Sen. Owen Henry

Maddy summaryS 2106 requires licensed private detectives in New Jersey to register their foreign government or foreign national employers with the State Police. This applies when a detective is employed by such entities, in addition to existing federal requirements under 18 U.S.C. § 951. The bill mandates that the State Police maintain a confidential registry containing the detective’s name, business address, employer name, and employer address - accessible only to the Attorney General and State Police. The registration requirement applies to all license holders upon initial licensing, renewal, or when changing employment to a foreign entity.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey corporations to claim a 1% tax credit against their corporation business tax for payments made to NJ small businesses that perform subcontracted work within the state. It directly affects corporations doing business in New Jersey that subcontract work they were contracted to perform. To qualify, the subcontractor must be a New Jersey business with fewer than 50 employees and not affiliated with the paying corporation, and the work must be performed in New Jersey. The credit is limited to 50% of the tax liability and cannot reduce taxes below the statutory minimum.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey military spouses with a refundable $500 gross income tax credit to offset professional relicensing fees incurred when relocating to the state due to a permanent military change of station order. It directly affects spouses of active-duty service members who must relicense in professions they previously held in another state, covering fees for state-required licenses or certifications. The credit applies only to fees paid within 13 months of the military relocation order and excludes costs for professions not requiring state licensing. The policy creates a direct financial relief mechanism for military families facing career interruption during relocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes counties, municipalities, and local agencies (including economic development entities and public-private groups) to form regional partnerships for joint economic planning. These partnerships can attract businesses, retain existing ones, redevelop areas, and share project costs, while using resources from New Jersey's Economic Development Authority. Partnerships may issue bonds under state law, access matching grants, and provide direct financing to local governments for development projects. The bill does not create new taxes or mandates but establishes a framework for collaborative regional economic strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows individuals with traumatic or acquired brain injuries to voluntarily add a notation to their New Jersey driver's license, ID card, and the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) registry. It creates a secure registry where users can provide emergency contact information and vehicle details to help law enforcement communicate more effectively during traffic stops. The registry is accessible only to law enforcement during vehicle-related interactions, and users can remove or update their information at any time. The bill also requires training for officers on interacting with people who have brain injuries, ensuring the system prioritizes safety and clear communication without compromising privacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3270) requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to reopen programs providing daily support services to people with developmental disabilities that closed during the 2020 pandemic emergency. It mandates these programs reopen under the same procedures used for schools, including following health and safety standards from Executive Order 175 (2020). The law applies to all affected programs that paused services due to Governor’s Executive Order 103 (2020), directly impacting individuals who rely on these community-based functional support services. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3255) would allow New Jersey municipalities to be exempt from affordable housing obligations if designated as "extensively flood-prone" by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. It creates a process where municipalities meeting specific flood-risk criteria - based on flood insurance payments, repetitive loss properties, and other data - would no longer need to fulfill fair share housing requirements. The exemption covers all current, future, and past unfulfilled obligations under the Fair Housing Act (P.L.1985, c.222). The commissioner must adopt rules within three months of the bill's enactment to determine eligibility. This change directly affects municipalities facing significant flood risks, relieving them from housing construction mandates tied to flood vulnerability.

Maddy summaryS 3269 requires New Jersey child care centers to create procedures for notifying parents or guardians when a child is absent without an excused reason, as a condition for obtaining or renewing their state license. Centers must establish these notification systems and determine the reason for each unexcused absence, following existing requirements under P.L.2020, c.152. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) will deny, revoke, or refuse to renew a center’s license if it fails to implement these procedures. This law directly affects licensed child care centers by tying their operational authorization to parental communication about absences.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to automatically transfer juveniles aged 15 or older to adult criminal court if they're accused of a homicide (excluding death by auto) where stalking was involved. The court must hold a hearing to verify both the homicide charge and stalking conduct before transferring the case. If transferred, the juvenile would typically serve custodial sentences in a juvenile facility until age 21, rather than in an adult prison. This changes current law by adding stalking as a specific trigger for waiver, not just homicide alone.

Maddy summaryS 3304 upgrades "strict liability vehicular homicide" from a third-degree to a second-degree crime in New Jersey. This applies when someone causes death while driving intoxicated (violating N.J.S.A. 39:4-50) or operating a vessel under the influence (violating N.J.S.A. 12:7-46). The bill removes defenses related to the victim's conduct, establishes strict liability where intoxication directly caused death, and eliminates the presumption of nonimprisonment. The penalty increases from 3-5 years imprisonment (third degree) to 5-10 years (second degree), with fines rising to $150,000. This aligns penalties with similar offenses like reckless vehicular homicide.