Sen. Doug Steinhardt

Maddy summaryThis bill requires motor vehicle rental companies in New Jersey to allow customers to return rented vehicles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It directly affects rental companies operating under state law and their customers who may face travel delays or unforeseen circumstances preventing returns during standard business hours. Key provisions mandate companies to establish a method for after-hours returns, with violations carrying civil penalties of up to $2,500 for a first offense and $5,000 for repeat offenses, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law aims to reduce customer inconvenience and added costs from late returns.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires operators of casino shuttles, charter buses, and special tour buses (but not NJ Transit services) to unload passengers only at pre-planned stops documented in schedules, tickets, or receipts. Operators must carry this documentation while driving and cannot stop elsewhere for unloading, except during emergencies if they contact emergency services immediately. Violations carry a $1,000 penalty per offense, with possible vehicle confiscation for repeat violations. The law aims to ensure predictable drop-off points for passengers on non-regular-route bus services.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance carriers (like major insurance companies) from obtaining or renewing licenses to operate as pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). PBMs are entities that manage prescription drug programs for insurers, and this law specifically blocks insurers from holding these licenses. The bill amends existing licensing rules to require PBMs to meet strict standards for conflicts of interest, anti-competitive practices, and consumer protection, but explicitly bars health insurance carriers from applying for or maintaining such licenses. It does not affect existing PBM licenses held by non-insurer entities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 369) requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies, courts, and correctional facilities to notify federal immigration authorities within 24 hours when arresting or convicting non-citizens unlawfully present in the U.S. who are charged with specific crimes like violent offenses, drug-related crimes, theft, or robbery. It applies to all law enforcement agencies, sentencing courts, correctional facilities holding convicted non-citizens, and parole/probation officers supervising them. The notification triggers deportation proceedings under federal immigration enforcement. The bill defines "federal immigration authority" as officers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, or Homeland Security.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 330) requires community agencies and care residences receiving state services to conduct background checks on employees and residents. It mandates criminal history and motor vehicle record checks every two years, disqualifying individuals with recent convictions for violent crimes, family offenses, drug-related crimes, or serious traffic violations (like DUI in the past 10 years). Agencies must verify these checks before hiring or housing individuals, and refusal to cooperate results in disqualification. The law applies directly to state-contracted community service providers and care facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds xylazine to New Jersey's Schedule III controlled substances list, meaning it is now classified as a controlled drug with specific legal restrictions. The exception explicitly allows veterinarians to prescribe, administer, or dispense xylazine for animal care without violating the law. Illegally possessing, distributing, or using xylazine would become a third-degree crime, punishable by up to five years in prison and fines up to $35,000. This change directly affects people who misuse xylazine outside of veterinary contexts, while leaving veterinary practice unaffected.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds $500,000 in supplemental funding from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Agriculture for the Jersey Fresh program, which markets locally grown produce. It directly affects New Jersey farmers and the Jersey Fresh program, which promotes regional agricultural products to consumers. The key provision increases the program's annual budget from $100,000 to $600,000 for fiscal year 2025, with the goal of replacing the use of federal USDA Specialty Crops Block Grant funds for this program. This reallocation would free up federal grant money for broader use by farmers and organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse volunteer firefighters for cancer screenings not covered by their insurance. It mandates coverage for 11 specific cancer types (including colon, lung, breast, and prostate) starting five years after beginning service, then every three years thereafter. The state will cover up to $1,250 per three-year period (adjusted for inflation), with no out-of-pocket costs for firefighters. Volunteer firefighting status is treated as a pre-existing condition for coverage, and annual state funding must be appropriated to support reimbursements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 347) requires New Jersey's State Board of Education to reinstate the ASVAB-AFQT (Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery-Armed Forces Qualifying Test) as an approved alternative test for high school graduation. It directly affects public high school students who need to meet graduation proficiency requirements, allowing them to use the ASVAB-AFQT instead of the standard state test. The key provision adds the ASVAB-AFQT back to the list of "substitute competency tests" that students can use to demonstrate mastery of state learning standards. This change reverses a 2023 decision by the State Board that removed the ASVAB-AFQT from approved alternatives. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1521) amends New Jersey's workers' compensation law to exclude undocumented immigrant workers from receiving workers' compensation and temporary disability benefits. It specifically states that employees who are not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, lawfully present for employment, or permanently residing in the U.S. under color of law at the time of injury are ineligible for these benefits. The key mechanism is an amendment to R.S.34:15-36, which defines who qualifies as an "employee" for benefits purposes. This change directly affects undocumented immigrant workers who sustain work-related injuries in New Jersey, denying them access to these specific financial protections.