Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryThis is a procedural resolution (not a bill) establishing a special committee. It creates the "Assembly Special Committee on Staten Island Annexation" with 12 members (6 appointed by the Assembly Speaker, 6 by the Minority Leader). The committee's sole purpose is to investigate New Jersey's historical, legal, and geographic claims to Staten Island - including colonial land grants, the 1834 boundary compact, and relevant case law - and to report on lawful avenues for annexation, subject to consent from Staten Island residents, New York State, and Congress. The committee must publish a final report after completing its work.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents New Jersey electric utilities from charging customers for electricity during power outages. It requires utilities to reduce fixed monthly charges (not tied to usage) by an amount proportional to the duration of any service interruption. Additionally, utilities must repair damaged street lights under their maintenance within 10 business days of notice and cannot bill customers for those lights until repairs are complete. These provisions directly affect residential and business customers who experience power disruptions or rely on street lighting maintained by utilities.

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.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" to improve transparency around vehicle recalls and provide fair compensation for dealers. It requires motor vehicle dealers to check for open recalls on used vehicles using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website before sale, inform prospective buyers about any recalls found, and not sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices. Dealers must also provide the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission with lists of vehicles with long-unfixed recalls (six months or more), triggering the Commission to send official notices to vehicle owners. The bill also establishes compensation requirements for dealers when parts are unavailable for recalled vehicles, requiring 1.75 percent of the vehicle's value per month for used vehicles or the manufacturer's suggested retail price for new vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill would direct excess revenue from New Jersey's energy sales and use tax (above what was collected in fiscal year 2025) to the Universal Service Fund, which supports utility assistance programs. If tax collections from energy and utility services exceed FY 2025 levels, the state would be required to deposit the excess into this fund instead of the General Fund. The Universal Service Fund currently administers programs like the Payment Assistance for Gas and Electric Program. This change would provide additional funding specifically for utility assistance without altering existing tax rates or utility service rates.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a secure database managed by New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to store digital copies of veteran separation documents, such as DD-214 or NGB-22 forms. Veterans or their family members can voluntarily submit these documents (or posthumously for deceased veterans), with originals returned promptly at no cost to the submitter. The database is accessible only to public agencies for verifying eligibility for veteran benefits and is exempt from public records laws, preventing unauthorized access. This aims to prevent document loss during benefit applications while ensuring privacy and security.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents New Jersey's standard 6% growth limit on state school aid from applying to certain school districts for the 2025-2026 school year. It specifically affects districts that saw a net decrease in total state aid between the 2017-2018 and 2024-2025 school years. The bill requires the state education commissioner to calculate each qualifying district's uncapped aid (covering equalization, special education, security, and transportation aid) without reducing it to meet the 6% growth cap. This means eligible districts will receive their full calculated aid amount for 2025-2026, rather than having it reduced to comply with the standard growth limit.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create a free Bereavement Counseling Program for family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans who died by suicide. Family members include spouses, parents, children, or household residents, while volunteer caregivers must be 18+ members of a qualified veterans' organization who provided non-paid counseling care for at least three months before the veteran's death. The program will allow applications up to five years after the veteran's death, with approved participants receiving up to 24 months of counseling (max 30 hours per year) through DMVA-matched clinicians. DMVA will provide application information via Veteran Service Officers and funeral directors when a veteran's suicide death is known, and clinicians must donate their time with no cost to participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes county fire coordinators and deputy county fire coordinators (as defined in state law) to display red emergency warning lights and sirens on their vehicles, aligning their privileges with those currently granted to volunteer fire company chiefs. To operate these lights, coordinators must obtain a specific identification card from the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission - issued after county officials approve the request - and carry it while using the lights. The bill does not change traffic laws; coordinators must still obey all traffic regulations and drive safely, just as other emergency personnel do when using warning lights.