Sen. Britnee Timberlake

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $615,000 in supplemental funding from the state General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) for a grant to the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership. The funding supports the existing statewide 2-1-1 service, which connects New Jersey residents to social services, health resources, and emergency assistance through a single phone number (2-1-1). The NJ 2-1-1 Partnership has served as the designated administrator of the 2-1-1 service in New Jersey since 2002, following state and federal designations. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but was withdrawn the same day as it was already covered under another enacted law (P.L.2025, c.394).

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey employers with a temporary tax credit of 50% (up to $50,000 per year) against corporation business and gross income taxes for costs spent building, renovating, or improving real property used to operate on-site child care centers. The credit directly affects businesses that construct or maintain facilities primarily serving the children of their own employees. To qualify, employers must commit to operating the child care center for 60 consecutive months and enter a binding agreement with the state director to verify expenses and maintain compliance. The credit is available for three calendar years following the bill's effective date and requires documentation to prevent misuse.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Fire Station Rehabilitation and Maintenance Code requiring paid and part-paid fire departments in New Jersey to conduct annual testing for hazardous substances like asbestos, mold, and lead (every six months for pre-1978 stations), remediate findings within six months, and install HEPA air purification systems and carbon-filter HVAC systems. It mandates new fire stations to include these safety features and requires all stations to add steam rooms for firefighter detoxification after exposure to cancer-causing agents. A $140 million Fire Station Rehabilitation Fund will provide grants and loans to fire departments serving municipalities with populations of 300,000 or more to cover compliance costs and equipment replacement. The law directly affects fire departments in larger communities, focusing on physical infrastructure safety and health protections for firefighters.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2897) allows parents or legal custodians separated from their children due to immigration enforcement actions - such as arrest, detention, or removal - to appoint a standby guardian for their child. It creates a legal process where a parent can formally designate someone to temporarily care for their child without losing parental rights, triggered specifically by immigration-related separation. The bill defines "administrative separation" to include federal immigration actions and requires written consent from the parent, without needing medical documentation for immigration-related cases. This amendment to New Jersey’s existing standby guardianship law explicitly addresses gaps for families facing immigration enforcement, ensuring children have a designated caretaker during such separations.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation within New Jersey's Department of Treasury. It directly assists families (beneficiaries) of emergency responders - such as law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel - who die in the line of duty. The office, led by a survivor support liaison and staffed by at least three other beneficiaries of fallen responders, provides guidance on applying for municipal, state, federal, and private survivor benefits, maintains contact with families, and summarizes eligible benefits. The bill appropriates $1 million annually from the General Fund and honors three specific responders (Captains Augusto Acabou and Wayne Brooks, and Firefighter Marques Hudson) through its designation.

Maddy summaryS 2683 requires all health care providers (like doctors, nurses, and nurse practitioners) working in New Jersey urgent care facilities to hold the same licenses and qualifications as those needed for emergency room staff at general hospitals. This applies to providers treating acute but non-life-threatening conditions through walk-in care. The bill immediately mandates this credential parity for all urgent care facilities, aligning their staffing standards with hospital emergency departments.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes the Safe Remote Learning Program within the Department of Education to support public schools (including charter and renaissance schools) providing remote instruction due to the pandemic. It requires schools to set up facilities meeting health/safety standards, equipped with necessary technology (like connected devices and internet access), and staffed during all hours. The state will reimburse schools for facility costs using federal pandemic relief funds first, then state funds if needed. Schools must prioritize student access for those eligible for free meals or with essential worker parents, and allow nearby facility access if space is limited.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends a 5-business-day grace period for rent payments to tenants receiving public assistance, preventing landlords from charging late fees during this time. It directly affects qualified tenants who receive benefits like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Work First New Jersey payments. The key change requires the grace period to start only after the tenant receives their final monthly public assistance payment, and leases must specify scheduled payment dates. Landlords cannot impose late charges before the grace period begins, aligning the timing with when tenants typically receive their assistance funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires producers of packaging and paper products sold in New Jersey to implement environmentally sound management plans for their products. It creates a system where producers must join or form Producer Responsibility Organizations (PROs) to manage the end-of-life disposal of covered products through recycling, composting, or reuse - excluding landfilling and certain energy recovery methods. Key provisions include defining "covered products" (like food containers, bags, and beverage packaging), setting recycling rate targets, and mandating that PROs ensure compliance with environmental standards, particularly in overburdened communities. The law shifts responsibility for waste management from municipalities to producers, aiming to reduce landfill waste and promote sustainable product lifecycle practices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all new front-loading washing machines and dryers sold in New Jersey to have child safety locks that prevent small children from opening the door. It also mandates manufacturers to provide free safety lock installations for existing machines sold without them, and vendors must notify consumers about the risks and provide warning stickers. The law addresses a documented safety risk: since 2014, the CPSC reported at least three child deaths and 3,000 injuries from children becoming trapped in these appliances. It directly affects manufacturers, retailers, and consumers who own front-loading machines purchased before the law takes effect.