Asm. Al Barlas

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows 12th graders who are enlisting or planning to enlist in the U.S. military or National Guard to miss school for required military activities without penalty. Absences for military enlistment activities - including testing, medical exams, interviews, or fingerprinting - must be recorded as excused and won’t appear on transcripts, job applications, or affect perfect attendance records. Schools may request documentation to verify the student’s military plans. The bill applies only to students in grade 12.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools to place at least one FDA-registered portable anti-choking device (using manual suction to clear airway blockages) in accessible locations like cafeterias, school nurse offices, and other similar areas during school hours and events. Schools must also develop policies requiring training for nurses and staff in airway management and device use, with annual educational opportunities provided by the state. The Department of Education will reimburse schools for device costs through a specified application process. The law takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to automatically provide a 10% toll discount to all seniors aged 65+ who have a New Jersey E-ZPass account for passenger vehicles. The discount applies automatically when an existing E-ZPass account holder turns 65 or when a senior applies for an E-ZPass account. It ensures seniors pay at least 10% less than the standard E-ZPass rate for all tolls, without needing to submit separate applications. The program would cover all tolls on NJTA and SJTA roads for eligible passenger vehicle accounts.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence to a second-degree crime when a person was inside during the offense. It requires offenders to serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole, under New Jersey's "No Early Release Act" (NERA). Currently, burglary of a residence is typically a third-degree crime (with a lower parole threshold) unless aggravated by violence or weapons; this bill makes occupancy the new trigger for the stricter charge. The change applies only to burglaries where someone was present in the home at the time of the offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-1189) requires New Jersey to provide additional state school funding to reduce property tax burdens for residents. It directly affects school districts that experienced state aid reductions between 2018-2019 and 2022-2023, directing the state to pay them retroactive aid equal to their past funding losses. Key mechanisms include calculating base aid amounts based on historical funding formulas, mandating districts receiving increased state aid to lower property tax levies by the same amount, and requiring annual property tax reductions if state aid rises. The bill appropriates $2.9 billion to implement these changes, aiming to ensure school funding aligns with residents' ability to pay property taxes.

Maddy summaryBill A 1386 requires New Jersey school districts to provide special education notifications and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to parents or guardians in their native language, unless it is clearly not feasible. This applies to information about student evaluations, placements, and free appropriate public education under federal and state special education laws. If a parent’s native language is unwritten, schools must offer oral translation, confirm understanding, and document the process. The bill directly affects parents and guardians of students with disabilities in New Jersey public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to provide free, periodic cancer screenings every three years for volunteer firefighters, starting three years after they begin service. It covers 11 specific cancers (including colon, lung, breast, and prostate) and applies to all volunteer firefighters serving in fire districts, departments, or companies across the state. Physicians in the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) must offer these screenings with no cost to firefighters, and the state will reimburse providers up to $1,250 per firefighter every three years. The bill extends existing paid firefighter benefits to unpaid volunteers, eliminating co-pays, deductibles, or out-of-pocket costs for screenings.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for unlawfully taking motor vehicles without the owner's consent in New Jersey. It raises the offense of simply taking a vehicle (without risk) from a fourth-degree crime to a third-degree crime, punishable by 3-5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine. It also elevates the offense of taking a vehicle in a way that risks injury or property damage from a third-degree to a second-degree crime, carrying 5-10 years in prison or a $150,000 fine. The bill directly affects anyone who takes, operates, or rides in a vehicle without consent, including typical "joyriding" cases. These changes adjust the legal classification and penalties without altering the core definition of the offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to waive all walk-in and bicycle entrance fees at state parks and forests during three specific holiday periods: Memorial Day weekend, the week of the Fourth of July, and Labor Day weekend. It directly affects visitors who enter these parks on foot, by bicycle, or on foot during those designated times. The key provision mandates the DEP to remove these fees for the specified holidays, making park access free for those entry methods. The policy change would take effect one year after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 112) creates a rebuttable presumption requiring pretrial detention for defendants charged with motor vehicle theft offenses (including theft, receiving stolen vehicles, or unlawful taking), directly affecting individuals arrested for these crimes. It amends court procedures to prioritize community safety over appearance concerns when setting bail, and authorizes home detention for minors convicted of motor vehicle theft. The bill also establishes a $7 million Grants for Underage Auto-Theft Risk Deterrence Pilot Program within the Juvenile Justice Commission to address youth involvement in auto theft. These changes apply specifically to motor vehicle theft cases under New Jersey law (C.2C:20-10.1, C.2C:20-10.2, and C.2C:15-2).