Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2163) requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to provide a monthly report to specified veteran organizations, county officers, and municipal registers listing names of individuals buried or cremated in state veteran cemeteries. The reports must include only names for which a family representative has signed a waiver permitting disclosure, and the information may be transmitted electronically. The bill explicitly states that these monthly reports and waivers are confidential and not subject to public records disclosure laws. It defines "veteran organizations" as those qualifying under IRS 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) categories or federally chartered Veterans Service Organizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to improve collaboration between local workforce development boards and community colleges in New Jersey. The pilot will operate in three areas, focusing on jointly developing workforce training programs with industry credentials, coordinating marketing efforts, and integrating funding resources to better serve job seekers. It designates community colleges as the preferred providers for state workforce training and adult literacy programs, replacing previous arrangements. The State Employment and Training Commission will manage the pilot, develop a statewide expansion strategy, and submit annual reports on outcomes like employment rates and credential attainment. Funding will come from state and federal sources, prioritizing federal funds where available.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's voter registration process by integrating it directly into Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) services. It allows residents to register to vote when applying for or renewing a driver's license at an MVC office, requiring the MVC to transmit registration details to the state's voter system. The bill also expands automatic voter registration to other state agencies (like the Medical Assistance and Health Services Program), which will automatically send eligibility information for voter registration (with an opt-out option) when individuals apply for services. These changes directly affect New Jersey residents interacting with MVC or participating in state social services programs, aiming to increase registration rates through routine state agency visits.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2373 (the "New Jersey First Responders PTSD Protection Act"), protects paid first responders (including police, firefighters, EMTs, and 911 dispatchers) who are diagnosed with work-related PTSD. It prohibits public employers from firing, harassing, or discriminating against these employees for taking leave related to a PTSD diagnosis verified by a licensed medical professional. Employers must reinstate employees to their prior roles after medical clearance and face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per violation if they retaliate. The law applies only when PTSD arises from trauma directly tied to job duties, such as witnessing incidents or experiencing vicarious trauma while performing official responsibilities.

Maddy summaryThe bill (A4182) establishes labor protections for cannabis workers in New Jersey who are not covered by federal labor laws. It requires cannabis employers to provide employee contact information to worker organizations seeking representation and allows those organizations to meet with workers on premises. The bill prohibits both employers and worker organizations from engaging in unfair labor practices, including interference with organizing efforts or refusal to negotiate. Employers who violate the law face penalties up to $5,000 per day and must compensate affected workers. This extends rights similar to those provided to most private sector workers under federal law to cannabis workers who were previously excluded.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school counselors, psychologists, and other mental health professionals in New Jersey public schools to refer students to private licensed mental health providers (such as psychologists or social workers) for assessments and services. It prohibits referrals to a provider if the school staff or their immediate family has a significant financial interest in that provider. Parents or guardians must consent for students who cannot legally consent themselves, and neither the school district nor the referring staff bears the cost of these private services. The bill does not restrict schools from providing mental health services directly to students. It aims to expand access to mental health care through school-based referrals while maintaining safeguards.

Maddy summaryS 4387 requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to create an automated tracking system for licensees in regulated professions (like healthcare or real estate) who must complete continuing education to renew their licenses. The system will automatically monitor each licensee’s completed education hours and verify compliance before license renewal. It specifically allows regulating boards to still address individual hardships, even if a licensee hasn’t met requirements. This bill affects professionals needing continuing education to maintain their licenses, ensuring timely compliance checks. The system must be implemented within 13 months of the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets fixed minimum funding levels for programs funded by New Jersey's hotel and motel occupancy fee, effective fiscal year 2027. It requires $31.9 million annually for the State Council on the Arts, $5.5 million for the Historical Commission, $17.6 million for tourism advertising (via the Division of Travel and Tourism), and $720,000 for the Cultural Trust. The bill also appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the Division of Travel and Tourism for tourism advertising, ensuring a total of $17.6 million for this purpose in fiscal year 2026. Additionally, it clarifies that failure to appropriate these minimum amounts would trigger a "poison pill" provision, halting occupancy fee collection.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows winery license holders who produce no more than 250,000 gallons of wine annually to sell their wine to other wineries within New Jersey or to wineries outside the state, following the purchasing winery's regulations. It also establishes a new "supplemental wine production facility sublicense" that permits these wineries to produce wine at facilities they own or lease, separate from their main winery location. Wine sold to other wineries doesn't count toward the seller's annual production total but does count toward the buyer's total for fee calculations and eligibility. The sublicense requires a $750 fee and prohibits retail sales at the supplemental facility. This change provides wineries with more flexibility in production and distribution while maintaining New Jersey's wine production regulations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4848) requires doctors and nurses to screen pregnant patients for lead exposure if they identify risk factors - such as living in older housing - based on CDC and medical guidelines. It mandates one lead screening per pregnancy for at-risk patients, with providers notifying patients of elevated lead levels and ensuring children under six in the household are screened. Patients can refuse testing in writing, and labs must report results to health departments within five business days. The law applies to all pregnant individuals in New Jersey receiving care from covered healthcare providers, aiming to prevent lead poisoning during pregnancy.