Sen. Doug Steinhardt

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Fair Chance in Housing Act to explicitly exclude counties and municipalities from being considered "housing providers" under the law. It revises the definition of "housing provider" to clarify that the act does not apply to government entities that directly rent residential units to tenants. The change resolves ambiguity about whether local government landlords must follow the act's restrictions on using criminal records in rental decisions. This directly affects county and municipal housing authorities managing public rental properties. The bill does not alter the act's requirements for private landlords or other housing providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers, making it a second-degree crime when bodily injury occurs (previously a third-degree crime). It expands protection to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel who are assaulted while performing their duties. The bill requires offenders to provide a blood or biological sample for testing for communicable diseases, with any positive results shared with the victim. It also prohibits plea bargains for assault on law enforcement officers and prevents convictions from merging with other offenses. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection to New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance for damage from Hurricane Ida's remnants. It establishes a process for eligible homeowners to apply to the Department of Community Affairs for a "Certification of Eligibility for Forbearance," which would temporarily suspend mortgage principal and interest payments for one year. Homeowners must have occupied their primary residence as of August 31, 2021, and received federal disaster assistance related to Hurricane Ida damage. During the forbearance period, mortgage servicers cannot initiate foreclosure proceedings, though homeowners remain responsible for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. The relief ends either one year after the forbearance begins or January 1, 2026, whichever comes first.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Patient and Provider Protection Act," regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) in New Jersey. It requires PBMs to act in the long-term health interests of patients (a fiduciary duty), prohibits misleading marketing to steer patients to network pharmacies, and bans contracts with drug manufacturers that exclude generic drugs to secure rebates. PBMs must reimburse contracted pharmacies at cost or higher, and independent pharmacies at rates no more than 5% lower (but never below cost), while prohibiting restrictions on independent pharmacies offering drugs at the same price as network pharmacies. Additionally, it mandates that formulary decisions prioritize lower-cost generic or biosimilar drugs over more expensive brand-name options. The bill directly affects PBMs, pharmacies, and patients covered by health plans using PBM services.

Maddy summaryS 3817 delays New Jersey's implementation of Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations from January 1, 2025, to January 1, 2027. The bill affects vehicle manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks and buses, requiring them to gradually increase zero-emission vehicle sales (capping at 40-75% by 2035). It directly modifies the current timeline by prohibiting the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from enforcing these rules before 2027. This is a procedural change to the existing 2021 DEP adoption of California's ACT regulations, not a modification of the regulations themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence (such as a home or dwelling) from a third-degree to a second-degree crime in New Jersey, increasing potential penalties to 5-10 years in prison. If the burglary occurs while the perpetrator is armed with a weapon or explosives, or is connected to another serious crime, it becomes a first-degree crime with a potential 10-20 year sentence. The bill also requires that offenders convicted of these upgraded residential burglaries serve at least 85% of their sentence without parole, as mandated by New Jersey's No Early Release Act. This change directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglary, making penalties more severe for crimes targeting homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a legal defense for individuals who commit crimes while being victims of human trafficking. It allows these victims to assert that their criminal actions were directly caused by the trafficking they experienced, applying to any offense under New Jersey law. The defense is available regardless of whether the underlying trafficking offense against the victim was prosecuted or resulted in a conviction. This change aims to prevent victims from being further punished for crimes committed as a direct result of their trafficking situation. The bill amends multiple sections of New Jersey's criminal code, including human trafficking (C.2C:13-8), related offenses (C.2C:13-9), and prostitution laws (C.2C:34-1).

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $500,000 supplemental appropriation to fund grants-in-aid for the Main Library Alliance, a nonprofit serving libraries across northern New Jersey. The funding supports the Alliance’s operations, including technology, programs, and shared resources for over 50 member libraries. These libraries serve more than 700,000 patrons in 100+ municipalities across Hunterdon, Morris, Somerset, Union, and Warren counties. The bill adds this amount to the existing 2025 state budget for the Division of State Library.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Senate Joint Resolution (SJR 128) is a symbolic resolution urging the U.S. Senate to pass the federal "Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act." It does not create new law but calls for action on the SAVE Act, which would require states to verify U.S. citizenship and identity documents (like passports or birth certificates) during voter registration for federal elections. Currently, federal law does not mandate such proof, and the resolution cites instances where noncitizens were mistakenly registered to vote through automatic systems. The resolution emphasizes restoring public confidence in election security, as highlighted by surveys showing significant voter concerns about ineligible voting.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Senate Concurrent Resolution 112 urges Congress to enact the "Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act of 2024," a federal bill that would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to reimburse state and local governments for public safety costs during visits by major presidential and vice presidential candidates. Currently, state and local budgets bear these expenses - covering services, personnel, equipment, and facilities - without federal support, creating a financial burden. The resolution states this reimbursement would allow states like New Jersey to better coordinate with the Secret Service for candidate security during campaign events. The resolution references the July 2024 assassination attempt on a presidential candidate as context for the need for federal funding.