Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3431) exempts disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients from paying municipal parking meter fees when driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle displaying their special license plate or placard issued by New Jersey’s Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). It directly affects these veterans and recipients, allowing them to avoid parking fees in municipal lots or on-street meters. The exemption applies only when the vehicle displays the MVC-issued plate/placard and is not parked for more than 24 consecutive hours in one location. The bill amends existing law to clarify this exemption and requires the MVC to establish rules for issuing the special plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents with hearing impairments - identified by a specific code on their driver's license - to apply for a free windshield placard displaying the international symbol of the deaf. The placard must be displayed as directed by the Motor Vehicle Commission and cannot be used to access disability parking spaces, which require a separate placard under existing law. Drivers using the placard properly cannot be cited or fined for violating parking laws. The measure ensures clear identification for hearing-impaired drivers without altering existing disability parking eligibility.

Maddy summaryS 3455 establishes a "Student Mental Health Task Force" to examine mental health challenges faced by New Jersey students, including depression, anxiety, and trauma. The task force, composed of 17 members (including state agency heads and appointed representatives from education, mental health, and community organizations), will survey existing mental health resources in schools and communities across all counties and regions. It must develop recommendations to improve students' access to mental health services and support, focusing on identifying needs, assessing provider networks, funding sources, and potential partnerships with colleges. The bill does not create new programs but mandates a study to inform future policy. (S 3455, introduced February 9, 2026)

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for New Jersey's annual appropriations process. It mandates that the appropriations bill must be introduced by June 1 of the prior fiscal year, provide 14 days of public notice with at least one hearing, and include a written explanation of significant budget changes compared to the Governor's recommendations. The bill also requires spending agencies to submit multi-year revenue and expenditure projections (for the next two fiscal years) as informational data, not binding targets. These changes apply to the Legislature's budget drafting and approval process, aiming to increase transparency and accountability in state spending decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create and maintain a comprehensive Statewide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Plan. The plan must include regional strategies developed with county health boards, assess current EMS resources and effectiveness, set performance goals for response times and access, and establish metrics for improvement. It directly affects all emergency medical services providers across New Jersey and aims to improve emergency care for all residents by reducing response times, expanding access to high-quality care, and coordinating ambulance, hospital, and trauma center services. The DOH must update the plan every three years and make it publicly available online.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey program that allows certified first-time home buyers to open special savings accounts at participating banks or credit unions. Account holders can contribute up to $15,000 per year (with a lifetime limit of $75,000) and earn tax-free growth on those funds, with the account balance capped at $150,000 annually. Funds can only be withdrawn to cover down payments and closing costs for a primary residence purchase, and withdrawals for other purposes require tax reporting. The program is administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to encourage home ownership through tax-advantaged savings.

Maddy summaryS 3289 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education, with input from the Division of Criminal Justice, to create a sexual assault prevention training program for high school athletic directors and coaches. The program must teach prevention strategies, how to recognize signs of sexual assault, and information about victim services (including medical, legal, and counseling resources) following existing state protocols. All coaches and athletic directors in public and nonpublic high school sports programs must complete this training every four years, with new appointees required to finish it within their first year. The training must be updated periodically to reflect current best practices in sexual assault prevention.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all coaches of school district and nonpublic school athletic activities in New Jersey to hold current CPR certification. The Department of Education must create a free, state-funded program to help coaches obtain this certification, using evidence-based national guidelines and hands-on training modeled after programs by the American Red Cross or American Heart Association. The program will include a practical learning component for each coach and cover all implementation costs, which the state will bear. This policy directly affects school coaches by mandating accessible CPR training without personal expense.

Maddy summaryS 3294 requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to create a publicly available career and education guide specifically for undergraduate and graduate students with disabilities attending the state's colleges and universities. The guide must detail institutional resources (like disability career centers, internships, and accommodations), provide practical career guidance (including employer disclosure tips and workplace accommodation strategies), and list national/regional support organizations. It mandates that each higher education institution in New Jersey report its available services to the Secretary for inclusion in the guide. The Secretary must post the finalized guide on the state's website within 90 days of the bill's enactment. This policy directly affects students with disabilities navigating higher education and career transitions across all New Jersey institutions.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3206 establishes a Military Suicide Prevention Task Force to reduce and develop a plan for eliminating suicides among active-duty military members and veterans. The task force, composed of 17 members including state agency leaders and public representatives with specific expertise (such as veterans, mental health professionals, and specialists in homelessness or disability services), will recommend comprehensive strategies and programs to prevent military suicides. It must meet at least every other month, provide a detailed plan for suicide elimination, and submit recommendations to the state. Task force members serve without pay but receive reimbursement for necessary expenses.