Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to conduct background checks on all current and prospective officials (like referees) for high school sports events it sanctions. Officials must submit fingerprints and consent, with checks run through state and federal databases to identify convictions for specific disqualifying crimes listed in the law. Officials with such convictions are barred from officiating, and the NJSIAA must take action if pending charges later result in conviction. Existing officials have 60 days after the law takes effect to comply with this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to create "250th Anniversary Revolutionary War" license plates for motor vehicles registered in the state. Vehicle owners who apply will pay a $50 one-time fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, with the additional funds (after covering administrative costs) deposited into a dedicated fund to support Revolutionary War site preservation across New Jersey. The program requires the New Jersey Historical Commission to cover initial costs (up to $25,000) and provide 500 completed applications before implementation. The license plate design will be selected by the Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Historical Commission, and the program may end if annual costs exceed the $50 fee for two consecutive years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 900) changes New Jersey's unemployment benefits law to exempt wages paid to poll workers from being counted when calculating eligibility and benefit amounts. Specifically, it amends the definition of "average annual payroll" to exclude poll workers' wages, ensuring their temporary election-related earnings don't reduce their unemployment benefits. This directly affects poll workers who serve during elections and may later qualify for unemployment benefits. The change modifies how the state calculates payroll data for unemployment purposes, without altering other eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create and issue special license plates for disabled veterans, allowing them to park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities without needing additional permits. To qualify, veterans must be New Jersey residents certified by the federal VA as having a service-connected disability, and the plates - displaying "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol - will be free of charge. The plates are non-transferable and must be visibly displayed on the vehicle to use reserved parking, replacing the need for separate disability placards. Misuse of the plates can result in revocation and forfeiture of the license plate.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow restaurants and licensed alcoholic beverage retailers (including bars, wineries, breweries, and distilleries) to operate in designated outdoor spaces adjacent to their business premises, including on public sidewalks. It creates a "premises expansion permit" process requiring applications to either the Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (for licensed businesses) or municipal zoning officers (for restaurants without alcohol licenses), with requirements for security plans and property descriptions. Municipalities may regulate hours of operation but must allow outdoor service outside specific hours (10pm-11am on Sundays-Wednesdays, and 12am-11am on Thurs-Sat), and cannot prohibit outdoor service for businesses already operating under legal or disciplinary restrictions. The bill specifies that State-owned rights-of-way require separate approval from the New Jersey Department of Transportation, with setback requirements for roads intersecting state highways.

Maddy summarySJR 94 is a commemorative resolution designating October 27th each year as "Tree of Life Remembrance Day" in New Jersey. It honors the victims of the October 27, 2018, mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where 11 people were killed and six injured. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the day with appropriate remembrance activities. This is a purely symbolic measure with no new legal requirements or funding, focusing solely on annual commemoration.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 98) commemorates two milestones: the 45th anniversary of the U.S. Taiwan Relations Act (enacted April 10, 1979) and the 35th anniversary of New Jersey’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan. It formally recognizes the longstanding economic and diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Taiwan, including $127.5 billion in bilateral trade in 2023, and highlights New Jersey’s $723 million in exports to Taiwan and 200 Taiwanese companies investing in the state. The resolution directs the Senate to send copies to the American Institute in Taiwan and Taiwan’s New York representative office, expressing support for continued economic and educational collaboration. As a commemorative resolution, it does not create new laws or alter policy.

Maddy summaryThis resolution urges Congress to make Election Day (the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November) a federal holiday in the United States. It directly addresses Congress, seeking to establish a national holiday to increase voter participation by removing scheduling conflicts that prevent eligible citizens from voting. The resolution cites low national voter turnout (averaging 50%) as a key issue, noting that 8 states and Puerto Rico already observe Election Day as a holiday to encourage civic engagement. It emphasizes that making Election Day a federal holiday would improve accessibility to polling places and better align U.S. election timing with practices in countries like Australia and Germany, which see higher turnout.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement officers to complete training on using epinephrine auto-injectors for emergency allergic reactions and to carry a one-dose device while on duty. Police departments must provide each officer with an auto-injector and ensure they are available in all patrol vehicles or medical kits. The law applies to permanent, full-time officers with arrest authority who already undergo mandated police training. It mandates certification of training completion and requires departments to maintain these devices, aligning with health department protocols. The policy directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies and their sworn officers.

Maddy summarySJR 33 designates March 16 each year as "Paws Healing Heroes Day" in New Jersey to raise public awareness of service dogs that assist veterans with conditions like PTSD, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and seizures. The resolution recognizes that 29% of veterans from recent conflicts experience PTSD and 28% experience TBI, and highlights how service dogs - trained by nonprofits like Paws Healing Heroes - help manage these conditions at a cost of $3,000-$5,000 per dog (not covered by insurance). It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day. This is a recognition resolution, not a law creating new requirements or funding.