Asm. Greg Myhre

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 733) increases daily compensation for election workers from $300 to $400 per election (primary, general, or special) and raises additional pay for workers handling signature copy registers. Election workers managing these registers will now receive $20 per election (or $10 each if shared), up from $12.50 or $6.25. The state will also increase its reimbursement to counties from $225 to $325 per worker, while counties cover the remaining $75. The bill directly affects election workers serving on district boards during all statewide and local elections in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2850) requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to restart the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation program using leftover funds, to help homeowners still needing financial assistance after Superstorm Sandy. It directly affects Sandy-impacted homeowners who have unmet recovery and rebuilding needs, as defined by prior law. The key mechanism is the DCA accepting new grant applications to provide funding for these unmet needs, using only uncommitted state appropriations. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

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 (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 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 summaryBill A 315 requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to publicly share settlement details 60 days before finalizing agreements under the Spill Compensation and Control Act, specifically when natural resource damages (like harm to ecosystems) are involved. The DEP must post the case name, settlement parties, property location, payment amounts, and a website link to environmental damage reports and restoration plans on its website and in the New Jersey Register. This affects the DEP (which must publish), settlement parties (who receive written notice), and the public (who gains access to environmental impact data). Existing law already required some disclosures, but this bill adds the mandatory website link for natural resource damage documentation. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey law enforcement agencies - including municipal, county, and state police departments, as well as educational institutions with campus police - to adopt written policies for cooperating with federal immigration authorities upon request. It defines "law enforcement officer" broadly to include those with arrest powers under state law. The bill also mandates that the state defend officers in civil lawsuits arising from cooperation (unless misconduct occurred) and cover settlement costs for officers following the policy. This directly affects thousands of officers across New Jersey’s 566 municipalities and educational institutions with police forces. The policy change would standardize cooperation with federal immigration enforcement at the local level.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2805) allows New Jersey municipalities to use up to 30% of funds from municipal development fees - collected from residential developers - to provide down payment assistance grants for first-time veteran homebuyers. Each veteran would receive a grant of up to $15,000, and these grants would not count as income for eligibility in other state programs or for tax purposes. The funds must come from existing municipal development trust funds designated for housing affordability assistance under state law. The bill does not create new taxes or fees but redirects a portion of existing development fee revenue toward veteran homebuying support.