Sen. Owen Henry

Maddy summaryS 188 requires juveniles accused of certain delinquency offenses to appear in court in the county where the alleged incident occurred, rather than their residence county. For serious offenses (equivalent to adult crimes of the 1st-3rd degree under New Jersey law), the juvenile must appear in the incident county. For less serious offenses (4th degree, disorderly persons, or petty disorderly persons), the default is the juvenile's residence county, unless the court finds "good cause" to keep it in the incident county. Juveniles or their lawyers must object to venue changes within five days of receiving the complaint, and either side may request a venue change through a motion to the Family Presiding Judge.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution condemns the Governor for allegedly supporting and politicizing the riots that occurred outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility in Newark. The bill asserts that the Governor downplayed the severity of the violence and the criminal histories of some detainees while simultaneously calling for the facility's closure. It further claims that state officials encouraged rioters by ordering local police to stand down and by visiting the site after being denied entry due to the unrest. Consequently, the resolution calls for a bipartisan, independent investigation into the actions of the Governor and the Mayor of Newark regarding their responses to the disturbances.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates approximately $64.8 million from various constitutionally dedicated funds to the State Agriculture Development Committee in New Jersey to support farmland preservation. The money will be used to purchase development easements or full ownership of farmland, provide grants to counties and municipalities for up to 80 percent of acquisition costs, and offer grants to non-profit organizations for up to 50 percent of such costs. Additionally, the legislation allocates $2.7 million specifically for stewardship activities like soil and water conservation and deer fencing on preserved lands. Any farmland bought with these funds must be resold or leased with agricultural restrictions to ensure it remains used for farming purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to the State Agriculture Development Committee for farmland preservation efforts. The funds are designated to provide municipal planning incentive grants to a specific list of 46 townships and boroughs across New Jersey counties. Each eligible municipality may receive a maximum grant of $2 million to support local planning initiatives aimed at preserving farmland. The legislation takes effect immediately and operates under existing state laws governing the "Preserve New Jersey" program.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to use $65.55 million in state funds to provide loans for transportation infrastructure projects during the 2027 fiscal year. The legislation specifically allows the bank to lend money to local government units for construction costs and includes a provision for up to $1 million in loans that may be forgiven for planning and design work if certain construction milestones are met. Additionally, the act permits the bank to increase its available funds to cover specific operational expenses, such as bond issuance costs and reserve requirements, ensuring the bank has the necessary resources to manage these loans. Ultimately, the measure directly affects local governments seeking financing for road, bridge, and transit improvements by establishing the legal framework and funding source for these loans.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1526) increases criminal penalties for identity theft when the victim is a senior citizen (62+) or veteran. It amends N.J.S.2C:21-17 to elevate offenses involving these groups: a first offense against a senior or veteran becomes a third-degree crime (previously fourth degree), and a second offense becomes a second-degree crime (previously third degree). The bill also increases penalties for cases involving multiple victims if any victim is a senior or veteran. These changes directly affect identity thieves targeting vulnerable groups, making their offenses more serious under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires youth and sports organizations in New Jersey to obtain criminal history background checks for all employees, volunteers, and organizers working with individuals under 18 years of age. Organizations must request these checks through the State Bureau of Identification, and individuals must provide written consent before a check is conducted. The bill establishes that organizations bear the cost of the checks, mandates annual checks unless a valid check from the same year was already completed, and imposes civil penalties of up to $1,000 for organizations that fail to comply. Additionally, it creates criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly participate in youth organizations despite being disqualified based on their criminal history or for organizers who ignore background check results.

Maddy summaryS 3016 requires youth and sports organizations (like teams, leagues, and activity providers for people under 18) to conduct annual criminal history background checks on all employees, volunteers, and organizers. Organizations must submit names, addresses, and fingerprints to the state for checks, covering convictions for violent crimes, crimes against children, theft, or drug offenses. Organizations bear the cost (capped at actual expenses), and failure to comply risks fines up to $1,000 per violation. Public and nonpublic schools are excluded, as are staff who already have required background checks through other programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Division of Gaming Enforcement to join a national self-exclusion program, enabling gamblers to voluntarily exclude themselves from casinos across multiple states using a single form. It requires the division to create rules and forms for this participation, ensuring individuals can select which states they want excluded from and must give explicit consent before sharing their information. The bill protects casinos from liability if they follow self-exclusion protocols and keeps the list confidential from public view. It directly affects individuals seeking to restrict their access to gambling venues in multiple jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes that the Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police will hold the uniformed rank of Colonel and is authorized to wear the corresponding uniform. It also allows the Governor to appoint a retired State Police officer as Superintendent without requiring them to rejoin the State Police Retirement System, provided they retired in good standing and the appointment does not affect their existing retirement benefits. To maintain this rank, the Superintendent must complete or renew basic police officer certification and obtain a current law enforcement license. Additionally, the legislation clarifies that the Superintendent will serve as the State Director of Emergency Management and receive a salary of $210,000.