Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the authority managing regional rehabilitation and reentry centers in New Jersey to calculate how much each participating county should contribute to the center's budget. Instead of a separate tax levy being sent to the Board of Taxation, the authority's chief financial officer will certify the number of inmates from each county and determine their proportional financial share based on those figures. This change shifts the responsibility for assessing county contributions from a tax-based process to a direct calculation based on inmate population data. The legislation primarily affects the administrative operations of these centers and the financial reporting requirements for the counties involved.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Division of Travel and Tourism to create an official New Jersey Film Trail that highlights locations used for movies and television productions. The program will identify filming sites, install official markers at public locations, and oversee any markers placed by private entities while explicitly excluding private residences from the trail. To support visitors, the bill requires the creation of a searchable online map and website featuring driving directions, tour information, photos, and vacation itineraries that connect filming sites with nearby attractions. The initiative relies on public-private partnerships for funding and allows the state to accept financial assistance from private sources to cover marker-related costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Division of Travel and Tourism to create a "New Jersey Film Trail" that marks locations used for movies and television shows. The program will place official markers at state-owned sites and may install them on private property with owner consent, while explicitly excluding private residences from the trail. To build the trail, the division will accept public suggestions and verify locations with a state commission before adding them to a searchable online map and list. The initiative also includes a website feature that provides driving directions, tour information, and suggested vacation itineraries connecting filming sites with nearby attractions. Funding for these markers on private land must come from private sources, such as grants or donations, rather than public funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates December 18 of each year as "New Jersey History Day" to honor the state's role in American history and encourage civic engagement. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation for the day and allows school districts to observe it through activities like lessons on local history, student projects, and visits to historic sites. To support these efforts, the New Jersey Historical Commission will create educational resources, promote participation, and offer grants to schools and community groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands protections for victims of human trafficking and other sexual crimes by removing the statute of limitations for prosecuting these offenses. It establishes specialized human trafficking response teams and increases training requirements for professionals who may encounter trafficking situations. The legislation also appropriates $1 million to the Commission on Human Trafficking to support these initiatives. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to allow victims to testify via closed-circuit television in court to reduce trauma during legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the composition of New Jersey's State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling. It reduces the number of public members from three to two, adds one representative from public school vocational programs in cosmetology, and one from private cosmetology schools. The bill also broadens the requirement for licensed professionals on the board to include any licensed cosmetology, barbering, or hairstyling practitioner (instead of specifying those professions), while maintaining requirements for two hair braiding shop owners/operators and one State executive department member. These changes directly affect who serves on the board, which oversees licensing and regulations for cosmetology professionals in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to accept voluntary gifts, grants, or donations from the public and private sectors specifically for creating veteran suicide prevention public service announcements. Funds received must be deposited into a special nonlapsing fund managed by the State Treasurer and can only be used to produce these announcements. The bill directly affects the DVA, enabling it to expand its suicide prevention outreach efforts through external funding. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey businesses from using consumers' personal data - including biometric information, genetic data, or details about protected characteristics like race, age, or gender - to set prices for goods or services. It specifically bans "personalized algorithmic pricing" (using algorithms to adjust prices based on personal data) and "surveillance pricing" (customizing prices based on tracking consumer behavior). The law does not prevent businesses from offering standard discounts, promotions, or loyalty programs. It directly affects all businesses selling merchandise or services to New Jersey residents and enforces penalties of up to $20,000 per violation under the state's Consumer Fraud Act.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3411 establishes a Social Media Research Center at a public four-year university to study social media's impact on youth mental health. The center will research risks like excessive use linked to depression (e.g., double risk after 3+ hours daily), develop safe social media courses for public schools, and make recommendations to address mental health challenges. It will administer a competitive grant program for external research, modeled on NIH standards, and require state agencies to share relevant data upon request. The center must report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its research, funding, and future plans. This bill directly affects New Jersey students, schools, and state agencies focused on youth health and safety.

Maddy summaryS 3413, the "New Jersey Kids Code Act," requires online services likely accessed by minors to implement age-appropriate design standards. It directly affects major platforms with significant child users (like social media and gaming services), mandating default privacy settings that protect minors and prohibiting the use of their data for harmful purposes. Key provisions include designing products with children’s developmental needs in mind, preventing exposure to harmful content, and ensuring data practices don’t negatively impact minors’ well-being. The law adopts New Jersey’s version of an "Age-Appropriate Design Code" to create safer online experiences for children.