Maddy summaryS4210 establishes a five-year pilot program in Paterson allowing certain expunged records to be non-disclosed for employment in municipal courts, law enforcement, and corrections agencies. The bill modifies disclosure rules so that individuals with expunged records related to dismissed charges (not resulting in conviction) or minor offenses (like disorderly persons offenses) no longer need to reveal these records during job applications. However, it does not apply to expunged records involving indictable offenses (fourth-degree crimes or higher) or to applicants for court director, administrator, or deputy administrator roles. Paterson will submit a report to the Governor and Legislature after five years to recommend whether to continue, modify, expand, or end the program.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 4220 prohibits the New Jersey Legislature from unilaterally changing how elections are conducted or altering their outcomes. It requires all elections to follow the separation of powers outlined in the New Jersey Constitution, ensuring the legislative, executive, and judicial branches each perform their constitutionally assigned roles in elections. For example, the legislature cannot override election administration (handled by the Division of Elections) or judicial review of election disputes without adhering to these constitutional boundaries. This bill directly affects all state and local elections in New Jersey by preventing the legislature from having sole authority over election rules.
Maddy summaryS 4233 improves post-release employment opportunities by prohibiting state, county, and municipal employers from requiring job applicants to disclose criminal convictions on applications. The bill creates a "restricted use driver's license" program allowing people with suspended licenses to drive only for work, education, medical appointments, or transporting children to school while traveling to/from work or education. Employers must now consider specific factors like time since the offense, job duties, and evidence of rehabilitation when making hiring decisions, rather than automatically denying employment based on prior convictions. The bill establishes a presumption of rehabilitation for individuals with a certificate of rehabilitation, helping to reduce unnecessary barriers to employment for people with criminal records.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies parental rights for unwed parents in New Jersey. It specifies that a father must establish paternity through court order, genetic testing, or signed acknowledgment to share parental rights and responsibilities with the mother. If paternity is established, both parents become natural guardians with equal rights; if not, the mother is the sole natural guardian. The law also allows any parent whose name appears on a child's birth certificate to request child support and custody arrangements through the courts. These changes streamline the process for unwed parents to establish legal rights and obligations.
Maddy summaryS 4234 requires that phone lines, websites, or electronic systems used to accept anonymous tips for criminal investigations must encrypt communications to hide the tipster's identity, communication details (like phone numbers), and exact location (only the municipality is shared with law enforcement). It prohibits law enforcement and system operators from requesting identifying information and ensures these tips and related records are not public records or admissible in court, except for cases involving false reports to police. Violating these protections - such as disclosing a tipster's identity - is a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in jail, a $10,000 fine, or both, and government entities may face civil liability of up to $25,000 plus legal fees if an employee breaches the law.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's Safe Haven Homeless Housing Program, administered by the Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (HMFA). It provides low-interest loans to qualified developers to renovate vacant or underused buildings (like malls, hotels, or warehouses) into transitional housing (for up to 24 months) or permanent supportive housing for very low-income households (earning ≤30% of area median income). The program appropriates $30 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to the HMFA’s Safe Haven Fund, which also includes interest earnings. The bill directly affects homeless or unstably housed individuals/families and eligible developers seeking to transform underused properties.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4230, designated as Brianna's Law, makes it a criminal offense to transport, sell, or slaughter a pregnant cow. The law imposes a fourth-degree criminal charge with fines ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 per violation, plus civil penalties of $3,000 to $5,000 per pregnant cow involved. This directly affects livestock transporters, slaughterhouses, and agricultural businesses handling pregnant cows. The bill amends existing animal cruelty statutes to specifically prohibit these actions, focusing on preventing the slaughter of gestating animals.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to cover the full cost of accident insurance for students participating in school activities. It changes current law by eliminating the option for districts to require parents to pay any portion of the insurance premium. The insurance would cover medical costs from injuries sustained during sports, extracurricular programs, regular classes, or related travel. This applies to all students in athletics, intramural sports, and other school-sponsored activities. The bill takes effect for the first full school year after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "strangulation chokehold" for specific law enforcement personnel. It applies to police officers, correctional staff, probation officers, and other designated law enforcement roles when they intentionally block a person's nose/mouth or use a chokehold (including throat pressure that hinders breathing) causing serious injury or death. The crime is classified as a first-degree offense, punishable by up to 20 years in prison or a $200,000 fine. The bill directly affects law enforcement officers by making certain restraint techniques a criminal act when they result in harm.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey to provide displaced residential tenants with specific notice and compensation when evicting them for renovation purposes. Landlords must pay tenants 12 months' rent plus the cost of a moving truck if they falsely claim renovation as the reason for eviction (e.g., when seeking personal occupancy or selling to a buyer who will occupy). Tenants must receive written notice at least one month before displacement (or until lease expiration), detailing valid renovation eviction conditions. Unpaid compensation accrues 18% interest and becomes a priority lien on the property after 30 days, enforceable through county recording. The law directly affects tenants in rental units facing displacement for renovation claims, ensuring transparency and financial protection.