Asm. John Azzariti

Maddy summaryBill A2215 raises penalties for unlawfully taking a motor vehicle without the owner's permission. Currently a fourth-degree crime, the basic offense becomes a third-degree crime under the bill, increasing maximum penalties to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine. For cases involving reckless operation that risks injury or property damage, the bill elevates the offense from third to second degree, with penalties of up to ten years in prison and a $150,000 fine. The bill directly affects individuals who commit unauthorized vehicle takeovers, such as joyriding, by making punishments more severe for both standard and reckless scenarios.

Maddy summaryThis bill would shift the administration of affordable housing obligations from municipalities to the state-level Council on Affordable Housing (COAH), requiring COAH to calculate the statewide affordable housing need rather than relying on municipal or regional calculations. Municipalities would submit housing elements to COAH detailing their current housing stock and potential for affordable housing development, and COAH would grant "substantive certification" to qualifying municipalities, shielding them from exclusionary zoning lawsuits. The bill would require COAH to develop fair share plans for each municipality based on the statewide need and establish a mediation process for disputes about these plans. This change would replace the current system where municipalities determine their own affordable housing obligations with a centralized statewide approach.

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 allows state employees who were temporarily working at New Jersey psychiatric hospitals or correctional facilities before joining the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits if injured during that temporary employment. It deems injuries sustained while performing duties (e.g., as nurses, correction officers, or healthcare workers) at those facilities as occurring "during membership" for PERS benefit eligibility, even if the injury happened before PERS enrollment. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2003, and covers employees who later become PERS members without interruption in their job. This specifically affects temporary workers in state psychiatric or correctional facilities who were previously ineligible for PERS disability benefits after becoming members.

Maddy summaryACR 58 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. It would raise the annual deduction to $1,000 in 2024, $1,500 in 2025, $2,000 in 2026, and $2,500 starting in 2027, with the amount remaining at $2,500 annually thereafter. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses, who qualify for the deduction on real and personal property taxes. The amendment requires voter approval after legislative passage to take effect.

Maddy summaryACR 85 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's annual veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $1,250, effective 2024. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses who reside in the state, allowing them to deduct the full $1,250 from property taxes (or cancel the tax if it's less than $1,250). The current $250 deduction has remained unchanged since 2003, and this amendment requires voter approval to take effect. If passed, it would be the first increase since 1999, when the deduction rose from $50 to $250.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1259) increases pensions for New Jersey police and fire department members who suffer accidental disability or death caused by weapons. It raises the accidental disability pension from 66% to 100% of final compensation for those injured by weapons (with a transition to 80% after mandatory retirement age). For deaths caused by weapons, it increases the death benefit for surviving spouses or children from 70% to 75% of final compensation. The final compensation amount used for these calculations will continue to increase until the member would have turned 65, using the same percentage increases as active members' compensation. The bill applies to injuries or deaths occurring on or after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create and distribute special blue envelopes for individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The envelopes must hold driver's licenses, registration, and insurance documents, feature a distinct color recognizable to police, clearly identify the holder's diagnosis, and include communication guidance for law enforcement. It applies directly to autistic drivers, their parents, guardians, or caregivers who apply for the envelopes. The MVC must design these envelopes in consultation with autism advocacy groups, the Human Services Commissioner, and State Police. The bill draws from a 2020 Connecticut law and takes effect 12 months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Attorney General to establish a formal agreement with the U.S. Attorney General under a federal immigration enforcement program (Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act). It would authorize specific, trained corrections officers in state and county facilities to investigate whether inmates are lawful U.S. residents *at the time of incarceration*. If an inmate's status is found to be unauthorized under federal law, officers would report this information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The agreement would outline training, reporting protocols, federal funding for costs, and clarify that these officers act under federal authority for legal immunity purposes. This directly affects designated corrections officers and inmates in New Jersey's correctional system.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey to annually adjust its income tax brackets for inflation using the national consumer price index (CPI-U), preventing "bracket creep" where inflation alone pushes taxpayers into higher tax brackets without real income growth. The Director of the Division of Taxation would calculate these annual adjustments based on the CPI-U measure. This change would affect all New Jersey residents who pay state income tax by ensuring their tax brackets keep pace with rising prices. The bill follows the same model used for federal income tax brackets, which has been in place since the 1980s.