Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year Skilled Trades Career Exploration Pilot Program to expand career and technical education (CTE) opportunities for high school students in New Jersey. It appropriates $5 million from the General Fund to provide grants to school districts for developing CTE programs, acquiring equipment/facilities, and training instructors. The program will select 15 school districts (five each in southern, central, and northern regions) to participate, prioritizing urban, suburban, and rural representation. Participating districts must submit annual reports on program impact, and the state will report annually to the Governor and Legislature on the program's implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Cybersecurity Grant Program, which allocates $5 million from the state's General Fund to help eligible businesses improve cybersecurity. It provides reimbursement grants (up to $100,000 per business annually) for sensitive businesses in the financial or healthcare sectors to purchase cybersecurity tools that reduce breach risks. To qualify, businesses must be deemed high-risk by the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness and submit proof of purchases like invoices or receipts. The program is limited to one grant per business per fiscal year, focusing on entities operating within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2188, now P.L.2024, c.66) requires large public water systems (serving over 100 connections and using surface or groundwater) and certain buildings to prevent Legionnaires' disease outbreaks. It mandates maintaining minimum disinfectant levels (0.3 mg/L chlorine or 1.0 mg/L chloramine) and creating annual maintenance plans to reduce Legionella bacteria risks. Water systems must report disruptions to the state within 72 hours and implement flushing, testing, and infrastructure upgrades. The state will create a public dashboard showing disruption reports and adopt rules for compliance, with penalties for violations like failing to meet disinfectant standards. The law directly affects water system operators and building owners, aiming to improve water safety through specific, measurable requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Training Fund reimbursement rules. It allows private agencies training volunteer EMTs (including for EMT-A, EMT-D, and epinephrine auto-injector certification) to be reimbursed directly, prioritizing EMT-A certification first. Volunteer EMTs must work at least one service call monthly for three years to maintain "good standing," or their ambulance squad may have to repay the fund if they stop volunteering. The bill clarifies that reimbursement eligibility doesn't depend on whether the volunteer's squad receives payment for services.

Maddy summaryThe "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act" (S 3538) sets a minimum reimbursement rate for pharmacies dispensing drugs to Medicaid patients, requiring payments to cover the national average drug cost plus a $10.92 dispensing fee. It mandates Medicaid managed care plans to allow patients to choose any participating pharmacy and to reimburse out-of-network pharmacies at the same rate as in-network ones. The bill also requires the State Auditor to audit pharmacy pricing practices within Medicaid to identify potential state savings from these changes. These provisions directly affect pharmacies, Medicaid managed care organizations, and New Jersey's Medicaid program.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $5 million grant program to expand dual enrollment opportunities in career and technical education (CTE) for high school students. Public colleges and universities in New Jersey can apply for grants to offer college-level CTE courses on campus or in high schools, allowing students to earn college credits while still in high school. To qualify, institutions must submit detailed plans including program capacity, expected student participation, and sustainability beyond the grant period, with funding awarded competitively. The program requires annual reporting on student participation, workforce impact, and recommendations for future funding.

Maddy summaryS 1017 (now P.L.2024, c.59) requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to notify sexual assault victims about key developments in their criminal cases, specifically regarding DNA evidence. Victims have the right to be informed whether DNA from the assault was collected, entered into forensic databases, or matched to a suspect’s DNA (with exceptions if disclosure would compromise an ongoing investigation). Victims can request written or email updates about evidence processing status, and agencies must provide this information in a timely manner upon request. This law directly affects sexual assault victims in New Jersey by ensuring they receive specific, actionable updates about their case evidence under the state’s crime victim rights framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to fund conservation and recreation projects through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection. The funds will be distributed as grants to 11 nonprofit organizations for land acquisition, 4 for park development, and 2 for stewardship activities across multiple counties. The $9,588,905 allocated for projects supports the acquisition, development, and maintenance of lands for public recreation and conservation purposes, while $479,000 covers administrative costs for the DEP. The funding comes from the Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund, which constitutionally sets aside CBT revenues for open space preservation.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's requirement for automatic fire sprinkler systems in new townhouses. It extends the deadline for installation from 7 months to 13 months after the original law's enactment (P.L.2023, c.265) and exempts townhouse projects that submitted construction permit applications before this bill passed. The bill also delays the deadline for the Commissioner of Community Affairs to adopt related building code rules from 5 months to 12 months after enactment. These changes primarily affect developers and builders constructing new townhouses under specific building codes.

Maddy summarySenate Resolution 99, introduced by Senators Bob Smith and Linda Greenstein, urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish drinking water standards for microplastics and nanoplastics. The resolution does not create new law but formally requests the EPA adopt standards similar to its recent PFAS chemical regulations, noting the agency has not addressed these plastic particles despite a 2019 petition by over 280 environmental groups. It highlights that microplastics (tiny plastic particles under 5mm) and nanoplastics (even smaller particles under 1 micrometer) are increasingly found in water, food, and air, with potential health impacts like inflammation and cellular damage. The resolution is transmitted to the EPA Administrator and New Jersey’s environmental agency as a legislative expression of concern.