Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryS 1185 requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to create a free, statewide online database for local government legal notices. This bill directly affects municipalities, counties, and other local government units that currently publish legal notices in newspapers, allowing them to instead submit notices electronically to DCA without cost. Key provisions mandate DCA to maintain the database, enable local units to submit notices via a simple form, and provide public access through DCA's website. The database replaces newspaper publication requirements for these notices, making them searchable online for residents. The bill takes effect three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents New Jersey school districts from facing state aid cuts exceeding 5% compared to the previous year. It requires districts to receive either the newly calculated state aid amount or the prior year's funding reduced by no more than 5%. County vocational school districts receive the greater of this new calculation or their existing aid formula, which includes a 2017-2018 baseline. The policy applies starting the 2024-2025 school year and aims to stabilize funding for all public school districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a restriction that previously required limited breweries to sell beer only during guided tours. Now, these breweries can sell beer on-site without tying sales to tours, but must offer brewery tours during standard business hours when operations allow. It directly affects New Jersey's limited brewery license holders (those producing up to 300,000 barrels annually). The key change eliminates the prior "on-premises consumption only with tour" rule while mandating tour availability during open hours.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 549) amends New Jersey's brewery licensing laws to create three distinct license types for breweries: Plenary (full production), Limited (moderate production), and Restricted (small-scale, tied to restaurants). It sets specific annual production limits (up to 300,000 barrels for Plenary), defines fees based on output, and requires Restricted license holders to operate adjacent to restaurants with proper dining facilities. The bill also clarifies that breweries may offer 4-ounce samples at nominal cost or free during tours or events, but cannot sell food or operate restaurants on-site. These changes directly affect breweries seeking licenses and restaurants aiming to partner with small-scale brewers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a separate fringe benefit rate for New Jersey's public colleges and universities, starting in fiscal year 2025. Currently, these institutions use a general state rate that doesn't reflect their actual employee benefit costs - many staff are in the less expensive Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP) rather than the standard Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). The new rate will be based on the actual cost of retirement programs at these institutions and applied to all federal, dedicated, and non-State funded programs. This change directly affects public higher education funding by aligning benefit costs with actual employee retirement plan expenses.

Maddy summaryS 3027 establishes a temporary pilot program through New Jersey's Department of Health to provide pet food to low-income pet owners struggling to afford it for their cats and dogs. The bill appropriates $1 million to fund the program, directing the Department of Health to partner with selected non-profits and volunteer groups to set up pet food banks across the state. Key provisions include creating eligibility criteria, distributing pet food and monetary donations, and requiring a report to the legislature after one year on whether to make the program permanent. The program directly affects financially strained pet owners and participating non-profit organizations operating the food banks.

Maddy summaryS 2974 requires New Jersey judges, law enforcement officers, and court personnel to receive updated domestic violence training that specifically covers recognizing coercive control. Coercive control refers to patterns of manipulation that isolate or control a partner (like restricting access to friends, monitoring movements, or threatening immigration status). The bill amends existing training requirements to mandate this content as part of annual in-service training for all relevant personnel. It directly affects judges handling domestic violence cases, police officers, and court staff who process domestic violence complaints. The training will cover indicators of coercive control as defined in current law (N.J.S.A. 2C:25-29), including isolation, monitoring, and threats.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey state tax credit to help offset college costs. It provides a $750 credit for full-time tuition and maintenance payments (for the taxpayer or a dependent under 22) and a $375 credit for part-time attendance (with at least six credits per semester). The credit is applied against the taxpayer's gross income tax liability, directly benefiting families or individuals paying for New Jersey county college education. It aims to make community college more affordable by reducing the tax burden associated with these costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-run central registry to manage background checks for employees and volunteers in non-school youth organizations (like sports teams, after-school programs, and youth clubs). Organizations must register with the state and pay a fee to access the registry, which requires all staff and volunteers to undergo criminal background checks every two years. Individuals convicted of specific crimes - such as violence against children, certain drug offenses, or crimes against family members - would be disqualified from serving in these roles. The registry allows organizations to check a person's status securely and ensures disqualifying records are updated and shared across participating groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 715) creates a "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA). It provides grants to small businesses (defined as independently owned, employing fewer than 10 people with under $1.5 million in annual revenue) that suffer extended closures (over one month) due to state or public entity infrastructure or construction projects. The EDA would determine grant amounts based on the business’s operating expenses during the closure, funded by contributions from project entities (0-5% of the project’s estimated cost). Businesses must apply through the EDA, demonstrating eligibility under the defined criteria.