Asm. Greg Myhre

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 requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a "Wildlife Corridor Action Plan" within 24 months. The plan must identify natural wildlife movement pathways, areas with frequent animal-vehicle collisions, and barriers like roads, then prioritize safety projects to protect both wildlife and drivers. It mandates the plan be updated every 10 years and coordinated with conservation groups, existing projects like NJ CHANJ, and road construction. The state appropriates $90,000 to fund the DEP and DOT's work on this plan. The bill directly affects wildlife habitats, driver safety, and state agency planning processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the government or other entities from using eminent domain to take farmland actively used for farming or gardening for non-farming purposes, such as housing or commercial development. It directly affects farmers whose land is currently under threat of being seized for non-agricultural projects. The key provision amends New Jersey's eminent domain law to require that any property taken must remain for agricultural use, barring condemnation if the intended purpose is non-farming. The bill does not change existing rules for taking land for public projects like roads or parks, only prevents conversion of active farmland to non-farming uses.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey local governments - including cities, counties, school districts, and public agencies - from naming public property (such as roads, schools, parks, or buildings) after a group designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the federal government. Local governments must remove existing names within 30 days and rename the property within 90 days of the bill's effective date. The state will maintain an annual list of such organizations and reimburse local governments for costs related to removal and renaming. Violations may result in daily deductions from state aid allocated to the local government.

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 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 prohibits the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) from accepting certain U.S. federal immigration documents as proof of identity for standard driver's licenses and identification cards. Specifically, it bans documents related to deportation or removal orders issued by DHS or ICE, including release on recognizance or supervision orders. The law applies to all standard licenses and ID cards listed in the bill (basic, motorcycle, learner's permits, probationary, and commercial licenses). It takes immediate effect and directly affects applicants who previously relied on these federal documents for MVC identity verification.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Local Government Services to audit certain shared services agreements and authorities used by local governments. It mandates audits based on annual spending: yearly for agreements over $10 million, every two years for $2-10 million, and every 30 months for under $2 million. The division must hire a certified public accountant, submit results to the Local Finance Board, and publish all findings online. The bill directly affects municipalities and regional authorities operating under three specific state laws governing shared services. It establishes a clear audit schedule and public transparency requirement without altering existing shared services programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a dedicated "Veteran Obituary Fund" within New Jersey's Department of the Treasury to cover the cost of obituaries for veterans. It allows taxpayers to deduct donations to the fund - up to $50,000 annually - from their state income tax, with property donations over $500 requiring an independent appraisal. The fund will be supported by donations, grants, or state appropriations solicited by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. This aims to prevent veterans' families from facing unexpected costs for memorializing service members, as obituaries typically cost several hundred dollars. The fund must be administered by the State Treasurer and reported to the Legislature.

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.