Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryS 1065 establishes a New Jersey Veteran Services Grant Program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to directly assist veterans in applying for state and federal benefits and to train veterans service officers. Qualified nonprofit veterans' organizations (like 501(c)(3) groups) can apply for competitive grants to fund either training for service officers, direct veteran assistance, or both. The bill appropriates $2 million from the General Fund to cover these grants, requiring organizations to submit detailed plans outlining their proposed training or assistance. Recipients must report on how funds were used, and the DMVA must annually report the program's effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryS 1059 establishes a new grant program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services to provide confidential mental health services to law enforcement officers and their family members (defined as spouse, domestic partner, child, or parent living with the officer) experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts. The program awards $3 million in grants to licensed mental health providers who meet geographic criteria to ensure services are accessible within a one-hour travel distance. Providers must apply through a process developed by the Commissioner of Human Services, with applications reviewed and grants awarded based on available funds. The bill aims to address barriers preventing officers from seeking help by ensuring confidentiality and reducing travel burdens for those in need.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Cop 2 Cop Sustainability Fund" to provide ongoing funding for a 24-hour confidential hotline supporting New Jersey law enforcement officers. It appropriates $500,000 annually from the General Fund starting in 2025 to sustain the existing "Law Enforcement Officer Crisis Intervention Services" program, which offers peer counseling and referrals for officers experiencing work-related stress, trauma, or mental health challenges. The hotline, operated by Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care, maintains confidentiality for callers and connects officers to services like peer support and therapy. The fund supplements current funding from Body Armor Replacement Funds ($400,000 annually) to ensure program stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires professional firefighters in New Jersey who are eligible for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) but not enrolled in it (due to waiving coverage) to receive regular cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after their employment begins. The screenings must cover 11 specific cancer types - including colon, lung, breast, and prostate - without any out-of-pocket costs for the firefighters. Public employers not participating in SHBP must provide these screenings and can be reimbursed by the state up to $1,250 per firefighter per three-year period. Similarly, employers participating in SHBP must cover screenings for firefighters who waive SHBP, with the same reimbursement eligibility up to $1,250 per firefighter.

Maddy summaryS 3221 establishes the New Jersey Invasive Species Task Force within the Department of Agriculture, composed of nine members including agency heads and four public appointees with invasive species expertise. The task force must study control methods, develop statewide prevention and restoration plans for ecosystems damaged by invasive species, and create a publicly accessible list of invasive species updated every three years. It is required to hold quarterly public meetings across all regions of New Jersey and submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing invasive species impacts, spread pathways, and policy recommendations. The bill directly affects state agencies coordinating invasive species management and sets a framework for collaborative prevention and restoration efforts.

Maddy summaryS 3229 expands New Jersey's Tuition Aid Grant Program to include eligible workforce training programs, allowing students in these programs to access state financial aid. To qualify, programs must require at least 150 hours of instruction, offer an industry-valued credential, and maintain 70% average completion and job placement rates. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will designate qualifying programs and require them to report student outcomes, which will be posted publicly. This change directly affects workforce training programs and students pursuing career-focused, non-degree training without traditional college credentials.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 3220 establishes a state grant program to help small and mid-sized businesses (fewer than 500 employees operating primarily in New Jersey) hire cybersecurity staff. The program, funded with $750,000 from the General Fund, provides grants covering one year of startup salary costs for cybersecurity specialists at qualifying businesses. To qualify, businesses must submit proof of eligibility and comply with wage requirements based on state labor data. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development administers the program, requiring quarterly reports from recipients and annual oversight reports to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $100 million grant program within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund planning and design work for municipal water infrastructure projects. It provides grants up to $2 million per project to help towns and cities plan upgrades to drinking water, stormwater, and wastewater systems without requiring matching funds. The program prioritizes projects in "overburdened communities" and requires DEP to report annually on the program's effectiveness. The grants specifically cover the initial planning phase, helping municipalities access future federal and state funding for full infrastructure construction.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey Medicaid to cover home blood pressure monitors and cuffs that have been validated for accuracy, along with provider time for patient education, for pregnant Medicaid recipients at risk of preeclampsia. It directly affects pregnant individuals enrolled in Medicaid who have been identified by their healthcare provider as having risk factors for preeclampsia, a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and affects about 5-8% of pregnancies in New Jersey. The coverage would include only devices listed in the U.S. Blood Pressure Validated Device Listing. This policy change aims to improve early detection of preeclampsia, which disproportionately impacts Black and African American pregnant persons. The coverage would be provided without cost-sharing for Medicaid beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryS 3175 removes the requirement that public work contractors must participate in a registered apprenticeship program to bid on or perform construction projects covered by New Jersey's prevailing wage laws. The bill repeals a previous provision (P.L.2021, c.423, section 6) that mandated this participation. Instead, it establishes standards for apprenticeship programs that contractors may choose to use, requiring that any such program's training requirements meet or exceed U.S. Department of Labor standards. This change directly affects contractors bidding on or working on public construction projects subject to prevailing wage requirements.