Sen. Parker Space

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 95) is a formal statement urging the U.S. Congress and President to pass the "Laken Riley Act." It does not create new law but calls for federal legislation requiring that migrants who enter the U.S. illegally and are accused of theft or burglary be placed in federal custody. The resolution references the 2024 murder of nursing student Laken Riley, alleging that prior minor arrests of the suspect (who entered illegally) were not flagged in databases, and claims the proposed law would prevent similar tragedies by enabling detention of such migrants. The resolution directly affects migrants entering the country illegally with theft-related charges and aims to influence federal immigration policy.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2015) requires public institutions of higher education to pay prevailing wages for construction and maintenance work on projects intended for use by the institution at the time of construction. It clarifies that this applies to work done under contracts with entities associated with public bodies (such as university foundations) and to projects receiving financial assistance from public bodies. The bill ensures workers on these projects receive the prevailing wage rate determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, with limited exceptions for housing-related projects. This directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and workers involved in construction for public colleges and universities across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to repeal Attorney General Law Enforcement Directive No. 2018-6, which restricted local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The directive prohibited police from sharing release dates of detained individuals, extending detention based solely on immigration requests, or assisting with civil immigration enforcement. It directly affects all state, county, and local law enforcement agencies in New Jersey. The bill aims to remove these restrictions by mandating the repeal of the 2018 directive.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Right to Farm Act and county agriculture board rules. It allows individuals or municipalities with farm operation complaints to file them with the agriculture board in the closest adjacent county if the local board cannot meet due to members having conflicts of interest related to the complaint. The bill also requires each county agriculture board to have two alternate voting members who are active farmers (either residents of the county or members of a neighboring county's board) and can vote in place of a regular member who is absent or disqualified. These changes ensure disputes are addressed promptly without delaying court action and maintain board functionality during conflicts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Senate Resolution 93 opposes any proposal to change the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area's designation to a National Park and Preserve or to expand its boundaries. The resolution specifically addresses a plan by the Delaware River National Park and Lenape Preserve Alliance, citing concerns that such a change could restrict recreational activities like hunting and negatively impact tourism-dependent businesses in Sussex and Warren counties. The Senate directs copies of the resolution to federal agencies, state leaders, and congressional representatives to formally express New Jersey's position on the matter. As a symbolic resolution, it does not alter federal law but aims to influence the federal decision-making process regarding the park's designation.

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 summaryThis bill clarifies and strengthens penalties for obstructing highways or public passages in New Jersey. It separates reckless obstruction (now a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) from purposeful obstruction that affects commerce (now a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine). The bill specifically protects individuals gathering to hear speech or communicate without causing unreasonable obstruction. It also clarifies that police cannot require people to move solely if the obstruction could be resolved by controlling the gathering's size or location. The changes apply to anyone obstructing public pathways without legal permission.

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.