Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create secure mobile driver's licenses and digital non-driver ID cards for residents who voluntarily request them. The digital versions will include all the same information as physical licenses, be accessible on smartphones or tablets, and allow users to update their motor vehicle records (like address changes) in real time, with updates overriding physical copies. The MVC must implement security features to prevent fraud and will be permitted to charge a reasonable fee for the service. The bill also explicitly allows drivers to display these digital IDs to police officers instead of physical cards, while protecting the privacy of other device contents.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study how data centers impact electricity rates for residential customers. The BPU must determine if non-data center customers unfairly subsidize data center costs, whether infrastructure for data centers causes unreasonable rate hikes, and project the future portion of residential rates attributable to data centers over the next 20 years. The study will also evaluate policy options to prevent rate increases from data center growth. The BPU must complete the study within one year and submit a report to the governor and legislature within 15 months.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 2.5% annual limit on rent increases for tenants living in modular or manufactured homes used as their primary residence. It directly affects renters in these specific housing types, excluding owner-occupied properties with three or fewer units and affordable housing units with income restrictions. Landlords cannot raise rents more than 2.5% over any 12-month period for covered units, and violations require reverting to the previous rent amount. The law supplements existing rent protections but does not override stricter local rent control ordinances.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts minor league baseball players in New Jersey from the state's wage and hour laws and recordkeeping requirements when they are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between Minor League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). The exemption applies only during the term of a valid agreement that specifically outlines wages and working conditions, ending if the agreement expires or is replaced. The bill requires Minor League Baseball and the MLBPA to notify the state Department of Labor within one week of any agreement termination or replacement. This change aligns New Jersey's labor laws with the 2023 nationwide collective bargaining agreement that already provides minor league players with guaranteed salaries, health care, housing stipends, and other benefits.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 18-member Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to study chronic absenteeism in New Jersey public schools. The task force, composed of the Commissioner of Education, appointed public members representing education stakeholders, and legislative leaders, will analyze causes like mental health, school climate, pandemic impacts, and discipline policies. It must research state and national solutions and develop recommendations for school districts to improve attendance within six months. The task force will report to the Governor and Legislature before expiring 30 days after submitting its final findings. This procedural bill creates a study group but does not directly change attendance laws or policies.
Maddy summaryAJR 216 is a joint resolution directing New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to investigate whether PJM Interconnection's Reliability Pricing Model (capacity market) effectively provides reliable electricity at the lowest cost. The bill requires the BPU to report its findings within 12 months and directs the state to collaborate with neighboring PJM states to promote affordable energy practices, prioritize carbon-free sources, and urge PJM to implement market reforms. It specifically addresses rising capacity costs in PJM's auctions - contributing to higher electricity bills - and delays in approving new generation projects that prevent lower-cost resources from entering the market. The resolution aims to protect ratepayers, particularly low-income households, from price increases while supporting grid reliability.
Maddy summaryThis is a ceremonial resolution, not a policy bill. It honors the late Congressman William J. Pascrell, Jr. (who served in Congress from 1997 until his death in 2024), specifically recognizing his founding role in the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force. The resolution urges New Jersey's current and future U.S. Congress members to join and support this bipartisan task force, which focuses on advancing brain injury awareness, research, and policy. It has no effect on laws or funding - it is purely a commemorative statement.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) Chief Administrator, with input from the Department of State, to negotiate a reciprocity agreement with the Republic of Ireland. If enacted, it would allow New Jersey license holders to obtain an Irish driver's license without tests (subject to agreement requirements), and Irish license holders to get a New Jersey license without tests. The key provision eliminates the need for driving knowledge or skills tests for eligible individuals already holding valid licenses from either jurisdiction. It directly affects residents of New Jersey and Ireland who hold valid driver's licenses and wish to drive in the other country. The agreement would take effect immediately upon signing.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A5535) requires scrap processing facilities that handle automotive shredder residue (ASR) - the nonrecyclable material left after shredding vehicles and metal scraps - to obtain a permit from New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It defines ASR as "hazardous waste" under state law, subjecting facilities to the same regulations as other hazardous waste. The DEP must establish permit rules limiting ASR storage volume, height, and duration, while banning storage near homes or critical infrastructure. This directly affects facilities processing ASR, changing how they manage this residue under hazardous waste rules.