Sen. Linda Greenstein

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities and school boards to adopt ranked-choice voting for local elections through a voter referendum or petition. It permits communities to choose this voting method for non-primary elections for mayor, municipal council, or school board positions, requiring a petition signed by at least 10% of voters from the last General Assembly election. The bill specifies two counting methods: instant runoff for single-winner races (like mayor) and single transferable vote for multi-winner races (like council seats). Implementation requires local governing bodies to submit the change for voter approval via ballot, with the state Division of Elections providing implementation guidelines.

Maddy summaryS 1550 eliminates standardized test scores as a measure of student growth in evaluating teachers, principals, assistant principals, and vice-principals in New Jersey schools. The bill requires school districts to use evaluation rubrics based on multiple measures of student learning (not standardized tests), professional practice standards, and multiple classroom observations. It mandates four performance rating categories (ineffective to highly effective) and prohibits standardized assessments from being a predominant factor in evaluations. The law also requires districts to implement these revised evaluations starting in the 2013-2014 school year, with results used to guide professional development. This directly affects all K-12 school staff members in New Jersey under the state's teacher evaluation system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Youth Suicide Prevention Advisory Council to prepare a report on suicide prevention instruction in public schools. The council must review current programs, identify risk identification methods, evaluate best practices (including comparing to nearby states), and recommend improvements to mental health access in schools. To gather data, the council will develop a survey for schools (administered by the Department of Education in the 2023-24 school year), ensuring student privacy is protected before sharing results. The report must be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 33) is a symbolic gesture recognizing the 75th anniversary of Israel's establishment on April 25, 2023. It commends Israel's achievements in building a democratic society and reaffirms New Jersey's longstanding partnership with Israel, including existing educational collaborations (like Rutgers-Tel Aviv University) and economic ties. The resolution has no binding effect or policy changes - it serves only to express support and acknowledge historical and current ties between New Jersey and Israel. It directly affects no individuals or policies, as it is purely commemorative.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to reimburse residential customers for drinking water testing costs when a public water system exceeds federal or state contaminant limits. It applies to homes where testing is needed due to contamination, with reimbursement requested by the local municipality. The water supplier must cover these costs directly, preventing them from being added to other customers' water bills. The law takes immediate effect and directs the environmental department to create implementing rules.

Maddy summaryS 1025 creates a 24/7 toll-free hotline to provide peer support for formerly incarcerated individuals in New Jersey as they transition back into communities. The hotline, operated through existing state services, will connect callers with certified peer recovery specialists - either Addiction Professionals Certification Board of New Jersey-certified or nationally certified by the Association for Addiction Professionals. It requires the Commissioner of Human Services to coordinate with Corrections, Health, Juvenile Justice, and Parole Board officials to establish and maintain this service. The bill directly supports people reentering society after incarceration by offering immediate, specialized assistance through trained peers.

Maddy summaryS 2054 establishes a 7-member "Fallen Law Enforcement Officer Memorial Commission" within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to design and oversee construction of a memorial in Monmouth County honoring officers killed in the line of duty. The commission includes representatives from police associations and public members (one a retired officer), appointed by the governor within 90 days. It appropriates $2.5 million from the General Fund to a dedicated memorial fund for design and construction costs, requiring a final report with the memorial's design and location within 18 months. The memorial will honor fallen officers, directly affecting their families and the public through a permanent tribute.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a nine-member study commission to analyze how increased Medicaid reimbursement rates for nursing home personal care services (from 2017 and 2019 laws) affected nursing homes in New Jersey. The commission will study impacts on operations, staffing compliance, employee retention, financial health, resident costs, and whether any nursing homes closed after the rate changes. It must gather data from nursing homes and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months. The study focuses solely on factual analysis of existing policy effects, not future policy proposals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public water systems to provide specific notifications about boil water notices and drinking water quality violations. Water systems must inform municipal officials within one hour and customers within 24 hours of a boil water notice, including details like the affected area and corrective steps. For water quality violations, systems must immediately notify local officials and schools with data on contaminants, test dates, and required actions. Additionally, water systems must collect customer contact preferences via water bills to ensure future notices reach them effectively.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish testing standards for microplastics in drinking water. Within three years, the DEP must adopt a standard testing method, require public water systems to test and publicly report microplastic levels for four years, and accredit labs to analyze samples. It also requires the Drinking Water Quality Institute to study microplastics and recommend a definition within two years. The bill affects all public water systems serving New Jersey residents. Note: The bill was introduced in January 2024 but was withdrawn the same day (withdrawn per P.L.2023, c.318).