Asm. Greg Myhre

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill extends the closing time of polling places from 8:00 PM to 9:00 PM for general and primary elections. It also extends early voting hours to 9:00 PM on weekdays and 7:00 PM on Sundays, and requires municipal clerk offices to remain open until 9:00 PM on election days. The bill additionally extends the hours minors aged 16-18 can work at polling places from 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM. These changes provide more flexibility for voters who may need to cast ballots later in the evening. The bill directly affects voters, election officials, and minor workers at polling locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires voters who wish to receive mail-in ballots to complete a new application each calendar year, ending the current automatic mail-in ballot designation for voters who voted by mail in 2016-2018. It repeals a provision that automatically designated those voters as automatic mail-in voters for future elections. County clerks must notify affected voters within 30 days of implementation, with the policy taking effect immediately but being implemented after the November general election following its effective date. The bill maintains the option for voters to choose mail-in ballots for all elections in a calendar year or for single elections.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 135) is a symbolic statement by the New Jersey Assembly opposing President Biden's 2021 decision to revoke the Presidential Permit for the Keystone XL pipeline. It does not create new laws or affect residents directly but formally urges President Biden to reverse his decision and requests Congress to override the revocation if needed. The resolution cites arguments about energy security, economic benefits (including potential job creation), and safety comparisons between pipeline and rail transport. It has no binding effect and serves only to express legislative opinion to federal officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts horse-boarding businesses in New Jersey from charging sales tax on two specific services: (1) renting stalls in barns or stables for horses, and (2) basic maintenance or servicing of boarded horses. It directly affects stables and boarding facilities by clarifying that these charges are no longer subject to the state's 6.625% sales tax. The bill amends the existing tax code to exclude "charges for storing a horse... in a barn, stable, or other similar structure" from the taxable "space for storage" category. These exemptions apply to taxable years beginning January 1 after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryACR 133 creates a special legislative committee called the "New Jersey Public Employee Health Care Program Costs Investigation Committee" to examine issues related to state employee health care costs. The committee will investigate premium increases in state health programs, contract disputes with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, allegations of political pressure on Treasury staff regarding a $34 million contract, and the implementation of a 2019 law establishing health fund subaccounts. This procedural resolution does not enact new policy but authorizes the committee to hold hearings, issue subpoenas (with specific approvals), and issue findings and recommendations to the legislature. The committee expires upon completion of its investigation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4256) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6. The directive currently restricts state, county, and local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities in specific ways, such as providing assistance solely to enforce civil immigration law or extending detention based only on immigration detainer requests. If passed, the bill would eliminate these restrictions, allowing law enforcement to share information and cooperate with federal immigration authorities under federal law. The bill directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies operating under the Attorney General's authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one percent annual cap on reductions to state school aid for all New Jersey public school districts. It ensures no district receives state aid in any school year that is reduced by more than one percent compared to the prior year's disbursement. The cap applies universally, overriding previous reduction schedules that allowed larger cuts for districts with negative aid differentials. School districts affected include all public school districts receiving state aid under current funding formulas, regardless of their financial status or location. This policy change directly limits annual funding cuts rather than increasing overall funding.

Maddy summaryACR 130 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey's Legislature to hold four annual meetings - once per quarter - solely to vote on bills certified as providing property tax relief. These certified bills must lower property taxes without increasing revenue, and must address specific areas like pension reform, education funding, or local government spending. The amendment mandates that if a bill passes one legislative house, the other house must vote on it within 60 days, with the final meeting required at least 70 days before the legislative term ends. It does not require voting on all property tax bills or block consideration outside these quarterly sessions. The Legislature would designate a body to certify qualifying bills, ensuring they meet defined relief criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires websites and online platforms to verify the age of users attempting to access content containing a "substantial portion" of material harmful to minors (defined as content with over one-third harmful material, such as explicit sexual content or lacking artistic value for minors). It applies to entities like social media platforms and websites, prohibiting minors under 18 from accessing such content unless the platform verifies their age and confirms the content is suitable for them. Platforms must use reasonable age verification methods (e.g., digital ID checks) and follow division-established standards for content suitability. The bill is pending before the New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee after being introduced on April 4, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for optometrists in New Jersey by allowing them to prescribe more pharmaceutical agents (including some controlled substances), administer certain immunizations (for coronaviruses, influenza, and varicella-zoster virus), and perform simple ophthalmologic procedures like non-invasive laser treatments. It clarifies that optometrists must complete specific training and credentialing to provide these expanded services, including evidence of competence through accredited education programs. The bill directly affects licensed optometrists in New Jersey and their patients, who will have access to a broader range of eye care services from optometrists. The legislation updates the legal definition of optometry practice to better align with optometrists' doctoral education and clinical training.