Asm. John Azzariti

Maddy summaryThis bill (A777) ensures religious services can continue during New Jersey Governor-declared state or public health emergencies. It directly affects religious institutions and congregants by preventing restrictions on gathering for worship, travel to places of worship, or penalties for practicing faith during emergencies. The key provision prohibits emergency declarations from infringing these rights, while still requiring religious groups to follow universal health/safety rules applicable to all essential businesses. The bill takes immediate effect and focuses solely on preserving religious assembly rights without altering general emergency authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A770) requires all registered New Jersey voters to show a photo ID at polling places when casting a ballot. Acceptable IDs include a valid New Jersey driver’s license, REAL ID, DMV "identification only" card, or U.S. passport. Voters without proper ID may be challenged but can still prove eligibility through signature verification or other means outlined in the bill. The law would take immediate effect and does not deny voting access if a voter provides acceptable identification or meets verification requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A234) allows corrections officers, firefighters, and police officers in New Jersey to administer epinephrine auto-injector devices after completing approved training. It requires these officers to finish an educational program approved by the Commissioner of Health, after which they receive a certificate authorizing them to administer, maintain, and dispose of the devices. The law explicitly expands the current scope of who may use these devices beyond licensed health care professionals. It does not change existing protocols for prescribing or supplying the devices, which remain under the authority of licensed health care professionals.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to allow any member who participated in 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations to qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits if they develop a disability linked to that work. It presumes that health conditions from 9/11 exposure (like respiratory illnesses or PTSD) resulted from their duties if they worked at least eight hours at the site, or if they had a documented injury preventing further participation. Members who later retire on ordinary disability or service retirement can also seek recalculated benefits if they develop qualifying 9/11-related disabilities. The policy change applies to all PERS members, regardless of when they joined the system, removing previous restrictions that limited eligibility to specific roles like emergency medical technicians.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools to have at least one FDA-registered portable anti-choking device (a suction device for clearing airway blockages) placed in accessible locations like cafeterias and nurse offices during school hours and events. Schools must display clear signage marking device locations and develop policies requiring staff training in airway management and device use. The state Department of Education will reimburse schools for device costs and provide annual training opportunities for school nurses and staff. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryAJR 33 designates June of each year as "Cancer Survivor Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month with awareness activities. It aims to increase public understanding of cancer survivors' ongoing physical, emotional, and financial challenges, as noted in the resolution's preamble. This is a symbolic designation with no new funding or legal requirements, focusing solely on raising awareness.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 20) is a symbolic statement opposing President Biden’s current border policies and urging him to reinstate specific border measures from the prior administration. It specifically calls for the return of policies including the border wall, Title 42 expulsions, the "remain in Mexico" program, and Safe Third-Country Agreements with Central American nations. The resolution does not change any laws but expresses New Jersey’s position and will be sent to President Biden, Congress, and New Jersey’s federal representatives. It directly addresses the federal executive and legislative branches, not state residents or local policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's license plate requirement from two plates (front and rear) to a single plate displayed only on the rear of most vehicles. It directly affects all New Jersey vehicle owners currently required to display two plates, including car and motorcycle owners. The key provision requires the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to issue only one plate per vehicle starting after the bill's effective date, and allows existing owners with two plates to return one to the MVC. The change simplifies plate display while maintaining visibility requirements for all vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 57) urges New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping activities off the New Jersey coast. It is prompted by the unexplained deaths of at least 12 whales (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphins recorded near offshore wind development areas since December 2022. The resolution calls for pausing these activities to allow for scientific study of potential links between sonar/mapping technologies and the marine life deaths. As a resolution, it does not create law but formally requests federal and state agencies to halt related operations pending investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A494) adds a new incentive for municipalities to convert abandoned properties into affordable housing. It allows local governments to earn **two additional credit units** toward their fair share housing obligation for each affordable housing unit created on property that was previously listed as abandoned (under NJ law) and later rehabilitated. The credit applies only to units restricted for low/moderate income households on properties that were formally removed from the municipal abandoned property list after rehabilitation. This policy directly affects municipalities required to meet state-mandated affordable housing targets under the Fair Housing Act.