Sen. Declan O'Scanlon

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey from sharing driver's license holders' personal information (such as names, addresses, license numbers, or photos) with other states or interstate networks. It directly affects New Jersey drivers who may have been cited by out-of-state speed cameras or red light cameras. The law specifically blocks the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and other state agencies from disclosing this data to help other states issue or collect fines for violations captured by these devices. The bill defines "personal information" broadly and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence to a second-degree crime in New Jersey. It specifically changes the law so that unlawfully entering or remaining in a dwelling (like a home) or structure meant for overnight stays - regardless of whether anyone is inside - becomes a second-degree offense. This change means convicted individuals would face mandatory minimum sentences requiring them to serve 85% of their prison term before parole eligibility under the No Early Release Act (NERA). The bill amends existing burglary statutes (N.J.S.2C:18-2) and NERA sentencing rules (P.L.1997, c.117) to include residential burglary in the list of second-degree crimes triggering this 85% requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3099) revises New Jersey's self-defense laws by removing the duty to retreat before using force. It states that a person is justified in using non-deadly force to defend against imminent unlawful force, and deadly force is permitted to prevent imminent death, serious injury, or specific violent crimes (like murder or aggravated assault under the "Three Strikes" law), without needing to retreat. The bill repeals existing statutes (N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7) and clarifies that individuals who are not committing a crime and are in a lawful location have the right to stand their ground. It directly affects anyone involved in self-defense situations, including law enforcement and civilians.

Maddy summaryS 3093 creates a faster court process for property owners to remove unauthorized occupants who have never been tenants, never paid rent, and lack any legal right to the property. Property owners must file a verified complaint with specific certifications (e.g., no prior lease, no rent payments), and courts must schedule a hearing within five business days. If the court confirms the owner's claims, it issues a writ of possession for immediate removal, and the owner may seek triple damages for the unauthorized occupancy. The bill also criminalizes document forgery to circumvent this process.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores state school aid for certain New Jersey school districts that faced funding reductions in the 2023-2024 school year and would face further cuts in 2024-2025. It shifts $64.9 million from existing appropriations and adds $145.2 million in new funding from the General Fund, totaling $210.1 million to cover the difference between prior aid levels and proposed 2024-2025 amounts. The funding specifically targets districts that received Supplemental Stabilization Aid under prior law (P.L.2023, c.32) or have a positive "State aid differential" under P.L.2018, c.67. This ensures affected districts receive aid equal to their 2023-2024 funding level, preventing further reductions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3059) allows New Jersey owners of motorcycles and passenger automobiles to display only one license plate (on the rear) instead of the current requirement for two plates (front and rear). It permits owners who already have two plates to return one to the Motor Vehicle Commission for free, and new owners can request a single plate at issuance. The law specifies that displaying a single rear plate will not violate existing vehicle registration rules (R.S.39:3-33). The bill takes effect 30 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 1649 creates a new crime called "fiscal victimization" targeting financial exploitation of senior citizens (60+) or people with disabilities. It makes it illegal to commit theft or specific financial crimes against these groups, with strict liability - perpetrators cannot claim they didn’t know the victim was vulnerable. Penalties are increased: the offense is graded one level higher than the underlying theft (e.g., a disorderly persons offense becomes a fourth-degree crime), and courts must impose separate sentences for both the theft and fiscal victimization. The bill directly affects vulnerable adults and those who exploit them financially, with definitions including people disabled under Social Security criteria or age 60+.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows grocery stores, restaurants, and other retail businesses in New Jersey to voluntarily donate expired food (like items past their best-by date or spoiled leftovers) or food waste to farmers for use as animal feed. Farmers must sign a liability waiver acknowledging the risks of using expired food and releasing the business from legal responsibility. The state’s Farm Liaison will help connect donors with farmers and coordinate donation logistics. The law takes effect immediately, changing how businesses handle food disposal by creating a legal pathway for donations instead of mandatory disposal.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows public high school students in grades 10-12 who participate in a school-sponsored sport during its athletic season to replace their required physical education class with a study hall. The student’s athletic participation counts toward their physical education graduation requirement, and they earn the same credits as if they had completed the PE course. To use this option, parents must provide written approval, and the sport’s coach must certify the student’s participation to the school district. The school district determines which activities qualify as "school-sponsored sports," and the bill does not change health and safety education requirements or apply to students not in sports.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prioritize energy security, diversity, and affordability when updating the state's Energy Master Plan. It mandates the BPU to conduct detailed cost and impact analyses for all energy generation projects and the Master Plan itself, including breakdowns of financial effects on ratepayers, state/local governments, and infrastructure costs. The plan must limit intermittent energy sources (like wind/solar) to no more than 50% of the state's energy portfolio and prioritize in-state energy generation to reduce subsidies for out-of-state sources. These changes directly affect the BPU, ratepayers (through potential cost impacts), and energy developers (requiring pre-approval analyses), while ensuring public transparency via online analysis publications and annual committee testimony.