Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's licensing rules for elevator, escalator, and moving walkway mechanics by removing a requirement that out-of-state applicants' home states must provide equal reciprocity to New Jersey licensees. It allows the licensing board to grant licenses without exams to mechanics from other states if those states' standards are comparable to New Jersey's, regardless of whether the home state reciprocates. The change directly affects mechanics seeking to work in New Jersey who hold valid licenses in another state. This simplifies the process for qualified out-of-state mechanics without requiring reciprocal agreements from other states.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's fire safety laws to update requirements for smoke alarms and fire inspector licensure. It removes the requirement for portable fire extinguishers in certain residential buildings while updating smoke alarm standards to be set by the Commissioner of Community Affairs. Fire inspectors must now complete an approved educational program, meet prerequisites, and pass exams to be licensed. The bill also changes how penalties for violations are assessed and how liability for unpaid fees transfers when property ownership changes. These changes aim to modernize fire safety standards and enforcement procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Bear Smart Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund the distribution of bear-proof garbage cans to residents. The fund will be financed by civil penalties from bear-feeding violations (e.g., $100-$500 fines) and state or federal grants. The DEP will prioritize distributing these cans in counties with large bear populations - Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Passaic - to reduce human-bear conflicts, with residents possibly paying a small fee. The program may partner with municipalities or waste companies to lower costs, while existing bear-feeding prohibitions remain in place except for specific exceptions like bird feeders under strict conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing ban on using "wild or exotic animals" in traveling performances (like circuses on the road). It removes current exceptions for domestic animals (such as dogs, cats, horses, and cattle) and adds rabbits/hares and rodents to the prohibited list. The law now prohibits these animals in all traveling acts, except for educational outreach programs at schools or universities. It directly affects traveling entertainment venues, circuses, and carnivals that transport animals for performances. The key change is broadening the animal protections while restricting exceptions to strictly educational settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes certain military compensation from New Jersey's gross income tax for state residents who serve outside New Jersey for at least six months during a taxable year. It directly affects New Jersey residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces while stationed or deployed outside the state. The key provision amends the tax code to exclude military pay received for out-of-state service, separate from standard military benefits like housing allowances. The exclusion applies immediately to taxable years beginning after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 3966 eliminates the statute of limitations for criminal prosecutions of human trafficking, meaning prosecutors can file charges at any time, regardless of when the crime occurred. It extends the statute of limitations for civil lawsuits by victims from 5 to 10 years, with the deadline starting at the later of: 10 years after the trafficking occurred, 10 years after the victim turns 18 (if they were a minor at the time), or two years after the victim discovers the injury. The bill also pauses the clock during a continuing trafficking situation or if the victim has a disability (e.g., mental illness or intellectual disability), and prevents defendants from claiming the statute has expired if they caused the victim to delay filing. These changes align New Jersey’s civil statute of limitations with federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to receive regular cancer and cardiovascular screenings starting three years after employment and every three years thereafter, covering 11 specific cancer types including colon, lung, breast, and prostate cancers. It establishes a dedicated fund to cover these screening costs by appropriating $20 million from the State General Fund and adding a $10 surcharge to motor vehicle fines. Public employers not participating in the State Health Benefits Program can be reimbursed up to $2,500 per officer every three years for these screenings. The fund is designed to carry over unused funds year to year, ensuring consistent funding for these screenings. The bill takes effect January 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's unemployment benefit rules to protect workers who leave one job to accept another but lose the new job offer through no fault of their own. It extends the time period between leaving the first job and starting the second job from seven to ten days. The change codifies a 2019 court ruling (McClain v. Bd. of Review) that established these workers should be eligible for unemployment benefits. This directly affects workers experiencing rescinded job offers during employment transitions, ensuring they can access benefits during this period.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Children and Families (DCF) to create online systems for schools and child care centers to report lead testing results in drinking water. Schools (required to test since 2016) and child care centers (required since 2017) must submit their test results electronically within 90 days of the systems launching, with results made publicly searchable on department websites. The bill also mandates that DOE and DCF jointly produce a report within two years detailing lead contamination levels, remediation needs, and state assistance recommendations. This aims to create a centralized public database to better track lead issues and inform future funding or support for affected facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the portion of rental payments that New Jersey renters can count toward property tax deductions from 18% to 30% of rent paid for a unit used as their primary residence. It also raises the maximum property tax credit amount from $50 to $250 for eligible seniors (65+), blind, or disabled taxpayers who pay property taxes or qualifying rent. The change applies to residential rental properties, including manufactured homes in mobile home parks, and affects renters who use their housing as their principal residence. The bill amends existing tax code provisions to adjust these specific deduction and credit thresholds.