Sen. Carmen Amato

Maddy summaryS 1912 makes fifth or subsequent drunk driving convictions a criminal offense (third-degree crime) in New Jersey, punishable by up to $15,000 in fines, 3-5 years in prison, or both, plus a 10-year driving suspension. If the offense occurs near schools - within 1,000 feet of school property, in a designated school zone, or where juveniles are present - the driving suspension increases to 20 years. The bill also requires offenders to complete alcohol education programs and pay a $100 fee to support DUI rehabilitation services. This applies to individuals convicted of repeated drunk driving violations after the law takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes a previously approved $1.25 million loan to the Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum in Ocean County into a grant, meaning the museum will no longer need to repay that amount. It directly affects the Barnegat Bay Decoy and Baymen's Museum, which received both a loan and grant under a 1999 economic development fund allocation. The key provision converts the repayment obligation for the $1.25 million portion into a grant, eliminating the need for the museum to repay that specific sum. This is a procedural adjustment to the original 1999 funding allocation for the museum's projects.

Maddy summaryS 983 establishes an annual $15,000 death benefit for the families of part-time forest firefighters in New Jersey who die while performing official duties. The benefit applies to firefighters paid hourly (not salaried) and requires death to occur during line-of-duty service without willful negligence. Payments go first to surviving spouses, then children, parents, or designated beneficiaries, and must be requested within 30 days of the incident (with possible waiver). The State Treasurer will fund these payments from the General Fund, with the bill taking effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense for "theft by financial exploitation of a vulnerable person" in New Jersey. It specifically targets individuals in positions of trust (like caregivers or financial advisors) who steal from senior citizens or people with disabilities they are supposed to protect. The law requires separate criminal sentences for both the financial exploitation and any underlying theft crime, preventing them from merging into a single charge. It directly affects vulnerable seniors/disabled residents and those in trusted caregiving or financial roles who exploit them.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes when annual compensation begins for surviving spouses of certain blind or disabled veterans in New Jersey. Currently, payments start from the date a surviving spouse applies, but this bill requires payments to begin from either April 9, 1985 (for veterans who died before that date) or the veteran's actual death date (for deaths on or after April 9, 1985), regardless of when the spouse applies. It directly affects surviving spouses of veterans who were blinded or severely disabled due to wartime service (including WWII, Korean Conflict, and Vietnam War) and who qualify under existing laws. The bill also mandates that accrued payments be paid as a lump sum within 90 days of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryS 1905, titled the "Defense of Community Standards Act," revises New Jersey law to regulate sexually oriented businesses (SOBs) by establishing new location and appearance requirements. The bill mandates that SOBs must be located at least 2,500 feet from schools, places of worship, residential areas, hospitals, child care centers, and public recreation spaces, while requiring a 50-foot buffer zone with barriers (like fences or plantings) to block interior views. It also limits exterior signs to two (one identification sign under 40 square feet and one minor warning sign) and classifies violations as fourth-degree crimes. The law directly affects SOBs operating in New Jersey and grants municipalities authority to enforce these regulations under existing constitutional standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill reclassifies spent nuclear fuel stored at decommissioned nuclear power plants as "real property" for property tax purposes under New Jersey law. It directly affects the state's tax system by making this fuel subject to property taxation, overriding prior provisions that might have treated it differently. The key mechanism is a legal change in classification, requiring the Division of Taxation to create implementing rules within 90 days. This is a specific tax policy change, not a safety or environmental regulation, and applies only to fuel at plants that have been decommissioned. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts veterans from paying camping facilities fees at New Jersey State parks and forests. It specifically eliminates charges for campsites, cabins, lean-tos, and shelters for any veteran who was honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, or Reserve. The exemption applies directly to veterans using these facilities for personal camping, not to veterans' organizations (which have separate exemptions). The bill amends existing law to remove all camping-related fees for veterans, effective immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1907) lowers the fee for New Jersey resident trapping licenses for seniors aged 65 and older. It reduces the total cost from $32.50 ($31.50 fee + $1.00 issuance) to $17.50 ($16.50 fee + $1.00 issuance) for qualifying seniors. The change directly affects senior citizens who hold or apply for a resident trapping license in New Jersey. The bill amends existing law (R.S.23:3-4) to establish this reduced fee tier specifically for seniors.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1925) would change how sales tax is calculated on new car purchases by excluding manufacturer rebates from the taxable sales price. Specifically, it amends tax definitions to ensure rebates (like cashback offers) are not included when calculating the tax owed on motor vehicles. This directly affects car buyers and dealers in New Jersey, reducing the taxable amount for vehicles purchased with such rebates. The bill modifies Section 2 of New Jersey's sales and use tax law (P.L.1966, c.30) to clarify that rebates are excluded from the "sales price" subject to tax. It is currently pending in the Senate Commerce Committee after introduction on January 9, 2024.