Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryS 3488 authorizes New Jersey residents who own or lease vehicles to purchase special "We Support the Arts" license plates for a $50 one-time fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee. Proceeds from these fees - after covering administrative costs - are deposited into a dedicated "Support the Arts Fund" managed by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The fund directs all remaining money to the New Jersey State Council on the Arts to support arts programs across the state. This bill directly affects vehicle owners who choose to buy the specialty plates, creating a new revenue stream for arts funding without requiring state taxpayer money.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3492) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to provide email notification options for community members who want to be alerted when specific sex offender registry updates occur. It directly affects residents who request email alerts for sex offenders registering new addresses in different counties or zip codes, or when other registry information changes. Under the bill, individuals can choose to receive these email alerts for up to three counties or zip codes of their choice. The email notification method supplements existing community notification practices under Megan's Law but does not change the underlying requirements for sex offender registration.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey military spouses with a refundable $500 gross income tax credit to offset professional relicensing fees incurred when relocating to the state due to a permanent military change of station order. It directly affects spouses of active-duty service members who must relicense in professions they previously held in another state, covering fees for state-required licenses or certifications. The credit applies only to fees paid within 13 months of the military relocation order and excludes costs for professions not requiring state licensing. The policy creates a direct financial relief mechanism for military families facing career interruption during relocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to hire additional staff to reduce backlogs in processing professional license applications and renewals. It appropriates $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2028 specifically for this purpose, directly affecting license applicants and regulated professions like healthcare, engineering, and contracting. The Division must report yearly on staffing changes, backlog reductions, and spending details to the Governor and Legislature. This funding aims to improve efficiency in license processing, supporting economic development and consumer protection as stated in the bill.

Maddy summaryS 1082 creates the "Jersey Craft Beverage Retailer Promotion and Grant Program" to support New Jersey's craft beverage industry. It establishes a certification program for retailers selling at least 10% of their alcohol sales from local craft producers (breweries, cideries, distilleries), requiring them to display "Certified Jersey Craft Alcohol Beverage Retailer" signage. Qualified retailers can apply for grants up to $2,500 annually to fund capital improvements or promotional activities related to selling New Jersey-made beverages. Funding comes from 50% of tax revenues on craft beverage sales, administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority with input from the Division of Travel and Tourism.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax incentives for historic diners and restaurants in New Jersey that meet specific criteria. To qualify, an establishment must have operated continuously for at least 25 years (including pandemic-related closures), qualify as a small business, comply with health/safety rules, and (for restaurants) be family-owned. The bill creates an annual registry managed by the Division of Travel and Tourism, granting approved operators a 12-month sales tax exemption on prepared food/beverages sold for on-site consumption and corporation business/gross income tax credits. These benefits directly support qualifying historic eateries by reducing their tax burden.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3452, protects New Jersey employees who are registered medical cannabis patients from employment discrimination. It prohibits employers from taking adverse actions like firing, refusing to hire, or denying promotions based solely on medical cannabis use or a positive drug test, unless the employer proves the use impaired job performance. Employers must allow employees to explain a positive test with medical documentation (such as a healthcare recommendation or registry card) and offer a retest at the employee’s expense within three business days. The law does not override employer policies against intoxicating substances during work hours or federal law requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill reduces New Jersey's tax rate on cider and low-alcohol beverages to match the beer tax rate. Currently, cider (3.2%-7% alcohol by volume) is taxed at $0.15 per gallon, while beer pays $0.12 per gallon. The bill lowers cider's tax to $0.12/gallon and also reduces the tax on low-alcohol liquors (<9.9% ABV) from $5.50/gallon to $0.12/gallon. This change directly affects cider producers, beverage manufacturers selling low-alcohol products, and state revenue from these specific alcohol categories. The tax adjustment aims to align treatment between similar products without altering broader alcohol tax structures.

Maddy summaryS 3450 requires general acute care hospitals and clinical laboratories in New Jersey to collect and handle specific patient demographic data. Hospitals must implement cultural competency training for staff who gather race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and gender identity information, covering topics like inclusive communication and data use. Laboratories must electronically record these details for patients presenting with non-electronic orders, using standardized categories (e.g., "non-binary" for gender identity, "does not wish to disclose" options), and report the data to state disease surveillance systems. The bill directly affects healthcare providers using electronic medical records or lab systems, mandating new data collection and staff training protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's handicapped parking law to allow individuals diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to qualify for a handicapped parking placard. It adds PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions, requiring certification from a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist (in New Jersey, a bordering state, or stationed at a military facility). The certification must confirm that PTSD substantially limits mobility, aligning with existing medical certification standards for other disabilities. This change directly affects New Jersey residents with PTSD who meet the medical certification criteria, expanding access to accessible parking without altering the application process.