Sen. Britnee Timberlake

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to provide thermal imaging body cameras, thermal imaging masks, and radio repeaters to fire departments serving New Jersey municipalities with 100,000 or more residents. Each qualifying municipality receives $150,000 every three years, to be divided equally among its fire organizations for purchasing or reimbursing these safety tools. The Division of Fire Safety will administer the program, contract for competitive pricing, and review equipment upgrades every five years to ensure effectiveness. The program targets fire departments in large cities to improve visibility during fires and enhance communication between units.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation within New Jersey's Department of Treasury. The office, led by a survivor support liaison (who must be a beneficiary of a fallen responder), will directly assist families of emergency responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) who die in the line of duty. It provides concrete support by helping beneficiaries apply for municipal, state, and federal benefits, private survivor programs, and scholarships, while summarizing eligible benefits and maintaining contact throughout the application process. The office is funded with $1,000,000 annually from the General Fund and is designated as "Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's Act" in honor of three fallen responders.

Maddy summaryS 3428 requires all land-based firefighters in New Jersey municipalities within the coastal zone (defined as those in the state's Coastal Management program) to complete Coast Guard-approved marine firefighting training. Firefighters must finish basic training within one year of the bill's effective date, advanced training within two years of basic completion, and ongoing in-service training every two years thereafter. The bill appropriates $140 million from the General Fund to fund these training courses and instructor qualifications, with recruit programs required to include the basic course. It also establishes a separate training pathway for firefighters to become certified marine firefighting instructors.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover cancer patients with Stage III, IV, or terminal cancer without cost-sharing for parenteral treatment (intravenous or similar medication administration) and survivorship care plans (follow-up care from diagnosis through end of life). It prohibits mortgage lenders from sending foreclosure notices to cancer patients during treatment, requires dismissal of foreclosure actions upon physician certification, and prevents creditors from initiating collection actions against such patients. The bill also mandates courts to grant up to 45 days of eviction protection for tenants undergoing cancer treatment upon physician certification, with the right to renew their lease after the stay. These provisions directly affect cancer patients in New Jersey undergoing treatment for advanced or terminal cancer, as well as health insurers, mortgage lenders, creditors, and landlords who interact with them.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates accidental death benefits for survivors of New Jersey police and fire officers (PFRS members). It requires adjusting the pension calculation using the same formula applied to active members' raises after the officer's death, increasing payments for surviving spouses, children, and companions. It also explicitly allows a "companion" (defined as a cohabiting partner meeting specific criteria) to receive the 70% pension if there is no surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents. The bill permits retroactive payments for companions of officers who died after January 1, 2023, if no spouse or children existed at the time of death.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially establishes five centers and programs at Rutgers University-Newark and allocates $6.5 million in annual state funding. It creates the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race (to research race-politics links and support student careers), the Center on Law, Inequality and Metropolitan Equity (to study systemic racism), the Center for Local Supply Chain Resiliency (to strengthen New Jersey's supply chains), the RE-OPEN program (to aid formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs), and the NJSTEP initiative (to provide college education for incarcerated individuals). Each center receives specific annual funding: $1 million for the first four, and $2.5 million for NJSTEP. The bill directly affects Rutgers Newark, students, formerly incarcerated individuals, and community groups engaged with these programs.

Maddy summaryS 3332 establishes a five-year "University Hospital Medical Cannabis Pilot Program" at University Hospital in New Jersey to provide medical cannabis treatment to eligible patients (residents registered with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission for conditions like cancer). The program requires University Hospital to create a dedicated research and treatment area, form an advisory council with patients and advocates, partner with academic/research institutions, integrate telehealth services, and provide innovative delivery methods (e.g., patches, inhalers). It mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on program effectiveness, patient outcomes, and recommendations for continuation, with funding provided from the General Fund. The pilot aims to evaluate medical cannabis efficacy, reduce stigma, and inform future healthcare policy through clinical research and community outreach.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 3370) prohibits colleges and universities from giving admission advantages based on a student's "legacy status," defined as having a family member who attended the same institution. It also bans preferential treatment for applicants connected to donors of the institution. The law applies to all higher education institutions in New Jersey and takes effect immediately. It directly affects admission decisions for students with family ties to alumni or donors.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Council for Community Recovery and Family Success to shift New Jersey's focus from crisis-based child and family services to preventive, holistic support. The council, composed of 25 members including state agency leaders and community representatives, will develop a statewide initiative centered on four pillars: positive family relationships, financial security, quality education, and health well-being. It will identify gaps in current services, recommend policy improvements, and establish county-level councils to coordinate preventive programs for at-risk infants, children, and families. The bill appropriates $4.0 million from the General Fund to implement these efforts, with the council required to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act," creating a program within the Department of Human Services to help migrants and refugees access public assistance programs. The program connects individuals (including those from Haiti, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of Congo) with resources like housing, healthcare, job training, education, and legal services. It requires the Department to collaborate with local governments and community groups, run multilingual outreach campaigns, and submit annual reports tracking program effectiveness and service details. The law takes effect immediately.