Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryACR 81 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring a two-thirds majority vote (27 in the Senate, 54 in the Assembly) to advance or pass bills during New Jersey's "lame duck" legislative session. This session occurs between the November general election for Assembly members and the start of the new Legislature in January. The amendment applies to all bills/joint resolutions needing third reading during this period, as well as to reenacting bills conditionally vetoed by the Governor. Currently, only a simple majority (21 Senate, 41 Assembly) is needed for these actions, but this change would significantly raise the threshold for legislation passed in this specific window. The proposal must be approved by voters in the next general election.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Chief Diversity Officer to study whether disabled veteran-owned businesses are being used fairly in state government contracts. The study must determine if there's a gap between how many such businesses are available and how many actually receive state contracts, and it must be completed within 12 months. The officer will then submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, and may later provide follow-up reports tracking progress on implementing those recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1901) removes specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for New Jersey civil service and pension benefits. It eliminates past restrictions that limited eligibility to veterans who served during exact timeframes (e.g., "between July 14, 1914 and November 11, 1918") or in specific locations (e.g., "in Lebanon" for certain missions). The key change amends the definition of "veteran" in state law to broaden eligibility, allowing veterans who served honorably in designated conflicts to qualify without proving they met these prior time or place conditions. This directly affects veterans whose service history no longer aligns with the old, narrow criteria but otherwise meets the general eligibility standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for driving with a license suspended due to a DUI conviction. For third or subsequent offenses, it mandates 30 to 180 days in jail (up from fines alone) and adds a 1-year license suspension extension. It also imposes longer prison terms (60-180 days for repeat offenses) when driving near schools, school zones, or within 1,000 feet of school property. These changes apply specifically to individuals convicted of operating a vehicle during a DUI-related license suspension.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates May each year as "Skin Cancer Awareness Month" in New Jersey. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month through activities promoting skin cancer prevention and early detection. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but focuses on raising public awareness about skin cancer risks and protective measures like sun protection and regular skin exams.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to take responsibility for dredging all waterways providing boat access to "lagoon communities" (coastal developments with lagoons built to boost property values), regardless of whether they're officially designated as navigational channels. The DEP must create a list of affected communities and a dredging schedule within one year, complete all initial dredging within two years, and establish a long-term maintenance plan with annual costs within two years and 180 days, all funded by $6 million in state appropriations ($5 million for initial work, $1 million for maintenance). This policy directly affects residents of these communities by ensuring boat access waterways are maintained, and the DEP by mandating its management of these waterways for economic and environmental health.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Megan's Law to require county prosecutors to assess a sex offender's risk of re-offense *before* the offender is released from prison, rather than after release as currently occurs. It removes the factor of "residing in a home situation that provides guidance and supervision" from the risk assessment criteria since the offender's post-release residence isn't known at the time of release. Prosecutors must now evaluate risk using factors like criminal history, psychological profiles, treatment response, and recent behavior to assign one of three notification levels: low risk (law enforcement only), moderate risk (community organizations too), or high risk (public notification). This change ensures sex offenders are properly categorized for community notification prior to their release into the community.

Maddy summaryACR 85 is a New Jersey resolution (not a bill) urging the U.S. President and Congress to require annual financial compensation for local governments where decommissioned nuclear plants store spent fuel. It proposes $15 per kilogram in annual payments to offset lost property tax revenue, as these sites cannot be redeveloped while fuel remains stored. The resolution cites the unfulfilled 1982 Nuclear Waste Policy Act, which assigned federal responsibility for nuclear waste disposal but never established a repository. Compensation would continue until a national repository becomes operational.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill makes intentionally damaging or defacing military monuments a serious criminal offense (third-degree crime). It specifically targets monuments erected to honor military personnel or commemorate battles, defining "desecration" as defacing, damaging, or polluting such sites. The law applies directly to individuals who intentionally harm these monuments, with penalties including criminal charges. It clarifies that only monuments with military intent - such as those honoring service members or marking battles - are covered under this provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2787) waives all fees for hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses and free admission to New Jersey state parks and forests for specific military-affiliated individuals. It directly affects: active New Jersey National Guard members who completed basic training, members of New Jersey-based military reserve units, active-duty service members stationed in New Jersey (regardless of residency), disabled veterans (with VA certification), and retired New Jersey National Guard members. The key mechanism requires the Division of Fish and Wildlife to establish acceptable proof of eligibility (like military IDs or VA disability documentation) and mandates that license fees and park admissions be waived for these groups. The bill amends existing laws to explicitly exclude these individuals from fee requirements, with funding adjustments to cover lost license revenue.