Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates for the Ancient Order of Hibernians, a fraternal organization. Vehicle owners who apply (paying a $50 one-time fee plus $10 annual fee) can display these plates, which must feature the organization's emblem and slogan. The collected fees fund a dedicated "Ancient Order of Hibernians License Plate Fund," with monies annually appropriated to the organization after covering administrative costs. The bill is procedural, creating a new license plate option without altering broader vehicle registration laws.

Maddy summarySCR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee all New Jersey residents a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean air, pure water, safe climate, and healthy habitats. It designates the State as the trustee of all natural resources (waters, air, lands, wildlife, and climate) for both current and future generations, requiring the state to conserve and maintain these resources for public benefit. The amendment would be self-executing, meaning courts could enforce it directly without new laws, and it explicitly states these rights are in addition to existing environmental protections. This change would apply to all New Jersey residents and require the state government to uphold these environmental rights through its actions and policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1775) strengthens New Jersey's firearms laws by expanding criminal liability for violations. It changes penalties so that knowingly *or recklessly* violating firearm regulations (like dealer rules or permit applications) becomes a fourth-degree crime, rather than requiring only "knowingly." Key provisions include: (1) requiring dealers to know or "reasonably should know" if a buyer plans to transfer firearms to disqualified persons (e.g., felons), making such sales a second-degree crime with an 18-month mandatory prison term; (2) imposing a five-year mandatory minimum for selling firearms to anyone under 18; and (3) adding stricter requirements for false applications and assault firearm registration. These changes directly affect licensed firearms dealers, sellers, and individuals prohibited from possessing firearms under state or federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2553) makes it a third-degree crime to enter a domestic violence victim's dwelling when a restraining order is in place against the actor or if the actor has been convicted or charged with a domestic violence offense involving that victim. It creates a legal presumption that the trespasser intended to cause harm or commit a crime in these situations, which was not previously automatic. Violating this provision carries a potential 3-5 year prison sentence, up to $15,000 in fines, or both - removing the usual presumption against incarceration for such offenses. The law directly affects individuals violating domestic violence restraining orders and strengthens protections for victims by treating such trespasses as serious criminal acts. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 168) requires that governing boards of New Jersey's State colleges/universities and county colleges include two employee representatives. These representatives must be appointed by the Governor from a list recommended by labor organizations representing the college staff. Employee members serve two-year terms (with staggered initial terms) and have full voting rights, except on matters involving employee employment or working conditions. The bill directly affects college governing boards by mandating staff representation in decision-making.

Maddy summaryS 3012 creates two new state entities: the Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission and the Office of Health Care Affordability and Transparency within New Jersey’s Department of Health. The bill requires hospitals and other health care entities (including insurers and providers) to publicly report detailed pricing data for services like inpatient care, emergency visits, and physician services using standard medical codes. It establishes price growth benchmarks to monitor cost trends, mandates public reporting of pricing data, and empowers the Commission to address entities exceeding these benchmarks through transparency measures and potential penalties. The law directly affects all New Jersey hospitals and health care payers by requiring data transparency and cost monitoring to improve affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax incentive program for New Jersey manufacturers. It allows qualifying manufacturers (those with 50 or fewer employees in good tax standing) to deduct up to $100,000 annually from their taxable income for deposits into a special "manufacturing reinvestment account." Funds in the account earn tax benefits: if used for machinery/equipment or workforce training at their New Jersey facility, the earnings are taxed at half the standard rate. The program applies for five consecutive years, with unused funds taxed at full rate after that.

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 (based on recent Uniform Crime Reports). Each participating local police department would receive a ballistics scanning device to immediately analyze cartridge cases at crime scenes and access instant crime scene analysis reports for investigations. After the pilot, each agency must submit a usage report with recommendations to the Attorney General, who then must recommend to the Governor and Legislature whether to make the program permanent with annual funding. The law aims to evaluate if these devices improve firearm-related crime investigations in high-crime areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends a section of New Jersey's Revised Statutes to redirect $1 per traffic violation fine to existing state funds, including the Body Armor Replacement Fund and the New Jersey Spinal Cord Research Fund, and $3 per fine to the Forensic DNA Fund. It does not establish a new fund for cancer or cardiovascular screenings as suggested by the title, nor does it appropriate $20 million for such purposes. The provided bill text focuses solely on reallocating fine revenues to existing funds, with no mention of health screenings for law enforcement officers. The title and description provided do not align with the actual content of the bill text.

Maddy summaryS 1268 would have added criminal penalties for selling or possessing machine gun conversion devices - parts that turn standard firearms into automatic weapons. It directly affects individuals who manufacture, sell, or keep these parts, making such actions a criminal offense under New Jersey's firearm laws. The bill amended existing definitions to explicitly include "any part designed and intended solely for converting a firearm into a machine gun" within prohibited items. However, the bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was superseded by a prior law (P.L.2025, c.363).