Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for failing to report child abuse and for not cooperating with child abuse investigations. It upgrades the penalty for failing to report general child abuse from a minor offense to a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. For failing to report sexual abuse against a child, the penalty is raised to a third-degree crime, carrying a potential 3-5 year prison term and $15,000 fine. The bill also adds a new provision making it a fourth-degree crime to refuse cooperation with an investigation, with penalties matching the upgraded general reporting offense.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $22,431,294 from the 2003 Dam, Lake and Stream Project Revolving Loan Fund and $6,239,630 from the 1992 Dam Restoration and Clean Water Trust Fund - totaling $28,670,924 - to provide loans for dam restoration and inland waters projects. The funds, drawn from unused monies due to project cancellations and repayments, directly support 17 specific projects, including repairs for private dams (like High Crest Lake Dam and Mountain Creek Lake Dam) and lake associations, as well as local government-owned dams. These loans finance restoration costs for dam owners, private lake associations, or local governments working together. The bill specifies that unexpended funds will return to the respective bond funds for future projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's 2021 law (P.L.2021, c.32) that required public school districts to incorporate diversity and inclusion instruction into the curriculum for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It directly affects public school students and districts across New Jersey by removing this specific instructional requirement. The bill's key mechanism is the repeal of the existing statute, which mandated that diversity and inclusion content be integrated into the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The repeal takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5557 clarifies child support certification requirements for state license applicants. The bill requires applicants to complete a separate certification form (not part of the main application) stating whether they have child support arrears exceeding six months' payments, lack required health coverage, failed to respond to a subpoena, or face a child support warrant. If certified as an obligor with unresolved obligations, licenses cannot be granted, renewed, or reinstated. The form also provides notice of the legal basis for license suspension and the right to a hearing before action. This applies to all state-issued licenses (including driver's licenses and professional permits) for applicants after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $28.67 million in unused funds from New Jersey's 2003 and 1992 bond acts to provide low-interest loans for dam restoration and inland waters projects. The funds specifically support 13 projects under the 2003 bond act (e.g., $3 million for Mountain Creek Lake Dam repairs) and 4 projects under the 1992 bond act (e.g., $2.85 million for Lake Garrison Dam). These loans are available to private dam owners, lake associations, or local governments for repairing aging infrastructure and maintaining water systems. The funding comes from existing bond program savings, cancellations, and loan repayments - no new taxes or spending are required. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Protection to disburse these funds for the listed projects only.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey's Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) to annually adjust the financial threshold for pay-to-play restrictions on government contracts. Currently set at $17,500, the threshold would be raised each year to match the state's public bidding threshold for counties, municipalities, and school districts, which is currently $44,000. Contracts with values below the adjusted threshold would be subject to different procurement rules depending on whether the contracting entity has a qualified purchasing agent. Entities with a qualified purchasing agent would use the adjusted threshold, while those without would remain subject to the $17,500 threshold. The bill aims to align pay-to-play restrictions with existing public contracting procedures without changing the underlying policy.

Maddy summaryACR 158 is a proposed constitutional amendment that would require all money collected from phone bills (90 cents per wireless/wireline call) to be dedicated exclusively to maintaining New Jersey's 9-1-1 system and emergency response services. It would legally prohibit the state from using these funds for any other purpose, such as balancing the general budget, which has occurred in the past. The amendment specifies that funds must cover costs like emergency response equipment, training, communications operations, and federal 9-1-1 service requirements. This change would apply to all future appropriations from the "9-1-1 System and Emergency Response Trust Fund Account" established under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability retroactive to the date the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determined their total disability. It directly affects veterans who qualify under the law (e.g., those with paraplegia, blindness, or amputations) by requiring municipalities to refund property taxes paid since that determination date. The state must reimburse municipalities 102% of the refunded taxes to cover the cost of returning payments to veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide property tax rebates to New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. Eligible veterans would receive a rebate equal to their disability percentage of the property taxes paid on their primary residence, with the rebate capped at $5,000 annually. The program is limited to veterans with gross income under $200,000 and does not apply to veterans already exempt from property taxes due to 100% disability ratings. Veterans would need to apply annually for the rebate, and funding would depend on annual legislative appropriations. The bill specifically targets veterans with less than 100% service-connected disability ratings who currently pay property taxes on their primary residence.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 20-member Forest Fire Preparedness Commission within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The commission, including DEP officials, fire wardens, and public representatives, will audit the state's wildfire response readiness and develop standardized communication protocols and a coordination roadmap for firefighters, police, and medical responders. It must complete these tasks within two years and submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature before dissolving. The commission directly affects state agencies, local emergency responders, and communities vulnerable to wildfires by improving interagency coordination for wildfire prevention and response.