Sen. Doug Steinhardt

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from requiring children under 16 to obtain a horseback riding permit or pay the $2.00 nonrefundable application fee when riding in state wildlife management areas. It directly affects minors under 16 who participate in horseback riding within these areas. The key provision is a clear statutory ban on both the permit requirement and fee for this age group, effective immediately. The bill does not alter requirements for riders aged 16 or older.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey gross income tax deduction for state fuel taxes paid on motor fuel used for personal vehicle operation. It allows single, married, or head-of-household filers to deduct these taxes from their taxable income, capped at $1,000 for 2021 and $2,000 for subsequent years. The deduction excludes amounts reimbursed by employers or claimed as business expenses elsewhere. It applies to all income levels and filing statuses, directly benefiting New Jersey residents who pay state fuel taxes for personal driving.

Maddy summaryS 362 clarifies that counties and municipalities directly renting residential units to tenants are excluded from the "Fair Chance in Housing Act." This bill amends the law’s definition of "housing provider" to specifically exclude county and municipal governments that rent housing directly. As a result, these government landlords would no longer be subject to the Act’s requirements regarding criminal record inquiries during rental applications. The bill resolves ongoing disputes about whether the Act applies to public housing providers, leaving the law unchanged for private landlords and housing providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2507) proposes to change how energy tax payments flow to municipalities. It requires energy taxpayers (like utility companies) to pay their taxes directly to local governments instead of the state treasury. Municipalities would receive fixed annual payments based on historical tax distributions, calculated by the State Treasurer, with energy taxpayers able to apply these payments as credits against their tax bills. The change would take effect starting in fiscal year 2022, shifting the payment mechanism from state-administered distribution to direct municipal receipt. (Note: This bill is currently pending in the Senate and has not been enacted.)

Maddy summaryS 324 prohibits New Jersey state agencies and local governments from allowing foreign companies created under the laws of a "foreign adversary" (defined as a government deemed a national security threat by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce) to participate in critical infrastructure projects. The bill specifically blocks these companies from constructing, maintaining, or controlling systems like electric grids, water pipelines, gas distribution, and communication networks. It applies immediately to new agreements but does not affect existing contracts unless they conflict with the law and would otherwise be renewed. This policy aims to prevent potential security risks, such as cyberattacks, by restricting foreign entities with adversarial ties from managing essential public services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1865 adds seven specific illicit fentanyl analogs - Furanyl Fentanyl, 3-Methylfentanyl, 3-Methyl Butyrylfentanyl, Valeryl Fentanyl, Norfentanyl, Para-Fluorobutyryl-Fentanyl, and Carfentanyl - to Schedule I of the state's Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. This formalizes their current administrative classification (already in effect since 2017), meaning these substances are now legally treated as having high abuse potential with no accepted medical use. The bill directly affects law enforcement, healthcare providers, and individuals handling these compounds, requiring strict regulatory controls. Prescription fentanyl remains classified separately as a Schedule II substance.

Maddy summaryS 332 establishes the "Salute to Service and Sacrifice Memorial Commission" to design and oversee a memorial honoring New Jersey law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who died in the line of duty. The commission, composed of 13 members including representatives from relevant associations, family members of fallen personnel, and public members appointed by the Governor, must select a memorial design and location within 18 months. It will manage a dedicated fund (established in the Department of Treasury) to finance the memorial's construction and maintenance through donations and appropriations. The memorial must feature three walls - one for each emergency service branch - with space to list fallen personnel and accommodate future names.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how school districts sending students to another district (sending districts) gain representation on the receiving district's school board. Currently, a sending district gets one voting representative if its students make up at least 10% of the receiving district's enrollment in relevant grades. The bill adds new rules: - Sending districts collectively meeting a 10% threshold (instead of the current 15%) in specific counties (third-class, 100,000-120,000 population per 2020 census) qualify for one representative. - Sending districts may collectively get one representative (with board approval) if they hit 10% enrollment, even without meeting the 15% threshold. - If enrollment is below 10%, sending districts get a non-voting representative. The bill also caps total additional voting representatives at three (depending on the board size) and requires annual rotation of representatives among sending districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's laws on self-defense by clarifying when force or deadly force is legally justified. It states that people may use non-deadly force to stop imminent unlawful force without needing to retreat. For deadly force, it allows its use to prevent imminent death, serious injury, or specific violent crimes (like murder or robbery), and explicitly removes the duty to retreat if the person is not committing a crime and is in a lawful location. The bill repeals outdated sections of the current statute (N.J.S.2C:3-4 through N.J.S.2C:3-7) governing these situations.

Maddy summaryS 939 abolishes New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and transfers all its responsibilities - including oversight of utilities, rate approvals, and related functions - to the Department of Treasury. The transfer follows the State Agency Transfer Act and includes moving all BPU records, equipment, and unexpended funds. This bill reorganizes state agency structure but does not alter utility rate policies or customer protections. The change takes effect six months after enactment.