Sen. Jim Holzapfel

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Senate resolution (SR 68) calls on Congress and the President to enact immigration policies better serving national interests. It references U.S. border encounter statistics (3.2 million in FY 2023) and New Jersey's estimated 755,000 undocumented residents as context for the request. The resolution has no legal effect and serves only to express legislative opinion, urging federal leaders to prioritize border security and immigration enforcement. It will be sent to all U.S. senators, representatives, and the President as a formal statement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's chief law enforcement officers or the Superintendent of State Police to notify federal immigration authorities when a non-citizen who is unlawfully present in the United States applies for a firearms purchaser identification card (FPIC) or handgun purchase permit (PPH). The bill aligns with federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(5)) that prohibits firearm sales to non-citizens unlawfully present in the U.S. When determining an applicant is such a non-citizen, officials must notify federal immigration authorities and cooperate with any subsequent enforcement actions. This amendment to New Jersey's firearms regulations (N.J.S. 2C:58-3) adds a notification requirement without changing eligibility standards for firearm permits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2562) directs New Jersey's Attorney General to create an agreement with the U.S. Attorney General under federal immigration law (Section 287(g)). It would authorize specific, trained state and county corrections officers to check an inmate's immigration status *only* at the time of incarceration. If an officer finds an inmate is not lawfully present in the U.S., they would report that information to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The bill does not allow officers to make immigration decisions or detain individuals, only to investigate status and report findings to federal authorities.

Maddy summaryS 2561 prohibits New Jersey local governments from authorizing noncitizens to vote in local elections. It declares any local ordinance or resolution permitting noncitizen voting null and void, and states that elected officials who approve such policies violate their oath of office. This violation would be enforced under the state's Local Government Ethics Law, subject to potential fines. The bill directly affects municipalities and their elected officials by ensuring only U.S. citizens can participate in local elections as required by state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey municipalities and counties from adopting ordinances that require officials to refuse cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It establishes that state and local employees who fail to comply with federal immigration enforcement requests commit an ethics violation, with elected officials facing potential fines or loss of office for voting to adopt non-cooperation policies. The bill amends existing ethics codes to require cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and provides that the state will defend and indemnify employees who cooperate, unless they engaged in intentional misconduct. This legislation directly affects local government officials and employees across New Jersey who interact with federal immigration authorities. The bill aims to ensure consistent cooperation between New Jersey local governments and federal immigration enforcement requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 781, would allow registered nurses in New Jersey to apply for special vehicle license plates displaying the caduceus symbol and the words "Registered Nurse." Nurses would pay a $50 application fee (plus a $10 annual renewal fee) to the Motor Vehicle Commission, which would design the plates and manage the program. The state must first secure funding to cover initial costs before implementation, and the program could end if annual plate costs exceed fees for two consecutive years. The bill directly affects licensed nurses seeking to display their profession on their vehicles, with no changes to existing vehicle registration requirements.

Maddy summaryS 1022 would allow honorably discharged veterans in New Jersey to obtain special license plates displaying "Veteran" and their military branch insignia. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of honorable discharge (like a DD-214 form) and pay a $15 fee on top of standard vehicle registration costs. Surviving spouses of deceased veterans may retain these plates on their vehicles. The plates must follow a design approved by the Adjutant General and Motor Vehicle Commission, with details about eligibility included in registration renewals. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Transportation and Budget committees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in New Jersey to place new or repaired distribution power lines underground in areas hit by major disasters like hurricanes, floods, or severe storms that cause widespread outages (affecting 10% of customers or triggering a state emergency). It applies to lines installed after the bill takes effect or rebuilt after disaster damage, but only where the Board of Public Utilities determines it is "feasible" after considering engineering, permits, and utility needs. The Board must create specific standards for this requirement, balancing safety and practicality. This directly affects electric utilities and residents in disaster-prone areas by changing how power infrastructure is rebuilt post-crisis.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual payments from New Jersey's Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund to municipalities over two years, replacing the current fixed $740 million allocation. It prohibits municipalities from counting anticipated revenue from this fund when creating their annual budgets and requires that any additional aid must be subtracted from their property tax levy amounts. The bill directly affects all New Jersey municipalities receiving these state aid payments, including cities, towns, and counties. If enacted, it would provide incremental funding increases while ensuring local tax burdens are adjusted downward proportionally.

Maddy summaryS 511 appropriates $4 million from the state General Fund to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to cover part of the local cost share for a federal beach replenishment project on Ocean County's Barnegat Peninsula. This directly assists Ocean County municipalities facing a $7.5 million local cost obligation for the project, which protects 14 miles of coastline from erosion and flooding. The state funding enables these communities to meet their required nonfederal share, allowing them to access federal funds from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the project. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.