Sen. Doug Steinhardt

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school boards to adopt policies governing student cell phone and social media use during school hours, on buses, and at school events. The policies must include age-appropriate restrictions, accommodate students with disabilities (per IEPs), allow phone use in emergencies or for health reasons (with documentation), and permit educational use with teacher permission. Schools must also implement network-based restrictions blocking social media access on all school-owned devices and networks. The state education commissioner will develop guidelines to help schools create these policies, covering storage options, communication protocols, and disciplinary procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for human trafficking involving children under 18 years old. It expands the definition to cover all forms of trafficking - including for labor or services, not just sexual exploitation - and mandates life imprisonment without parole for any such offense. The bill also requires a $25,000 fine for offenders, with funds directed to a victim assistance fund, and orders restitution to victims based on prevailing wage laws. These changes apply to all cases where a child under 18 is trafficked, regardless of whether the trafficker mistakenly believed the child was an adult.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits foreign governments and certain foreign persons (including non-U.S. entities controlled by foreign governments) from owning or acquiring land within 10 miles of military facilities in New Jersey. Current owners of such "protected land" must sell their interest within five years to a U.S. entity, with limited exceptions for land obtained through debt collection, foreclosure, or inheritance (requiring sale within two years). The law does not apply to land owned under U.S. treaties with other countries. It directly affects foreign governments and entities deemed "foreign persons" under the bill's definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates an additional $75,000 to the Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund, a dedicated fund administered by the New Jersey Attorney General. The funds must be used exclusively for services to human trafficking survivors, awareness programs, and training materials as established under existing law (P.L. 2013, c.51). The supplemental appropriation is added to the Department of Law and Public Safety's budget for the 2025 fiscal year. It directly supports survivors and programs addressing human trafficking through specific, legally defined funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a rebuttable presumption requiring pretrial detention for defendants charged with sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2) or criminal sexual contact (N.J.S.2C:14-3) when the victim is a minor, or endangering the welfare of a child (N.J.S.2C:24-4). It directly affects individuals facing these specific child abuse charges in New Jersey courts. Under the law, prosecutors can seek detention for these cases, but defendants may challenge the presumption by presenting evidence showing that reasonable bail or release conditions would ensure court appearance and community safety. This changes existing bail procedures by adding these offenses to the list where detention is presumed unless rebutted, rather than requiring prosecutors to prove risk factors upfront.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides mortgage payment relief and foreclosure protection for New Jersey homeowners who received federal disaster assistance after Hurricane Ida damaged their primary residence in September 2021. It requires mortgage servicers to grant a one-year payment pause (forbearance) without fees, penalties, or credit reporting, retroactive to payments missed since September 1, 2021. Homeowners must meet income limits (≤150% of area median income) and asset thresholds (less than six months of income in bank accounts), and submit a written request. The relief ends either after one year or July 1, 2024, whichever comes first, and does not apply to federally-backed loans like FHA or VA mortgages.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school boards to adopt policies preventing obscene material (defined as material illegal to distribute to minors under state law) from appearing in school libraries. The policy must set standards for appropriate library content, ban obscene material, mandate staff compliance with obscenity laws, and outline disciplinary procedures for violations. The Commissioner of Education will develop and distribute guidance to schools on identifying prohibited material, when to involve law enforcement, and recommended disciplinary actions - including termination for criminal convictions. School districts failing to comply risk losing state funding, directly affecting school boards, library staff, and students.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of refined precious metal bullion (like gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bars) and high-value numismatic coins ($1,000 or more) from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects buyers purchasing these specific investment-grade items, not jewelry or art made from them. The law defines "investment bullion" as unprocessed metals where value depends on metal content, excluding fabricated items like jewelry. It also excludes commemorative medallions and coins used in artistic works from the exemption.

Maddy summaryS 2793 appropriates $1.723 million from two existing state funds - the constitutionally dedicated "Preserve New Jersey Farmland Preservation Fund" (using CBT revenues) and the "2009 Farmland Preservation Fund" - to the State Agriculture Development Committee. The funds provide grants to qualifying nonprofit organizations for up to 50% of the cost to acquire development easements or fee simple titles on farmland, with the land maintained for agricultural use through deed restrictions. This directly supports five specific farmland preservation projects across Hunterdon, Sussex, and Warren counties, as approved by the committee. The bill reallocates previously designated funds without creating new taxes or policies.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3527 requires motorbus operators (including regular route services, charter buses, casino shuttles, and special bus operations) to unload passengers only at pre-planned destinations documented through schedules, tickets, receipts, or other public records. Operators must carry this documentation while operating and cannot stop to unload elsewhere unless an emergency occurs, in which case they must contact emergency services and stay near the bus. Violations carry a $1,000 penalty per incident, and the vehicle may be confiscated. The bill excludes New Jersey Transit and its contracted operators from these requirements.