Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's legal definitions for waterfront workers to clarify who qualifies under state law. It specifically updates terms like "longshoreman" (defined as workers moving freight at piers, checking cargo, or supervising others) and "checker" (workers handling cargo accounting). These changes directly affect dockside workers, carriers, stevedores (dock operators), and employers in New Jersey's port operations. The bill streamlines existing definitions without creating new regulations, ensuring consistent classification for workers in the port industry. It focuses on precision in terminology rather than policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Citizen's Fund," a trust fund that allows public entities like municipalities, counties, and school districts to transfer revenue-producing assets (such as infrastructure) to the fund. The fund would manage these assets separately from other state funds to maximize their long-term value, with the goal of increasing the funded ratio of public pension systems. Assets conveyed to the fund would be represented through "certificates of trust," and the fund would be managed by a board appointed by the governor, including representatives from the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank and the Division of Investment. The fund must operate to meet safety and environmental standards while maximizing asset value for public pension beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThe Climate Superfund Act would require fossil fuel companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels between 1995 and the bill's effective date to pay compensatory damages for climate change impacts they caused. Companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during this period would pay based on their proportional share of emissions. The Department of Environmental Protection would collect these payments into a special fund and distribute them as grants for climate adaptation projects like flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would have six months to pay in full or choose nine annual installments, with potential for administrative appeals if they disagree with the assessment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4848) requires doctors and nurses to screen pregnant patients for lead exposure if they identify risk factors - such as living in older housing - based on CDC and medical guidelines. It mandates one lead screening per pregnancy for at-risk patients, with providers notifying patients of elevated lead levels and ensuring children under six in the household are screened. Patients can refuse testing in writing, and labs must report results to health departments within five business days. The law applies to all pregnant individuals in New Jersey receiving care from covered healthcare providers, aiming to prevent lead poisoning during pregnancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3997) restructures New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) by eliminating membership tiers and granting current non-retired PERS members and certain retirees the same benefits available to members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (meeting salary but not hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days, and automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants - without transferring their contributions - unless they opt out within six months. Disabled PERS members receiving long-term disability insurance become eligible for disability retirement benefits within two years. These changes apply only to members processing retirement applications after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3528 creates the Governor's Survivor Leader Advisory Council within the Department of Health to address human trafficking risks linked to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The council, composed of nine survivor-led members with trafficking expertise, must hold at least eight meetings yearly and submit a detailed report to the Governor and Legislature within 240 days of enactment. Key provisions include evaluating existing anti-trafficking laws, recommending new programs or hotlines, developing public awareness campaigns (including signage), and coordinating with law enforcement. The bill appropriates $1 million for the council's operations and requires the Attorney General to issue trafficking response guidelines for law enforcement. This directly affects state agencies, survivors serving on the council, and the public through enhanced trafficking prevention measures during the World Cup event.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey counties to create a voluntary registry for seniors aged 65 or older to receive extra assistance during emergencies. Counties would collect basic personal and medical information from participating seniors (like name, address, and emergency contacts), which would be kept confidential and used only by emergency management offices for preparedness. Each county must also run public awareness campaigns about the registry and may provide emergency supply kits to registered seniors, with kit contents determined by local emergency management offices. The bill requires counties to maintain strict confidentiality of registry data and prohibits public access to this information.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1927) extends New Jersey's $6,000 gross income tax exemption for honorably discharged veterans to their surviving spouses. Currently, the exemption applies only to the year a veteran dies (if filing jointly), but the bill would allow the spouse to continue claiming it in all subsequent years until they remarry. It directly affects spouses of deceased veterans who were eligible for the exemption during the veteran's lifetime. The change modifies the existing tax code (N.J.S.54A:3-1) to add this ongoing benefit, with no other policy changes described in the bill text.

Maddy summaryS 4758 increases penalties for reckless vehicular homicide when the driver was intoxicated and the incident occurred in a highway construction zone or a designated safe corridor. Currently, such crimes are typically a second-degree offense (with possible downgrade), but this bill adds construction zones and safe corridors to the list of locations that elevate the charge to first degree - previously, only school zones triggered this upgrade. A first-degree conviction carries 10-20 years in prison, a fine up to $200,000, or both, plus a driver’s license suspension of 5 years to life. The bill specifically targets incidents involving drivers violating New Jersey’s DUI laws (R.S. 39:4-50) in these high-risk areas.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1067) requires the state's Department of Human Services to conduct a landscape analysis of mental health services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing residents. It mandates that mental health services be provided in a client's primary communication method (like sign language or speech), delivered by professionals certified in that method and trained in culturally appropriate care for the deaf community. The bill also requires the creation of a resource guide listing providers meeting these standards and defines key terms like "culturally affirmative mental health services." It directly affects deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking mental health care across New Jersey.