Asm. Al Barlas

Maddy summaryThis bill expands bereavement leave protections in New Jersey to include miscarriage and stillbirth. It allows employees to take family leave under the New Jersey Family Leave Act to grieve the loss of a child due to miscarriage or stillbirth. The bill also permits employees to take family temporary disability leave under the Temporary Disability Benefits Law for this purpose, provided the employee or their domestic partner/civil union partner is a biological parent or parent through a gestational carrier agreement. This change applies to all eligible employees covered by these laws, including those working for private employers and government entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to secure ongoing funding for New Jersey's existing 24-hour confidential hotline program supporting law enforcement officers. It appropriates $500,000 annually from the General Fund starting in fiscal year 2025 to sustain the "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" hotline, which provides peer support and referrals for officers experiencing psychological distress, trauma, or stress related to their work. The fund supplements current funding from Body Armor Replacement Funds ($400,000 annually) and ensures the program, operated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, remains available without interruption. The program directly serves active and retired New Jersey law enforcement officers and their families.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3832) allows volunteer firefighters, rescue squad members, and first aid squad volunteers to claim a $5,000 deduction from their state income tax. To qualify, individuals must have volunteered full-time during the tax year, met specific duty hour requirements (e.g., 400 hours minimum with no more than 50% for drills), and held approved certifications (like Firefighter I or EMT training) by January 1. Departments must submit qualifying member lists to state agencies by March 31 each year for tax verification. The deduction is capped at $5,000 per year and requires proof of eligibility with tax filings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Racing Commission to create safety guidelines for postponing horse races during severe weather. It directly affects horse racing events, jockeys, drivers, and horses by mandating postponements when weather poses risks. The guidelines must require postponements for conditions like active thunderstorm/tornado watches within one hour of a race start or heat index above 90°F during the race. The Commission must develop these rules in consultation with the Agriculture and Health Departments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific baby products from New Jersey's sales and use tax, directly affecting parents and caregivers purchasing these items. It removes tax from cribs (infant beds), child restraint systems (car seats meeting federal safety standards), nursing bottles/nipples/funnels, and strollers (all non-motorized transport devices). The law amends the Sales and Use Tax Act to add these products to the tax-exempt list, effective immediately upon enactment. This change reduces out-of-pocket costs for essential infant care items without altering existing tax rates for other goods.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows candidates for state office in New Jersey to file a sworn statement confirming their understanding of and commitment to follow Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) campaign finance rules at the same time they submit their nominating petitions. The statement, currently required to be filed separately with ELEC, would now be attached to nomination paperwork instead of submitted later. This change streamlines the process by integrating campaign finance compliance verification into the initial nomination filing. The bill affects all candidates running for state offices who use nominating petitions, including those for Governor, Senate, General Assembly, and other local offices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Parole Board to immediately revoke parole for any parolee arrested or indicted for assaulting a law enforcement officer or threatening to kill or cause physical harm to an officer (or their family member), provided the threat causes the officer to believe the threat is imminent and likely to be carried out. It directly affects parolees convicted of such offenses, including those threatening retired officers due to their former status. The key mechanism removes the current requirement for the Parole Board to determine if charges are "serious" before proceeding, mandating automatic revocation proceedings upon arrest for these specific acts. The bill applies to threats against family members defined as spouses, parents, children living with the officer, or other relatives residing with them.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to allow students attending nonpublic schools (like private or religious schools) to try out for and join high school sports teams in their residential district, provided they meet the same eligibility standards as public school students, such as academic requirements, physical exams, and team conduct rules. Nonpublic school students must provide proof of residency and comply with district-specific requirements like insurance, fees, and age limits. Districts may charge nonpublic students a fee up to the actual cost per pupil for the sport, but not for students qualifying for financial hardship (using the same criteria as free school meal eligibility). The bill does not require districts to provide transportation or alter team schedules for these students.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill increases penalties for motor vehicle theft by elevating it to a second-degree crime (up from third-degree), establishes a rebuttable presumption of pretrial detention for those charged with such offenses, and authorizes home detention for minors convicted of motor vehicle theft instead of jail. It also creates a $7 million two-year pilot program through the Juvenile Justice Commission to provide at-risk youth with services including mental health care, substance use treatment, education support, and job training to prevent auto theft. The program will operate in counties with populations over 300,000, with service providers selected through a competitive process, and requires courts to hold hearings for minors arrested for motor vehicle theft within 48 hours.

Maddy summaryBill A3587 upgrades burglary of an occupied residence to a second-degree crime (previously a third-degree offense). If a person was present in the home during the burglary, offenders must serve at least 85% of their prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole, as required by New Jersey's "No Early Release Act." This applies specifically to burglaries of dwellings or structures adapted for overnight accommodation (like homes) when occupants were inside. The change increases penalties for burglaries involving occupied residences compared to unoccupied ones, which remain third-degree crimes.