Asm. Greg Myhre

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 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 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.

Maddy summaryBill A5414 prohibits New Jersey state-chartered banks, mortgage companies, and credit unions from requiring disabled veterans with a 100% service-connected disability (or their surviving spouses) to disclose anticipated property tax obligations in mortgage applications. Financial institutions must instead rely on a certification from the municipality assessor confirming the applicant meets all eligibility requirements for the disabled veterans' property tax exemption, excluding property ownership for new home purchases or including ownership for refinancing. The bill mandates the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance to create a certification form and publish a list of participating financial institutions. This policy change removes a specific disclosure requirement from mortgage underwriting for qualifying veterans, directly affecting their application process.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5419) prohibits licensed health care professionals in New Jersey from providing medical, surgical, or therapeutic gender-affirming care to individuals under 21 years old. It specifically defines "gender-affirming health care services" to include medications and treatments for gender dysphoria but explicitly excludes behavioral, mental, or psychiatric care. Violating this prohibition subjects professionals to disciplinary action for professional misconduct under existing laws. The law takes immediate effect and requires the Division of Consumer Affairs and Health Department to adopt implementing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county clerks to publicly report provisional ballot data for each election district during primary and general elections. Starting on election day (not the following day), counties must post online updates every 24 hours showing the number of provisional ballots cast and their results in each district, along with early voting and election-day totals. County clerks must also provide a final report within 30 days of election certification detailing all provisional ballots counted per district. These reports will be posted on county websites and the state election division site, making election results more transparent in real time. The bill amends existing law to require district-level detail and earlier reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5287) reverses New Jersey's current law by allowing state agencies, local governments (like counties and municipalities), and private detention facilities to enter into agreements to detain noncitizens for immigration purposes. It amends existing law to remove the prohibition that currently prevents these entities from entering, renewing, or extending such immigration detention agreements. The key change is replacing "shall not" with "may" regarding these agreements, effective immediately. This directly affects New Jersey's state/local governments, sheriffs' departments, and private facilities that previously could not participate in immigration detention under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's regional child abuse treatment centers to create 24/7 mobile teams that travel to hospitals to perform medical exams investigating suspected child abuse or neglect in children under 13. Hospitals must request these mobile teams when a child under 13 presents with injuries inconsistent with their story or developmental level, or when referred by a caregiver for abuse investigation. The bill appropriates state funds to support mobile team staffing and requires hospitals to train emergency staff annually on identifying and reporting abuse. It affects hospitals, regional child abuse centers, and children under 13 in suspected abuse cases.