Asm. Mike Torrissi

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state, county, and municipal authorities to designate "special event zones" around large automotive events (defined as events with 25+ attendees or approved by local government) for traffic regulation. Within these zones, authorities may temporarily reduce speed limits for safety and prohibit "exhibition driving" (reckless maneuvers like excessive skidding, engine noise, or roof riding). Violations of traffic rules - including speeding, careless driving, or exhibition driving - within these zones carry increased fines up to $1,000, or up to 60 days in jail for reckless driving. The zones remain active during the event and for a reasonable period before/after, with required signage informing the public of reduced speeds and penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill rebrands New Jersey's existing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the "Veterans Assistance for Nutritional Needs Program" to specifically promote SNAP benefits to veterans. It requires the Division of Family Development to create new branding, promotional materials, and a dedicated website for veterans, while keeping all SNAP eligibility, benefits, and funding unchanged. The bill explicitly states it does not alter SNAP's federal requirements or replace the existing program, and it defines "veteran" as anyone discharged honorably from U.S. Armed Forces or New Jersey militia. This aims to increase veteran participation in SNAP, which currently serves less than 5% of food-insecure veterans in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to specifically include Sikhism as a protected class, making it illegal to commit hate crimes against Sikhs based on their religious identity. It appropriates $100,000 annually for three years to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives, including law enforcement training on Sikh identity features like turbans and religious symbols to prevent misclassification of hate incidents. The bill requires the Office of Attorney General to develop public awareness campaigns and educational programs about Sikhism for public schools, and mandates that all public entities incorporate anti-Sikh hate into their bias intimidation policies and diversity programs. These changes directly affect Sikhs in New Jersey (who are the second-most targeted religious group for hate crimes) and all public institutions across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed professionals in barbering, beauty culture, manicuring, hair braiding, or skin care to teach in private cosmetology and hairstyling schools, provided they meet general teacher requirements (excluding the need for a cosmetology license) and demonstrate their training equals or exceeds that required for a cosmetology license. Currently, only individuals with a cosmetology and hairstyling license could teach in these schools. The bill also adds a requirement that teachers must only instruct in services within the scope of their professional license. This change directly affects private cosmetology schools and expands the pool of potential instructors.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's tax foreclosure process for properties that were the homeowner's primary residence. Currently, if a homeowner fails to pay taxes and a tax lien holder forecloses after two years, the homeowner loses the property and all equity. Under this bill, the court would order an online auction of the property instead of granting full ownership to the tax lien holder. Proceeds from the auction would first cover the tax lien holder's costs (including unpaid taxes, interest, and legal fees), then municipal liens, with any remaining funds returned to the homeowner to secure new housing. This change ensures homeowners retain funds after foreclosure to avoid homelessness, while still compensating the tax lien holder and municipality.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the process for calculating gas tax rates through Fiscal Year 2032 and imposes an additional $300 annual registration fee for passenger electric vehicles and $450 for commercial electric vehicles in New Jersey. It repeals the sales tax exemption for electric vehicles, dedicating the resulting revenue (up to $100 million annually) to transportation projects. The bill appropriates $2.5 billion total, including $1 billion for New Jersey Transit Corporation capital projects and operating expenses, and $1.5 billion from the Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to the Transportation Trust Fund. These funds are intended to support transportation infrastructure projects through 2032, with specific restrictions on how the money can be used.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Transit Accountability Act (A4096) requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to hire an independent auditor within 90 days to examine its financial management and budget reporting practices since the 2018 Executive Order No. 5 assessment. The audit must cover pandemic impacts on service demand and finances, evaluate current funding adequacy, and recommend improvements to governance, hiring, and customer service. NJT must submit the audit findings to the Governor and Legislature, then adopt the recommended policies within six months (with an option to explain exceptions). This bill directly affects NJT's operational transparency and financial accountability, aiming to address historical funding mismanagement identified in prior assessments.

Maddy summaryACR 128 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require certain existing or future tax revenues from electric vehicles to be dedicated exclusively to New Jersey's transportation system. Specifically, it mandates that any revenue from a sales tax on electric vehicle purchases (up to $100 million annually) or an additional registration fee for electric vehicles must be deposited into the Transportation Trust Fund. This amendment does not create new taxes or fees but ensures that if such revenues are collected, they can only be used for transportation planning, construction, repair, and rehabilitation. It would not affect standard registration fees for conventional vehicles or require the state to impose new electric vehicle taxes. The amendment would become effective if approved by voters and would legally bind future budgets to this dedicated use.

Maddy summaryThis bill, "The Voter Convenience Act," allows New Jersey voters to cast ballots at any polling place within their municipality on election day, rather than being restricted to their assigned polling location. It requires the Secretary of State and county election officials to develop uniform guidelines enabling electronic poll books to verify voter eligibility and provide the correct ballot for their election district at any municipal polling site. The law amends election statutes to update sample ballots with all available polling place locations and adjusts district board staffing rules to support this system. It directly affects all registered voters in New Jersey municipalities that choose to implement the policy, streamlining the voting process without changing voter eligibility or ballot content.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3837) requires all televisions in state-owned or leased buildings - available to the public or public employees - to continuously display closed captioning for any programming that offers it. It directly affects state agencies, departments, and facilities, ensuring accessibility for hearing-impaired individuals. The key provision mandates that TVs must show text for audio content, excluding pre-existing models incompatible with captioning. The bill takes effect immediately and defines "closed captioning" as text displaying audio content on-screen.