Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all licensed hospitals and nursing homes in New Jersey to provide 24/7 interpreter services for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients. It mandates that these services include electronic options like video remote interpreting and AI-assisted interpreting (approved by the Health Commissioner). The law applies to all facilities licensed under New Jersey's health regulations and takes effect 180 days after enactment. The change directly affects healthcare facilities and ensures patients have consistent access to communication support during medical care.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2422 establishes a state-level occupational heat stress standard and prevention program under the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill requires all employers (including public entities) to implement written heat illness prevention plans by June 2025, mandating practices like providing potable water below 59°F, paid rest breaks in cool areas, and emergency response protocols for heat exposure. It also requires employers to monitor heat levels, acclimatize workers, and activate heat alert systems during forecasted heat waves, including postponing non-essential tasks and increasing staffing to reduce individual exposure. The law directly affects all workers in New Jersey, with heightened focus on high-risk sectors like agriculture, construction, and indoor workplaces without climate control.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 323) requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections of school buses in addition to scheduled inspections. It directly affects school bus operators (owners or day-to-day operators) by mandating at least two annual inspections per bus fleet - one scheduled and one surprise - along with emission checks during all inspections. Operators must maintain and provide records of bus maintenance, repairs, and driver compliance during these inspections. Violations, such as failing to provide records or withhold buses without 24-hour notice, incur fines of $50-$500 per violation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2015) requires public institutions of higher education to pay prevailing wages for construction and maintenance work on projects intended for use by the institution at the time of construction. It clarifies that this applies to work done under contracts with entities associated with public bodies (such as university foundations) and to projects receiving financial assistance from public bodies. The bill ensures workers on these projects receive the prevailing wage rate determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, with limited exceptions for housing-related projects. This directly affects contractors, subcontractors, and workers involved in construction for public colleges and universities across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public community water systems in New Jersey to test water quarterly for compliance with secondary drinking water standards (which cover non-health-related issues like taste, odor, and color). Systems must collect samples from at least 10% of customer taps and submit results quarterly to the Department of Environmental Protection, local municipalities, and customers. If tests exceed standards, systems must create a compliance plan within 30 days to fix issues within another 30 days. Additionally, systems must develop and submit a maintenance plan for ongoing compliance after corrections, with the department reviewing these plans within 30 days.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 101) urges the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to lower its recommended colorectal cancer screening age from 50 to 45 for individuals with average cancer risk. It cites CDC and American Cancer Society data showing rising colorectal cancer rates in younger adults - particularly those born in the 1990s, who face double the colon cancer risk and quadruple rectal cancer risk compared to those born in the 1950s. The resolution states that starting screening at age 45 for average-risk individuals could reduce colorectal cancer deaths, based on ACS recommendations. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change policy but requests the USPSTF reconsider its guidelines.

Maddy summaryBill S3102 designates the Common Eastern Bumble Bee (*Bombus impatiens*) as New Jersey's State Native Pollinator. It directly affects the state's symbolic recognition of this bee species, which pollinates key crops like blueberries, cranberries, tomatoes, and peppers. The bill highlights the bee's ecological importance as a "generalist pollinator" supporting diverse ecosystems and over 30% of human food sources, based on research from Rutgers University. This is a ceremonial designation with no new regulations or funding, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summarySJR 105 establishes the "New Jersey Cybersecurity Task Force" to assess and recommend strategies for addressing cybersecurity threats targeting residents and businesses. The task force must focus its recommendations on identifying threats, preventing cyber breaches, and recovering from attacks. Comprising 11 members - including state officials, legislative leaders, and five public appointees representing municipalities, businesses, schools, and cybersecurity experts - the group must submit its report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting, after which the task force expires. This is a procedural resolution, not a policy law, creating a temporary body to guide future cybersecurity efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to offer discounted fares to five specific groups: K-12 and college students commuting to school, full-time workforce training program participants, individuals receiving Work First New Jersey benefits, and newly employed NJ residents meeting strict criteria (e.g., minimum wage, 20+ hours/week, 30+ days unemployed prior to hire). Discounts apply to all NJT services, including bus, rail, and light rail, for commuting to and from school or work. Eligibility for the "newly employed" category requires residency, age 18+, and no current public assistance. The policy change takes immediate effect without additional legislative action.

Maddy summaryS 3060 requires all health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover annual prostate cancer screening without out-of-pocket costs for men aged 40 to 75. This expands current law, which previously only mandated coverage for men 50+ or 40+ with risk factors, by broadening the age range and defining "prostate cancer screening" to include digital rectal exams, PSA tests, and follow-up diagnostics like imaging and biomarker tests. The bill applies to all health plans, including group policies, HMOs, individual plans, and state health benefit programs. It takes effect 90 days after enactment for all new or renewed contracts.