Sen. Parker Space

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey from charging drivers a fee based on how many miles they drive (a "mileage-based user fee"). It directly affects vehicle owners by preventing the state from implementing such a charge. The bill also bans the use of state funds for any studies, programs, or pilot projects related to creating or testing this type of fee. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a legal limit that currently restricts New Jersey's Division of Fish and Wildlife to issuing no more than 200 annual permits for trapping beavers. It directly affects the wildlife division's permitting authority and landowners who seek permits to control beavers damaging their property. The key provision eliminates the 200-permit cap, allowing the division to issue as many permits as necessary for beaver management. This change aligns with the division's existing authority to manage other wildlife species without annual permit limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts eligible veterans from completing the live-fire range portion of New Jersey's required hunter gun safety course. Veterans must provide proof of honorable military discharge or service (including WWII Merchant Marine members eligible for VA benefits) to qualify for the exemption. The exemption applies only to the practical range component of the course, not the entire safety training. This change simplifies the licensing process for veterans who already have relevant firearms training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires forest stewardship plans for lands over 25 acres of forested area acquired for recreation or conservation using specific state funds (like Green Acres Program money). It applies to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), local governments, and qualifying nonprofits, mandating plans within two years of acquisition (or five years for existing state lands). Plans must meet DEP sustainability standards and be submitted for DEP review/approval within 30 days. The DEP must prioritize funding applications from entities already implementing such plans for eligible lands. The policy change directly affects land managers using conservation funds to ensure long-term forest health.

Maddy summaryS 2958 establishes a nine-member Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission within the Governor's Office to evaluate state rules, regulations, and executive orders. The commission, including representatives from the Executive and Legislative branches (such as the Chief Innovation Officer, business center director, environmental commissioner, and legislative leaders), will review all proposed or adopted regulations to assess their economic impact and determine if costs to businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh benefits. It must hold annual public hearings, solicit public input, and submit an annual report with recommendations to the Governor for amending or repealing burdensome rules. The commission’s findings are advisory only and cannot be used for legal challenges against state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 83) creates a bipartisan task force to review New Jersey's state laws, regulations, and executive orders. The task force will assess whether these rules impose excessive costs on businesses, workers, schools, and local governments compared to their intended benefits. It must hold public hearings, gather input from affected groups, and submit annual reports with recommendations to repeal, amend, or rescind burdensome regulations. The resolution focuses on improving economic efficiency through systematic regulatory review, without proposing specific policy changes.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Transit Accountability Act (S 2957) requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to hire an independent auditor within 90 days to examine its financial management and budget reporting practices since 2018. The audit must assess pandemic impacts on service demand and finances, evaluate current funding adequacy, and recommend improvements to governance, staffing, and customer service. NJT must submit the auditor’s findings to the Governor and Legislature, then adopt recommended policies within six months - though it may opt out with a detailed justification. The report must cover how NJT manages money, pandemic effects, funding gaps, and specific operational fixes, without overriding existing audit obligations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Senate Resolution 80 urges Congress and the President to pass the federal Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act (H.R. 38). This resolution does not change state laws but calls for a federal law requiring all states to recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states. If enacted, H.R. 38 would allow lawful permit holders to carry concealed firearms while traveling across state lines, provided they comply with destination state restrictions and are not prohibited from firearm possession under federal law or their home state. Currently, 20 states recognize all permits and 18 recognize some, but many travelers face restrictions when moving between states.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 95) urges Congress and the President to pass H.R.225, a proposed federal law. It seeks to amend the 1986 Firearm Owners' Protection Act (FOPA) to clarify that transporting legally owned firearms between states - while storing them unloaded and locked - remains protected during overnight stays, travel delays, or incidental stops like fueling or medical emergencies. The resolution highlights cases like Greg Revell’s 2005 detention in New Jersey (despite following federal guidelines) to argue that current law unjustly risks criminalizing law-abiding gun owners during unpredictable travel events. It does not create new law but requests federal action to close a perceived loophole in existing firearm transport protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows small municipalities (with populations under 12,000 and no police department) to bypass the standard civil service hiring process for certain positions. If the Civil Service Commission fails to provide a certified eligible list within 30 days of a request, or if no suitable candidate is found on the list, the municipality may appoint a qualified person using a waiver approved by the Commission. The appointed candidate must complete a working test period to earn civil service status, and the Commission cannot later require the municipality to replace them if a certified list is issued. This applies to cities, towns, townships, villages, and boroughs meeting the specified criteria.