Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3208 prohibits public colleges and universities from receiving state funds if they boycott or divest from Israel-supporting businesses or Israeli entities. Specifically, institutions violating this rule lose access to state operating aid, education facility bonds, general obligation bonds, and student scholarship funds administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. The bill defines prohibited actions as boycotting Israel-related businesses, divesting due to a company's support for Israel, or participating in the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement. It explicitly excludes divestment for prudent economic reasons, focusing only on actions tied to Israel-related pressure campaigns.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows specific New Jersey school districts facing state aid cuts to submit their budgets after the state's FY2025 budget is finalized. It applies only to districts where the proposed state aid reduction exceeds their unused tax authority ("banked cap") under current law. The Commissioner of Education must permit these districts to submit budgets within five days of the FY2025 appropriations act's enactment, with the option to adjust the budget calendar to a compressed timeline. The change is limited to the 2024-2025 school year only.

Maddy summarySCR 104 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the New Jersey Senate condemning hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing the religion's global significance and Hindu Americans' contributions to society. The resolution defines hinduphobia as "antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes" toward Hinduism and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes. Copies will be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's Congress members, and the Hindu American Foundation. It has no legal effect beyond expressing the state's stance.

Maddy summaryS 3110 creates the "Two to Four Tuition Free Students Program," providing free tuition for eligible New Jersey students who choose to complete their first two years at a county college (to earn an associate degree) before transferring to a four-year public or participating independent institution for their final two years (to earn a bachelor's degree). To qualify, students must be accepted to a four-year institution, meet income-based eligibility for state tuition aid, elect to attend their home county college for two years, defer admission to the four-year school, and have a New Jersey Eligibility Index under 2500. The program requires four-year institutions to grant a two-year deferment and fully transfer credits from the county college, while independent institutions participating may charge students for tuition above the grant amount (set at the average cost of public four-year schools). Any state savings from the program will be reinvested to expand eligibility, and annual reports will track participation, graduation rates, and cost savings.

Maddy summaryS3092 limits annual reductions in New Jersey state school aid for public school districts to no more than 5% compared to the previous year's funding. It ensures districts receive either their calculated aid amount under existing law or last year's amount minus up to a 5% cut, whichever is greater. County vocational school districts are included, receiving the larger of the new calculation or their prior year's aid with vocational stabilization. The bill applies starting the 2024-2025 school year and remains in effect for all future years.

Maddy summaryS 3070 provides supplemental state school aid to New Jersey school districts facing aid reductions exceeding 1% of their 2023-2024 operating budget for the 2024-2025 school year. It ensures districts receiving more than a 1% reduction in state aid will get supplemental funds equal to the excess amount, capping reductions at 1% of their prior year budget. To receive this aid, districts must submit a written plan to the Commissioner of Education detailing how they will fund operations in future years without similar aid. The bill excludes county vocational school districts already receiving vocational expansion stabilization aid under existing law. The funding comes from the Property Tax Relief Fund and applies immediately for the 2024-2025 school year.

Maddy summaryS 3060 requires all health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover annual prostate cancer screening without out-of-pocket costs for men aged 40 to 75. This expands current law, which previously only mandated coverage for men 50+ or 40+ with risk factors, by broadening the age range and defining "prostate cancer screening" to include digital rectal exams, PSA tests, and follow-up diagnostics like imaging and biomarker tests. The bill applies to all health plans, including group policies, HMOs, individual plans, and state health benefit programs. It takes effect 90 days after enactment for all new or renewed contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill abolishes New Jersey's Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) and replaces its system with a new municipal framework for meeting affordable housing obligations. Municipalities must now determine their own "fair share" of low- and moderate-income housing through binding resolutions, using state-published calculations, while allowing advocates to contest these determinations. The law appropriates $16 million for housing programs to support new construction and rehabilitation of substandard housing, particularly in urban areas. It directly affects all New Jersey municipalities and low-to-moderate-income residents seeking housing, ending regional contribution agreements and establishing clearer deadlines to prevent previous compliance gaps.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Life Sciences Internship Challenge" program to provide tax credit subsidies for summer internships in the life sciences sector. It directly affects eligible New Jersey students (residents or full-time NJ college students who completed two years of study) and qualifying life sciences companies (with NJ research labs, fewer than 100 employees, and NJ headquarters). The program caps subsidies at 150 internships per academic year, with tax credits covering up to $15 per hour (capped at 20 hours weekly for 12 weeks) for wages paid to interns. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority administers the program, matching students to companies and issuing tax credits to qualifying employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits campaigning or electioneering (like distributing materials or speaking about candidates) within 25 feet of any voter waiting in line at a polling place or ballot drop box. It tightens previous rules by reducing the protected zone from 100 feet around the polling location to a 25-foot buffer specifically around waiting voters. Violating this rule is classified as a disorderly persons offense (a minor criminal violation in New Jersey). The law directly affects campaign volunteers, candidates, and supporters who might approach voters during line waits, while allowing nonpartisan voter assistance and newspaper racks.