Sen. Paul Moriarty

Maddy summaryS 3302 prohibits New Jersey employers from requiring employees to attend or listen to communications about political matters, such as political parties, elections, or joining political organizations. It expands the definition of "political matters" to include labor organizations and community activities, and mandates that employers post clear notices of employee rights in visible workplace areas. Employees who face violations can sue within 90 days for remedies like reinstatement, lost wages, or fines against employers (up to $5,000 per violation). The law aims to protect workers' freedom to focus on job duties without political pressure.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3812) removes a restriction that allowed the Police and Firemen’s Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members due to ongoing civil lawsuits related to their employment. It directly affects current and future PFRS members (police officers and firefighters) who are involved in civil litigation over their jobs. The bill requires the PFRS Board to pay benefits immediately, but permits adjustments if a legal case later results in penalties. It maintains existing rules that allow withholding for criminal charges or administrative dismissals from public employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey City University (NJCU) and Kean University to protect unionized faculty and professional staff during a potential merger. It prohibits termination, layoff, or reassignment for three years after the merger and ensures internal hiring priority for vacant positions created by the merger. Existing union contracts, salaries, benefits, and job security terms must remain unchanged for three years, with Kean University barred from altering these without union consent. Violations allow unions to seek immediate court action or binding arbitration through New Jersey's Public Employment Relations Commission.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Community Affairs to send written notice to a municipality's clerk and mayor (or other chief executive) whenever an application is submitted for a license to operate a cooperative sober living residence. It directly affects municipal officials who receive the notice and applicants seeking these specific licenses. The key mechanism is a mandatory notification process triggered immediately upon receipt of the application, ensuring local officials are informed about proposed facilities before licensing decisions are made.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1558) upgrades the penalty for transporting firearms into New Jersey for unlawful sale or transfer from a second-degree crime to a first-degree crime. It directly affects individuals who knowingly bring firearms into the state with intent to unlawfully sell, transfer, or dispose of them. The key change is raising the severity level of this specific offense under New Jersey law, which typically results in longer potential prison sentences. The bill does not create new prohibitions but increases penalties for existing violations related to firearm trafficking.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's pretrial risk assessment system to require that any offense involving firearm use or possession be explicitly considered as a risk factor for both community danger and failure to appear in court. Currently, such charges aren't fully weighted in the Public Safety Assessment (PSA) tool used by courts to determine pretrial detention. It directly affects defendants facing charges like illegal firearm possession, discharge in public, or related offenses during pretrial hearings. The change aligns the PSA with a 2024 State Commission of Investigation report highlighting that firearm-related conduct - especially with "ghost guns" or conversion devices - is inherently dangerous but not adequately reflected in current risk scoring.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires payment card networks (like Visa or Mastercard) to make available a specific merchant category code for firearm and ammunition businesses by July 2026. It then mandates that payment processors (merchant acquirers) assign this code to firearms merchants - defined as New Jersey retail dealers where most sales come from firearms, accessories, or ammo - starting May 2027. The Attorney General enforces compliance, with violations carrying a $10,000 penalty per incident, though processors get 30 days to fix issues before penalties apply. The law aims to standardize transaction tracking for firearm-related purchases without restricting sales.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to launch a 90-day pilot program in the state's 10 municipalities with the highest violent crime rates, as identified in the latest Uniform Crime Report. Participating local law enforcement agencies would receive ballistics scanning devices to analyze cartridge cases at crime scenes, instantly generating investigative reports to speed up firearm-related investigations. After the pilot, each agency must submit a usage report with recommendations on continuing the device, and the Attorney General must then advise the Governor and Legislature on whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The bill directly affects law enforcement in these high-crime communities and focuses on improving firearm investigation efficiency through technology.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to create a free mentoring program for firefighter applicants living in municipalities with a median income at or below 250% of the federal poverty level. The program provides guidance through the application, exam, and hiring process via workshops, study groups, and mentorship from current or former firefighters. Mentors (volunteers with no payment) are encouraged to match the mentee's racial or ethnic background, and participants may use the program up to three times within a decade. The Commission must annually review the program's effectiveness and remove mentees once they accept a job offer.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey municipalities with career fire departments (paid or part-paid) to organize and deploy firefighters according to the national NFPA 1710 standard (2020 edition), which focuses on firefighter safety and effective response protocols. It amends state law to mandate that municipal governing bodies or fire district boards ensure deployment for fire suppression, rescue, and related activities aligns with this standard, and directs the Commissioner of Community Affairs to create implementing rules. The requirement applies specifically to career departments that respond to at least 50% of initial full-alarm assignments, directly affecting over 100 New Jersey fire departments. The policy change prevents local units from lowering safety standards due to budget or political pressures, ensuring consistent national safety benchmarks for firefighters.