Sen. Doug Steinhardt

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies representation rules for school districts that send students to another district (sending districts) on the receiving district's school board. Currently, a sending district gets one voting representative if its students make up 10% or more of the receiving district's enrollment in relevant grades. The bill adds that multiple sending districts collectively reaching at least 10% (but none individually qualifying) can secure one voting representative with board approval, or one non-voting representative if they fall below 10%. This directly affects sending districts with smaller but combined student enrollments in receiving districts.

Maddy summarySCR 53 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing New Jersey municipalities to offer property tax credits of up to 100% for the primary residences of active volunteer firefighters and volunteer first aid squad members. It directly affects volunteer first responders whose fire or first aid squad serves the municipality where they live. Municipalities would need to pass a local ordinance to implement the credit, which would apply only to property taxes on the volunteer's primary home. The amendment requires voter approval before taking effect, as it would amend the state constitution. This is a policy change enabling local governments to provide tax relief to volunteer emergency responders.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 740) expands protections for agricultural landowners by broadening the definition of "agricultural trespass" and increasing penalties for violations. It adds new categories of land to the definition, including cranberry bogs, orchards, nurseries, and woodlands contiguous to farms, plus equipment storage areas. The law now prohibits entering or remaining on such lands without written permission - covering activities like walking, riding horses, or operating vehicles - and damages to property (e.g., crops, fences, equipment). Violations now carry a $1,000 civil penalty (up from $100) plus costs for restoration, directly affecting farmers, landowners, and anyone entering agricultural properties without authorization.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide grants from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to help farmers replace inefficient or polluting agricultural equipment with more efficient, less polluting alternatives. Farmers applying for these grants must demonstrate that their old equipment has been permanently decommissioned. The grants are funded through a specific allocation (60%) of the Global Warming Solutions Fund, which was established under prior law to support greenhouse gas reduction initiatives. The primary goal is to reduce emissions from agricultural operations by modernizing equipment.

Maddy summaryS 1377 requires New Jersey municipalities, counties, and other political subdivisions to obtain pre-approval from the Secretary of State before entering into or ratifying any "sister city" or international partnership agreement with a foreign entity. The bill mandates that the Secretary of State verify the foreign entity's legitimacy and reputation through the newly established Office of Community Pairing Review. This policy directly affects all New Jersey local governments seeking international partnerships, aiming to prevent agreements like Newark's recent pact with a fictitious foreign city led by a criminal. The law takes immediate effect and is framed as a due diligence measure to protect the state from future diplomatic or reputational harm.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $2.5 million grant program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority to expand broadband access in rural areas lacking minimum service speeds (25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload). It provides grants of up to $75,000 per project to qualified applicants like internet providers or local governments, requiring 25% private matching funds for infrastructure projects in "unserved areas." The program prioritizes projects addressing these unserved areas, with applicants submitting detailed proposals on service gaps and project plans. The EDA must report annually on grant distribution, including the number of projects funded and locations served.

Maddy summarySJR 42 establishes a seven-member Commission on Apprenticeship Program Promotion to study how to better market apprenticeship programs to high school students. The commission includes the Labor and Education Commissioners (ex-officio), legislative leaders, the Governor, and required representatives from community colleges, manufacturing, and labor unions. It will examine effective ways to showcase the skills, education, and economic opportunities tied to apprenticeships - particularly registered programs meeting U.S. Department of Labor standards. The commission must issue a report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its formation, after which it will dissolve. This is a procedural resolution focused on research, not new policy or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a new tax on opioid drugs to fund treatment programs. It imposes a 1-cent-per-milligram tax on wholesale distributors when they first distribute opioid drugs in New Jersey. The collected revenue would go into the "Opioid Prevention and Rehabilitation Program Fund," which the state would use annually to support substance use disorder treatment for uninsured, underinsured, or Medicaid-enrolled individuals. The fund would be managed by the Department of Treasury and funded through this specific tax on opioid distributions. The bill is pending in the Senate Health Committee after its January 9, 2024, introduction.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds specific illicit fentanyl derivatives - including Furanyl Fentanyl, Carfentanyl, and 3-Methylfentanyl - to Schedule I of New Jersey's Controlled Dangerous Substances Act. Schedule I classification means these substances are deemed to have high abuse potential and no accepted medical use, making their possession or distribution illegal without authorization. The bill codifies a 2016 emergency order that had already temporarily added these substances to Schedule I, making the designation permanent through statute. This change directly affects law enforcement, pharmacies, and anyone handling these specific fentanyl derivatives, while leaving prescription fentanyl (a Schedule II substance) unaffected.

Maddy summaryS 1365 prohibits New Jersey's state pension and annuity funds from investing in Chinese pharmaceutical companies or any companies with business ties to them (defined as entities with ≥51% Chinese ownership/control or joint ventures). The law requires the state to divest existing violating investments within three years and mandates annual reports to the legislature on progress. It also protects state officials from legal liability for implementing the divestment. This directly affects New Jersey's pension funds and their investment portfolios, limiting holdings in specified Chinese-linked pharmaceutical entities.