Sen. Doug Steinhardt

Maddy summaryS 1210 requires owners of venues hosting large public gatherings (1,000+ people) and youth athletic events to keep an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on-site and accessible at all times. It mandates that these venues store the AED in a central, unlocked location near seating, train staff in CPR and AED use, and ensure at least one certified person is present during events to respond to cardiac emergencies. The bill also requires venues to create a cardiac response protocol, notify emergency services of the AED’s location, and mark it with visible signage. Non-compliance results in civil penalties up to $1,000 per violation, with immunity from liability for proper AED use.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands reimbursement eligibility under New Jersey's EMT Training Fund to include volunteer firefighters seeking EMT certification. It amends existing law to explicitly allow reimbursement for training and testing costs for volunteer fire company members pursuing EMT-A (Emergency Medical Technician-Advanced) or EMT-D (Defibrillation) certification, which was previously limited to volunteer ambulance/squad members. The fund will now cover these costs for certified volunteer firefighters, with reimbursement priority set for EMT-A certification first. The bill also prohibits agencies receiving fund monies from charging fees to eligible volunteer firefighters or ambulance/squad members.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 2555 regulates residential mental health treatment facilities by establishing licensing requirements and care standards. It mandates that facilities provide 24/7 care consistent with ASAM's Level 3.5 standards for patients who don't need hospitalization, limit treatment duration to prepare patients for community care, and prohibit retrospective medical necessity reviews. Facilities must obtain a license from the Commissioner of Health, demonstrate compliance with minimum standards, and cannot operate at the same location as substance use disorder facilities. The bill also exempts these facilities from New Jersey's certificate of need requirements for facility expansions or modifications.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State of New Jersey to annually reimburse municipalities for the full cost of exempting disabled veterans' property from local property taxes. It directly affects all New Jersey municipalities that provide this exemption under existing law (P.L.1948, c.259). The key mechanism mandates the state pay each municipality 102% of the total tax value of disabled veterans' exemptions, covering both lost revenue and administrative costs. Municipalities must certify exemption numbers and amounts by June 1 each year, and the state will fund this through the existing property tax system. This replaces the current practice where municipalities alone absorbed these costs, which sometimes led to higher taxes for other residents or reduced services.

Maddy summaryS 2561 prohibits New Jersey local governments from authorizing noncitizens to vote in local elections. It declares any local ordinance or resolution permitting noncitizen voting null and void, and states that elected officials who approve such policies violate their oath of office. This violation would be enforced under the state's Local Government Ethics Law, subject to potential fines. The bill directly affects municipalities and their elected officials by ensuring only U.S. citizens can participate in local elections as required by state law.

Maddy summaryS 2557 regulates the sale and planting of running bamboo (genus *Phyllostachys*, including *P. aureosulcata*) in New Jersey. It requires sellers to be certified nurserymen and planters to be licensed landscape architects or registered home improvement contractors, with strict rules preventing planting within 100 feet of property lines or public rights-of-way without root barriers or contained containers. Violations carry $100 fines for first offenses and $250 for repeat offenses, with courts reporting violations to the Division of Consumer Affairs, which may use repeated reports to review licenses. The bill also mandates property disclosure about past bamboo presence during real estate sales and holds property owners responsible for maintaining compliance to avoid liability for damage to adjacent properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows nurses with a multistate nursing license to qualify for school nurse certification in New Jersey. It amends current law to include multistate licenses (under the enhanced multistate Nurse Licensure Compact) as a valid license type for obtaining school nurse endorsements, substitute credentials, and non-instructional roles. The change specifically updates requirements in P.L.1999, c.153 and P.L.2017, c.70 to replace "New Jersey registered nurse license" with "multistate license" where applicable. Nurses must still meet all other certification standards, including a bachelor's degree, required coursework, and clinical experience.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $100 million to provide financial assistance to New Jersey residents directly impacted by Hurricane Ida's remnants in September 2021. It targets eligible property owners, renters, and vehicle owners who experienced damage to their primary residence or transportation, with eligibility based on federal disaster program qualification or documented damage (e.g., FEMA evidence or $100+ repair costs). The Division of Disaster Recovery and Mitigation will administer grants covering rental assistance, property repairs, vehicle replacement, uninsured personal property, and disaster mitigation projects. Funds must be disbursed within a defined application process, with a final report to the Governor and Legislature detailing recipients and outcomes within one year of fund disbursement.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's State Board of Education from requiring teachers to use "student growth objectives" (assessments measuring student progress) in their annual evaluations. Currently, these objectives account for 15-50% of a teacher's evaluation score under existing rules. The bill would remove this requirement entirely, meaning the State Board could no longer mandate such assessments as part of teacher evaluations. It directly affects all public school teachers in New Jersey by changing how their performance is measured. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1470 establishes that public safety workers (firefighters, police, EMTs) who responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks and participate in the federal World Trade Center Health Program are deemed eligible for state workers' compensation benefits for related illnesses or injuries. The bill creates a presumption of compensability regardless of when a claim is filed, provided the worker is enrolled in the federal health program. Workers must file claims within two years of the bill's effective date or when they knew of a disability linked to 9/11 exposure, and prior benefits from federal or other state programs reduce new awards. Employers and government entities must notify affected workers and their families within three months of the bill's enactment about this eligibility.