Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey Veteran Gravesite Maintenance Grant Program within the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). It provides grants to qualified nonprofit veterans' organizations (specifically 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt groups or federally chartered Veterans' Service Organizations) to help maintain veteran gravesites across the state. The DVA must develop application guidelines, monitor grant usage, require recipient reporting, and annually report program effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature. Funding for the program requires future legislative appropriation.

Maddy summaryS 3470 allows New Jersey to use reverse auctions for specific health care contracts under the State Health Benefits Program, School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and Medicaid Managed Care Program, excluding pharmacy benefit management contracts. In a reverse auction, health care providers would compete by lowering their prices in real-time to secure state contracts, aiming to achieve better value for taxpayers. The bill requires the state to document and later make public the details of any negotiations related to these contracts to ensure transparency. This change modifies existing procurement rules to expand competitive bidding options for these health benefits programs.

Maddy summaryS 3501 revises the membership structure of the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling, expanding it from 13 to 15 members. The bill adds two members representing public school vocational programs in cosmetology and two members representing private cosmetology schools, while reducing the number of public members from three to two. It also updates the requirement for six licensed professional members, now allowing any licensed cosmetologist, barber, or hairstylist (instead of specific roles like beauticians) to fill those positions. These changes directly affect the board's composition and how it represents industry professionals and educational institutions.

Maddy summaryS 3493 (Sponsored by Senators Beach & Corrado) upgrades penalties for assaulting healthcare workers at New Jersey facilities. The bill amends the assault statute to classify attacks on "health care workers employed by a licensed health care facility to provide direct patient care" and "health care professionals licensed to practice" as aggravated assault - rather than simple assault - when committed at healthcare, human services, or veterans' facilities. This change increases potential penalties for such assaults by elevating the offense level under New Jersey law. The bill directly affects healthcare staff (including direct patient care workers and licensed professionals) working in covered facilities. It does not address security guards specifically, as the text only expands protections to defined healthcare workers.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 73) urges the Governor and New Jersey Legislature to create incentive programs that encourage grocery stores and supermarkets to open in areas designated as "food deserts." Food deserts are communities - often low-income urban or rural areas - where residents lack access to fresh, nutritious food and rely on processed options, contributing to health issues. The resolution specifically proposes developing financial or policy incentives to attract grocery businesses to these underserved locations. It does not create new laws but formally requests legislative action to address food access gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3477) requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey - including Medicaid, private plans, and self-funded employer plans - to ensure mental health care access for all covered individuals. It mandates that carriers maintain sufficient mental health providers in their networks, guaranteeing 100% of enrollees can access in-person care within 15 miles and 30 days, or telehealth/telemedicine care within 30 days if in-person options are unavailable. Insurers must cover telehealth mental health services on the same terms as in-person visits, with no higher deductibles/copays and reimbursement rates at least matching Medicaid rates. The law applies to all health benefits plans (excluding accident-only, disability, or workers' compensation coverage) and establishes penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryS 3489, the "New Jersey First Responders Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Protection Act," provides employment protections for paid first responders - including law enforcement officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, and 9-1-1 dispatchers - diagnosed with PTSD from work-related trauma. It prohibits employers (public entities) from firing, harassing, or discriminating against employees taking leave for a qualifying PTSD diagnosis and requires reinstatement to the same position after leave if a mental health professional confirms fitness to return. A qualifying diagnosis must stem from a traumatic event during work duties or vicarious trauma from work, documented via Workers' Compensation orders or a mental health professional’s evaluation. Employees can sue for violations and seek remedies like reinstatement, back pay, or fines up to $10,000 per violation, with the law taking effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes New Jersey's prohibition on restaurants without liquor licenses from advertising that they allow patrons to bring their own beer or wine (BYOB) for on-premises consumption. It also permits these restaurants to advertise when wine is available for purchase from a salesroom located on the premises. Currently, such advertising is banned and violations could result in fines up to $1,000 or up to six months in jail. The change aligns with a court ruling that found the advertising ban unconstitutional under the First Amendment.

Maddy summaryS 3480 establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services within the Department of the Treasury (though separate from department oversight) to directly support individuals with mental illness and addiction. The Governor will appoint a qualified Ombudsman to help people find treatment, ensure proper care in facilities, provide confidential counseling and job guidance, and educate about substance use disorders. The Ombudsman must keep communications confidential and issue annual reports to the Governor, Legislature, and Human Services Commissioner, summarizing services and recommending improvements to state mental health and addiction programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3472) requires the State Capitol Joint Management Commission to create gallery space on State House grounds for displaying art created by New Jersey county residents. Each county’s art would be displayed for at least 60 days, with no overlap between counties, and the rotation schedule would be managed by the commission. The Director of Public Information, following commission standards, would select the specific artwork for display from each county. The bill establishes a structured, equitable system for rotating county art exhibitions without altering existing laws or allocating new funding.