Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryS 2001 allows military members on active duty (including National Guard and Reserve on specific orders) to participate remotely in meetings of local and state government bodies. It directly affects municipal governing members, county commissioners, school board members, and state board members serving in the military. The bill requires that remote participants count toward quorum for meetings and directs state departments to develop guidelines for remote participation. It defines "active duty" to include National Guard/Reserve members on orders under federal law (10 U.S.C. chapters 1209 or 1211). The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryS 3807 establishes a Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission to coordinate state services and prevent veteran suicides. The commission, composed of 13 members including veterans, agency representatives, and experts in veteran care, will review state programs, develop strategies, and track progress to improve support for veterans, service members, and their families. It will issue annual reports to the Governor and Legislature, conduct research and training, and enhance coordination among state, county, and local agencies. The goal is to strengthen veterans' transition to civilian life through better-coordinated care and services.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1253) establishes a three-year pilot program to study how therapy dogs in public elementary school wellness programs affect student well-being and learning. It requires school districts to apply with details about their schools and therapy dog plans, and the state will select two districts per region (south, central, north) to ensure urban, suburban, and rural representation. Participating districts will receive guidance on safe dog interactions, handler training, health monitoring, and insurance. The program mandates a final report evaluating academic and health outcomes after three years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5049) removes a current restriction that allows the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to withhold retirement or death benefits from members if they are involved in pending civil lawsuits related to their employment. It specifically prohibits the PFRS Board from delaying benefits due to such civil litigation, though it maintains the ability to withhold benefits for members facing criminal charges or administrative dismissal. The bill requires the Board to adjust benefits after any legal case concludes, rather than holding payments indefinitely during litigation. This change directly affects current and future PFRS members who are involved in employment-related civil disputes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4971) creates a "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA). It provides grants to small businesses in low-income communities (defined as municipalities under 10,000 population with >7.5% poverty rate) that suffered economic loss due to prolonged state infrastructure or construction projects. Grants are based on actual or projected revenue loss from closures or reduced business, with $750,000 appropriated from the General Fund to fund the program. Businesses must independently own and operate (<100 employees), be located in a qualifying community, and demonstrate project-related revenue loss to qualify.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey retailers to disclose the portion of a product's final price caused by tariffs and import taxes. Retailers must show this information on price tags, online listings, or receipts, and maintain records of tariff calculations. It exempts small businesses with under $500,000 annual revenue and products where tariffs impact less than 2% of the price. Retailers failing to comply face fines up to $500 per violation, with enforcement through periodic audits by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires bars and restaurants with certain alcohol licenses (plenary or seasonal retail consumption licenses) to sell beverage lids at or below wholesale cost to customers. Licensees must also prominently display a specific sign reading "Don’t get roofied! Drink lids available here" and post online details about the requirement. The law expires 30 months after enactment and exempts violations from standard penalties under existing alcohol licensing rules. It directly affects licensed establishments serving alcoholic beverages in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryS 4791 establishes a program offering guaranteed conditional admission to New Jersey's public colleges for eligible high school seniors based on academic merit. It requires the Secretary of Higher Education to set minimum academic standards considering GPA, class rank, rigorous coursework (like AP/IB classes), test scores, and state assessments. Eligible students must be NJ residents for at least one year and first-time applicants to full-time degree programs. The bill mandates annual reports tracking admitted students' demographics and assessing impacts on low-income students and out-migration, with admission not guaranteeing specific majors or programs.

Maddy summaryS 4789, "Dylan's Law," requires vessel owners, boating safety course providers, and personal watercraft sellers/renters to provide specific information about U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs). It mandates that vessel registration applications include details on when each PFD type is required or recommended under state/federal law, and that boating safety courses cover PFD types comprehensively. Sellers and renters of personal watercraft must provide this information to customers at the point of sale/rental and offer a Type I PFD (the highest-buoyancy type) for purchase or rental, regardless of other options. The law aims to improve awareness of PFD distinctions, directly affecting vessel owners, safety course participants, and watercraft renters/sellers.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $1 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Human Services specifically for transportation costs associated with the Larc Norcross School Special Needs Adult Program. It directly affects adults over age 21 with disabilities who participate in this program, which provides daily life support, therapy, and social activities after they transition out of school-based services. The funding addresses a gap where Medicaid coverage for transportation is insufficient, ensuring participants have reliable access to the program's services. This is a supplemental appropriation added to existing funding for the program's transportation needs.