Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryAJR 90 is a joint resolution (not a law) urging the U.S. Department of Defense and New Jersey Civil Service Commission to coordinate so deployed military members can take civil service exams during their service. It specifically aims to allow service members to participate in computer-based civil service examinations while deployed, ensuring they can be included in hiring eligibility lists when they return. This would increase their job prospects with New Jersey government employers, though veterans would still need to provide proof of status within eight days before a hiring list is issued. The resolution requests action but does not create new legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to report student-on-student assaults to law enforcement. School employees must immediately notify a principal or their designee when a student allegedly assaults another student on school property, a school bus, or at a school event. The principal or designee then must promptly report the incident to a law enforcement agency. The bill defines "assault" as attempting to cause bodily injury and specifies "law enforcement agency" to include all state and local police departments.

Maddy summaryThis bill mandates immediate driver's license suspension for New Jersey drivers who commit specific traffic violations resulting in death or serious bodily injury, changing current law from discretionary to mandatory suspension. The law requires immediate suspension for violations including speeding over 20 mph above the limit, drunk driving, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, and driving while violating conditions of a provisional or learner's permit. Affected drivers receive notice of proposed suspension with a right to a preliminary hearing within 15 days and a final hearing within 45 days. The suspension remains in effect until a final agency decision is made, though a hearing can be requested to challenge it.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder by a licensed healthcare professional to voluntarily add their diagnosis to their New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) record. They can submit this information online, by mail, or when applying for a license/ID, and include details about their regularly driven vehicle. The MVC will add this to their record, but it remains private - only accessible to law enforcement during traffic stops or emergencies to help officers communicate effectively. This mirrors an existing program for insulin-dependent diabetics but specifically applies to autism diagnoses.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3148) adds the Sons of The American Legion to the list of organizations whose authorized representatives in New Jersey state, county, and municipal employment are eligible for paid leave to attend conventions. It updates existing law (R.S.38:23-2) to include this group while removing two defunct organizations from the list. The provision allows qualifying employees to take up to five paid days annually for convention attendance, consistent with existing benefits for other veterans' organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to provide grants and low-interest loans to age-restricted communities for installing solar panels (photovoltaic technologies) at their clubhouse facilities, using funds from the "societal benefits charge" collected by electric utilities. The bill defines "age-restricted community" as a community that complies with federal standards for housing for older persons. This change expands existing demand-side management programs to specifically support solar energy installations in senior living community facilities. The funding mechanism would help reduce energy costs for these communities while promoting renewable energy adoption through an existing utility-funded program.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2461) adds a $3,000 annual deduction to New Jersey's gross income tax for surviving spouses of veterans who meet specific criteria. It directly affects surviving spouses (widows/widowers) whose veteran spouse died while on active duty, was honorably discharged, or was released under honorable circumstances from military service. The deduction is added to New Jersey's tax code as a personal exemption under N.J.S.54A:3-1, subsection (b)(8), and applies only to those who have not remarried. The change provides tax relief to this group without altering existing veteran tax benefits for living veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits the duration of certain emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by New Jersey's Governor under the Civil Defense Act to a maximum of 14 days. It requires the Legislature to approve any extension beyond this 14-day period through a concurrent resolution. The Governor cannot issue identical or substantially similar orders for the same emergency after one expires under this rule. Exceptions include orders rescinding prior emergency measures, federal compliance requirements, internal state government operations, military orders, or orders issued under other laws with longer terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates New Jersey's Transfer Inheritance Tax, which was imposed on beneficiaries receiving assets from a decedent's estate (based on asset value and relationship to the decedent). It repeals specific sections of state law governing the tax, including provisions that taxed "lateral" transfers (such as to siblings or nonrelatives) at rates up to 16%, while exempting transfers to spouses, ancestors, and descendants. The repeal applies to estates of decedents dying on or after July 1, 2015, meaning the tax will no longer apply to those estates. However, it does not affect taxes accrued or obligations for deaths occurring before that date.

Maddy summaryAJR 55 designates March 16 each year as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey to recognize service dogs that assist veterans with conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and seizure disorders. The resolution directly affects veterans, service dog organizations (such as Paws Healing Heroes in Glassboro), and the public by raising awareness of these animals' role in veteran support. Its key mechanism is an annual designation requiring the Governor to issue a proclamation encouraging public observance. This is a ceremonial resolution, not a law with funding or regulatory changes, and it takes effect immediately upon passage.