Sen. Angela McKnight

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution honors Thomas Mundy Peterson, the first African American to vote in the United States following the ratification of the 15th Amendment. The bill formally recognizes his historic vote cast in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on March 31, 1870, and acknowledges his subsequent civic engagement including jury service and political participation. The resolution directs that copies be sent to the Mayor of Perth Amboy and a Peterson descendant, serving as an official commemorative acknowledgment rather than establishing new policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey hate crime laws to explicitly include nooses, burning crosses, and other symbols of hate as criminal threats of violence. It directly affects individuals who place such symbols on private property, expanding the existing statute that already criminalizes graffiti and objects intended to threaten bodily harm. The legislation clarifies that displaying these specific hate symbols constitutes a third-degree crime when placed on private property and a fourth-degree crime when damaging religious, educational, residential, or assembly spaces. In addition to potential jail time or fines, convicted individuals may be required to pay restitution or perform community service to remove the graffiti. The changes take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires senior housing providers in New Jersey to make application forms available by mail or email upon request from prospective residents. It directly affects organizations that rent, lease, sell, or resell age-restricted dwelling units, ensuring they provide copies of required forms in the format requested by applicants. The legislation also directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to create necessary rules to implement these requirements. This change aims to improve accessibility for seniors who may not have easy access to online applications or in-person collection methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Tenant Anti-Retaliation & Anti-Harassment Act, strengthens protections for tenants in New Jersey by establishing a legal presumption that landlords acted retaliatorily if they take adverse actions against tenants within six months of a tenant complaint. Specifically, if a landlord issues a notice to quit or makes substantial changes to tenancy terms - such as illegal lockouts, utility shut-offs, threats, or harassment - soon after a tenant files a complaint, the law presumes retaliation unless the landlord can prove otherwise. Violations of this presumption can result in a $5,000 civil penalty per incident, plus reimbursement for reasonable attorney fees and expenses, enforceable through a summary proceeding in the appropriate county court. The act applies to complaints made under existing tenant protection laws and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's domestic violence protections to include minors aged 16 and older, allowing them to be both victims and defendants under the state's domestic violence statutes. The key provision amends existing laws to define "victim of domestic violence" to include anyone 16 or older, while maintaining that acts by unemancipated minors under 16 do not constitute domestic violence. Under this change, individuals aged 16 and up could seek restraining orders against abusive partners, and those same individuals could be subject to such orders if they commit domestic violence against others. The law applies retroactively to all acts of domestic violence committed on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords, their agents, and third-party screening vendors in New Jersey from requiring photo identification as part of a residential rental application or making approval contingent on providing such ID. It directly affects prospective tenants seeking to rent apartments and the property management companies or brokers they interact with. The law classifies violations as unlawful practices under state consumer fraud statutes, allowing tenants to sue for $1,000 per offense plus attorney fees. The restrictions apply to all rental applications for units leased for at least one month, excluding owner-occupied properties with three or fewer units and transient lodging like hotels.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to explicitly include Sikhs as a protected class, allowing law enforcement to prosecute hate crimes targeting individuals based on their Sikh identity. The legislation also appropriates $100,000 in funding, likely to support enforcement and community outreach efforts. By adding Sikhs to the state's existing bias intimidation protections, the bill aims to address incidents of discrimination and violence against Sikhs, who are often mistaken for Muslims and have faced increased hate crimes following the September 11 attacks. The measure reflects concerns about rising anti-Sikh prejudice and the need for legal safeguards for this community within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates April each year as "Autism Awareness and Recognition Month" in New Jersey to increase public understanding of autism spectrum disorders. The resolution asks the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging state officials and citizens to observe the month with appropriate activities and programs. It aims to highlight the diverse experiences of people with autism across families, workplaces, schools, and communities while promoting further research on the disorder. This measure directly affects state government operations and public awareness efforts but does not allocate funding or change existing laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent unit within New Jersey's State Office of Emergency Management to specifically support residents with access and functional needs during disasters. It directly affects New Jersey residents with disabilities, older adults, limited English proficiency, transportation barriers, or financial constraints. The unit will determine needs before/during/after emergencies, assess resource availability, address access barriers, and coordinate with local emergency offices to implement best practices. The unit will include a full-time supervisor and three full-time planners to serve all regions of the state. The bill takes effect four months after enactment, requiring the Office of Emergency Management to establish this dedicated resource.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3684) updates New Jersey's Crime Victims' Bill of Rights to clarify and strengthen protections for individuals impacted by crime. Key changes include adding a new right for victims to communicate with prosecutors about plea negotiations *before* such discussions begin (Section 3, point o), and ensuring victims aren't charged fees for accessing their own case records (Section 3, points 42-47). It directly affects crime victims navigating the state's criminal justice system, ensuring they receive clearer information, greater input during plea processes, and no financial barriers to accessing their case documents. The revisions refine existing protections without creating new rights, focusing on practical improvements to victim support.