers to live in the municipality. It prohibits such offenders from residing within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, or playgrounds, with exceptions for those already living there, in correctional facilities, or granted specific exemptions by a court or parole board. The bill applies only to sex offenders convicted of offenses against minors, not all registered sex offenders. Its goal is to enhance public safety by reducing proximity between these offenders and children gathering in designated areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's self-defense laws by clarifying when force or deadly force is legally justified. It states that people may use non-deadly force to defend themselves against an immediate threat without needing to retreat, and may use deadly force to prevent death, serious injury, or specific violent crimes (like murder or robbery) without retreating - allowing "stand your ground" protection if they're lawfully present and not committing a crime. The bill replaces existing statutes (N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7) with these clearer standards, directly affecting anyone using force in self-defense, including citizens and law enforcement. It focuses on defining the circumstances where force is legally permissible, not on new penalties or procedures.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4407) increases daily pay for election workers from $300 to $400 per election (primary, general, or special). It also raises additional compensation for workers managing signature copy registers: from $12.50 to $20 for one worker, or $6.25 to $10 each for two workers sharing the duty. The state will increase its reimbursement to counties from $225 to $325 per election worker, meaning counties still cover $75 of the $400 daily rate. The bill directly affects election workers and county governments across all New Jersey counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new affordable housing developments (called "inclusionary developments") with 10 or more units or four or more stories to meet LEED Silver or equivalent green building standards. Developers must also submit impact studies on traffic, schools, stormwater, and carbon emissions (if clearing over one acre) to local municipalities before construction begins. The law applies to new projects only, exempting those with applications submitted before the law takes effect. It directs the Department of Community Affairs to create implementing rules within eight months of enactment.