Rep. Greg McGuckin

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey concurrent resolution urges the U.S. Congress to pass federal legislation that would allow service members discharged for refusing COVID-19 vaccinations to be reinstated. The bill seeks to restore these individuals to their previous rank and change their discharge status from general under honorable conditions to honorable, which could improve their access to benefits and employment opportunities. It directly affects military personnel who were separated from the Armed Forces in 2021 and later years due to vaccine refusal. The resolution does not change state law but serves as a formal request to federal lawmakers to address the issue through existing federal legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's wiretapping statute to clarify criminal liability for unauthorized access to password-protected electronic communications, such as email accounts. It establishes that accessing a communication protected by a password without knowing and inputting that password, or without consent from at least one party, constitutes a crime. The bill creates two tiers of offenses: a fourth-degree crime for unauthorized access, and a third-degree crime if the access was motivated by commercial advantage, gain, or malicious destruction. This change removes any implied consent defense for individuals who access communications left unprotected because a user failed to log out properly.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the licensing fee structure for polysomnographic technologists, technicians, and trainees in New Jersey. It sets a maximum fee of $150 for initial licensure and renewal for technologists and technicians, while trainees would pay a maximum of $50. The changes aim to make these fees more affordable and comparable to those for other similarly trained licensed professionals. The bill affects the New Jersey Board of Polysomnography, which will administer the new fee schedule for these healthcare workers.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey joint resolution urges the U.S. Senate to pass the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require states to collect documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering voters for federal elections. The bill aims to address concerns about noncitizens being incorrectly registered to vote through state driver's license and automatic voter registration systems by mandating stricter identity verification procedures. Under the proposed federal law, states would need to verify citizenship using accepted documents such as passports, military IDs, or birth records, and would gain access to federal databases to maintain accurate voter rolls. The resolution is sponsored by Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin and directs copies to congressional leadership and all members of Congress from New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to New Jersey that would limit most emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by the Governor to 14 days during a state of emergency. Under the amendment, these orders would automatically end on the 15th day unless the Legislature votes to extend them through a concurrent resolution. The amendment also prevents the Governor from issuing duplicate orders with the same effect for the same emergency. Several exceptions exist, including orders required by federal law, those applying only to the executive branch, military orders, and those rescinding previous emergency orders. This change would shift some authority from the Governor to the Legislature regarding the duration of emergency measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires new planned real estate developments in New Jersey to install emergency power supply systems in common areas like clubhouses and community rooms, ensuring these spaces can serve as shelters during extended power outages. Developers must meet specific performance standards for the power systems, and the state will update its construction code to enforce these requirements while also mandating public charging stations for residents' electronic devices. To offset the added cost, the bill offers a tax incentive allowing developers to deduct up to $10,000 of the system's expense as an annual deduction rather than a capital investment. The legislation directly affects real estate developers and homeowners in planned communities by establishing new infrastructure standards and providing financial relief for compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires entities in New Jersey that mandate proof of COVID-19 vaccination to also accept confirmation of prior infection or protective immune response as an equivalent alternative. It applies to workplaces, schools, and public venues, allowing individuals to voluntarily provide verbal confirmation of natural immunity instead of vaccination records. The law ensures that people with confirmed immunity receive the same employment terms and access to services as vaccinated individuals, while explicitly stating it does not conflict with federal regulations. The Department of Health is tasked with adopting rules to implement these provisions, which take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to create a special registration period for permits at Island Beach State Park where only state residents can apply. During this time, the department must restrict online and in-person permit applications to residents and verify eligibility using a New Jersey driver's license or state ID. After the resident-only period ends, any remaining permits will be offered to non-residents using the standard application process. The law defines eligible permits as annual, seasonal, or short-term access permits for mobile sport fishing vehicles, beach driving, and other motor vehicles at the park.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that the New Jersey Attorney General obtain approval from the Legislature and Governor before filing an amicus brief in any state or federal court case where New Jersey is not a party. Under the proposed law, the Attorney General must wait for a joint resolution passed by both legislative chambers and signed by the Governor, or receive written authorization from the Governor after the Legislature votes, before submitting such legal arguments. The measure directly affects the Attorney General's ability to participate in high-profile legal cases by adding a layer of oversight from elected officials. This change aims to ensure that the State's legal positions in non-party cases reflect the decisions of its elected representatives rather than the unelected Attorney General acting alone.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the Social Media Fairness and Transparency Act, would require social media companies operating in New Jersey to follow specific rules about how they moderate user content and manage platform algorithms. It defines key terms like "censor," "post suppression," and "selective suspension" to clarify what actions the law covers, while also setting minimum thresholds for which companies must comply based on revenue or user numbers. The legislation creates a legal cause of action that allows individuals to sue social media companies if they violate these content moderation requirements. Additionally, the bill explicitly excludes paid content prioritization from its restrictions and provides specific definitions for what constitutes a social media platform under New Jersey law.