Sen. Benjie Wimberly

Maddy summaryS 3068 makes it a serious felony (first-degree crime) for law enforcement officers - including police, corrections staff, probation officers, and sheriffs - to intentionally block someone’s nose or mouth or apply a chokehold that causes serious injury or death. The bill specifically targets officers acting in their official capacity while wearing uniforms or displaying authority. It defines "chokehold" broadly to include any pressure on the throat or windpipe that hinders breathing, with penalties of up to 20 years in prison or a $200,000 fine. This law directly affects all New Jersey municipal, county, and state law enforcement personnel covered by the bill’s definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1795) requires that only licensed architects or professional engineers (referred to as "registered design professionals") or employees of certified fire escape contractors may install, service, repair, inspect, or maintain fire escapes in New Jersey. It defines "fire escape contractor" as requiring certification from the state commissioner and specifies that only certified individuals or licensed professionals can legally perform these tasks. The bill directly affects fire escape contractors, building owners requiring fire escape work, and property managers responsible for maintenance. It aims to standardize qualifications for fire escape work to ensure safety through professional oversight.

Maddy summaryS 3043 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a sensitivity training program for high school athletic staff, including coaches, athletic directors, and sports officials. The training covers topics like gender/sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, disabilities, religious tolerance, unconscious bias, and diversity. All coaches, athletic directors, and sports officials must complete this training every four years, with new hires required to complete it in their first year. The program must be developed with input from the Division on Civil Rights and will apply to both public and nonpublic school athletic programs statewide. The bill was introduced to the Senate Education Committee on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new licensure pathway for non-hospital inpatient mental health treatment facilities in New Jersey, specifically for adolescents (12-21) and adults requiring 45-120 days of comprehensive care. It mandates strict standards including national accreditation, specific staffing ratios (like licensed psychiatrists and trauma-informed therapists), mandatory staff training, and facility safety protocols. The bill also establishes a workforce program to address mental health professional shortages through training grants, loan forgiveness, and salary incentives. These licensed facilities must integrate with existing care systems, submit annual outcome reports, and operate under oversight by the Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey courts to place juveniles convicted of specific motor vehicle offenses - such as theft or unlawful taking of a vehicle (crimes that would apply to adults) - on home detention instead of incarceration. It applies only to juveniles adjudicated delinquent for these offenses and limits home detention to a maximum of 60 days. During this period, juveniles may leave home for approved activities like school, work, court appearances, or counseling, as determined by the court. The provision adds home detention as an explicit sentencing option under existing juvenile justice law, emphasizing community-based supervision over confinement.

Maddy summaryS 249 establishes a three-year oral health pilot program (the "MOM Project") in New Jersey's Department of Health, targeting low-income pregnant women and new mothers who live in medically underserved areas and are not enrolled in Medicaid. The program provides free oral health education (at least three hours covering hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention), followed by one year of dental care including cleanings, risk assessments, and necessary treatments through community health centers. It appropriates $4.15 million to fund outreach, education, and dental services, requiring participating centers to partner with nonprofit maternal health groups to develop personalized treatment plans. The initiative aims to improve oral health outcomes for mothers and infants while collecting data on the program's impact.

Maddy summaryThis bill legalizes personal cultivation and possession of marijuana plants for adults aged 21 or older in New Jersey. It allows individuals to grow and possess up to six marijuana plants for recreational use (with a maximum of 12 plants per household), and qualifying medical patients or their designated caregivers to grow and possess up to 10 plants for medical use (also capped at 12 plants per household). The bill amends criminal law to remove penalties for these specific amounts, making such activity not a crime, offense, or civil violation. It applies only to personal use and does not authorize commercial sales or cultivation beyond these limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to purchase tourniquets and train staff on their use. Each county superintendent must distribute up to $500,000 in state funds to school boards for tourniquet purchases, with tourniquets kept in unlocked, clearly marked locations accessible during school hours and school events. School boards must provide annual training for school nurses, safety officers, and teachers on tourniquet use and bleeding control, potentially partnering with local emergency services. The bill mandates annual staff participation in training and requires school boards to submit compliance statements to county superintendents. It applies directly to all public schools in New Jersey counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in New Jersey's Office of Administrative Law to enroll in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), removing them from an existing exclusion. Currently, ALJs are excluded from this retirement system under state law, but the bill amends Section 2(a)(2) of P.L. 2007, c.92 to include them. The change directly affects ALJs who serve in the Office of Administrative Law within the Department of State. It does not alter retirement benefits or create new provisions - only updates their mandatory enrollment status in the existing PERS framework.

Maddy summaryS 3053 extends New Jersey's allowable timeframe for municipalities to conduct exterior-only property reassessments from four to eight years after the last full municipal revaluation that included interior inspections. This change reduces the frequency at which costly full revaluations (requiring interior property inspections) must be performed by local governments. Municipalities can now use exterior-only reassessments if interior inspections occurred within the previous eight years, rather than the current four-year requirement. The bill directly affects New Jersey municipalities managing property tax assessments, providing cost-saving flexibility without altering assessment methods.