Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program to include eligible workforce training programs alongside traditional degree-granting institutions. It requires the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to designate programs meeting specific criteria: minimum 150 hours of classroom instruction, offering industry-valued credentials, and maintaining at least 70% completion and job placement rates. The change directly affects students in non-degree workforce training programs and the institutions offering them, allowing these programs to access state tuition aid. The authority will determine eligibility based on these standards, while maintaining existing requirements for degree programs.

Maddy summaryS 663 requires New Jersey's solid waste management districts (including counties and the Hackensack Meadowlands District) to create a plan reducing food waste by 50% by 2035 compared to 2022 levels. Districts must add this plan to their solid waste management strategy for approval by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP must also publish practical methods for achieving this goal, such as increasing food donations and composting, and establish a tiered regulatory system for composting facilities to support organic waste recycling.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 869) lowers the job requirement for businesses to qualify for New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) tax exemption programs. Specifically, it reduces the minimum number of required full-time manufacturing employees from 125 to 25 for businesses seeking incentives under sections 21(c)(2) and 21(c)(3) of the law. This change directly affects manufacturing and life sciences companies applying for NJEDA financing, making it easier for smaller operations to access tax exemptions on qualifying purchases. The policy shift aims to expand eligibility for incentive programs without altering other program requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3006) would require New Jersey Medicaid to cover fertility preservation services (like egg or sperm freezing) for individuals who develop infertility as a direct result of medically necessary treatments, such as cancer therapy. It would specifically apply to New Jersey Medicaid beneficiaries who experience iatrogenic infertility (infertility caused by medical care) due to treatments deemed necessary by their healthcare providers. The bill amends existing Medicaid coverage rules to add these fertility preservation services to the list of covered medical benefits under the program. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Senate Health Committee for review.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 387 requires pet groomers to obtain state licenses and mandates that businesses offering pet grooming services must register with the State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. To become licensed, individuals must be 18+, of good moral character, and pass a practical and written exam. Businesses must register with details like location, insurance proof, and comply with facility standards - including 24/7 video surveillance, separate caging for pets, and annual incident reporting for injuries, deaths, or escapes. The bill directly affects pet groomers, grooming businesses, and training schools, aiming to standardize safety and competency through licensing and registration requirements.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 46) is a symbolic legislative statement condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and rejecting justifications for anti-Jewish hatred. It specifically references rising anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey - including 370 reported cases in 2021, including 44 at Jewish institutions and 82 in schools - to underscore the urgency of protecting Jewish communities. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally expresses the New Jersey Legislature’s opposition to anti-Semitism, citing historical context and recent violence (like the Pittsburgh synagogue attack). It applies broadly to all residents and institutions in New Jersey, emphasizing that anti-Semitism violates constitutional principles of tolerance and religious freedom.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1265) adds coverage for home blood pressure monitors and cuffs under New Jersey's Medicaid program for pregnant individuals at risk of preeclampsia - a serious pregnancy condition involving high blood pressure. It directly affects low-income pregnant people who qualify for Medicaid and are identified as having elevated preeclampsia risk. The bill amends existing Medicaid rules to include these devices within "comprehensive maternity care," ensuring they are covered as part of standard prenatal services. This change requires the state to pay for the devices, reducing out-of-pocket costs for at-risk pregnant patients. The policy change specifically targets preventive monitoring to improve maternal health outcomes during pregnancy.

Maddy summaryS 1269 requires producers of firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE) containing intentionally added PFAS (chemicals used to provide specific features like water resistance) to provide written notice to purchasers at the time of sale. This notice must detail the specific PFAS chemicals used, their purpose, and the equipment’s PFAS content, with both producer and purchaser retaining copies for three years. The bill prohibits selling, manufacturing, or distributing such PFAS-containing firefighting PPE (like jackets, helmets, and gloves) starting two years after its effective date, though non-clothing items (e.g., breathing apparatus) are exempt until January 1, 2030. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, after being approved as P.L.2025, c.373.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appropriate at least $10 million annually from the state General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding, starting July 1 after the bill takes effect. It directly affects local health departments by restoring a dedicated, unrestricted state funding source they previously relied on (before it was eliminated in 2011), which previously covered about 15% of their total funding. The bill reinstates the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977," allowing local health departments to use these funds flexibly to address community health needs, emerging threats, and other priorities - unlike current funding, which is often restricted to specific purposes like vaccines. This policy change would shift funding away from reliance on property taxes and narrowly designated federal/state grants.

Maddy summaryS 1778 requires New Jersey municipalities to complete a special review of local plans and regulations before approving applications for large warehouses (defined as facilities storing goods for sale or redistribution). It mandates planning boards to prepare a report incorporating state guidelines (pending adoption) within 90 days of an application, delaying the standard 45-day review period until 91 days after the report is delivered. If a municipality hasn't conducted a full property reassessment in 60 months prior to approval, it must complete one within 24 months after the warehouse receives a certificate of occupancy. This bill directly affects municipalities, developers, and residents by adding review steps and reassessment requirements for large warehouse projects.