Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "creating false public alarms" (such as fake bomb threats) to New Jersey's bias intimidation law, making it a crime when done to intimidate people based on race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or other protected characteristics. It replaces a previously invalidated section of the law that focused on victims' perceptions rather than the perpetrator's intent. Bias intimidation involving false alarms will now be charged as one degree higher than the underlying offense, with potential sentences up to 30 years for serious cases. The law applies to anyone who creates false alarms with bias motives, expanding existing protections against hate-based intimidation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telemarketers making sales calls to display their actual name and phone number through caller identification services during the call. Specifically, they must accurately identify themselves within the first 30 seconds of contact and cannot block, falsify, or circumvent caller ID displays. It directly affects telemarketing companies and their call centers operating in New Jersey, applying to all unsolicited sales calls. The law aims to increase transparency for consumers by ensuring they can identify and verify telemarketers before engaging with them.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent "County Tourism Incentive Grant Fund" within the State Treasury to provide financial support for tourism advertising and promotion. It uses excess revenue from hotel and motel occupancy fees (leftover after budgeted amounts) to fund annual grants to counties. To receive funds, counties must apply by October 1, detail their advertising plans, and agree not to reduce existing tourism budgets or repay funds if misused. The grants are distributed based on each county's share of statewide hotel revenue, directly supporting local tourism marketing efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Smoke-Free Air Act to allow smoking in specific areas of casinos and casino simulcasting facilities approved by the Casino Control Commission. It permits smoking in no more than 25% of the casino floor or simulcasting facility, only in clearly marked areas, with strict requirements: smoking areas must be separated by solid walls/doors, have independent ventilation, and cannot be within 15 feet of table game pits. The bill directly affects licensed casinos (with 150+ slot machines or equivalent) and simulcasting facilities (with 50+ dedicated seats or 10+ table games). These provisions override local smoking bans adopted after January 1, 2022, for these specific venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey colleges and universities to install automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in every athletic facility and student center. The AEDs must be placed in unlocked, accessible locations with clear signage during normal operating hours, within reasonable distance of athletic fields. Institutions must also ensure at least two staff members are trained in CPR and AED use during operations, maintain devices per manufacturer guidelines, and notify emergency services of their location and type. The bill grants immunity from civil liability to institutions and staff using AEDs as required. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a free emergency notification system for all public and nonpublic schools. The system allows schools to alert students, staff, parents/guardians, and teachers during active shooter incidents on school grounds. Key features include: (1) letting users register any mobile device (like phones or tablets) to receive alerts, (2) ensuring compatibility with all device types, and (3) automatically connecting to local law enforcement or state police upon activation. Schools must customize the system using registered contacts but face no costs for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey Veteran Gravesite Maintenance Grant Program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). It provides grants to qualified veterans' organizations - defined as 501(c)(3) or 501(c)(19) tax-exempt groups or federally chartered veterans' service organizations - for maintaining veteran gravesites across the state. The DMVA must create application guidelines, set evaluation criteria, require grant recipients to report fund usage, and submit annual effectiveness reports to the Governor and Legislature. Implementation depends on future legislative funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants military service members and veterans who live in New Jersey and attend public colleges or universities priority in course registration. It applies to current active-duty members of the Armed Forces, Reserves, or National Guard, as well as honorably discharged veterans. The priority follows the same registration procedures already used for other student groups at the institution. The law takes effect immediately for the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2570) requires New Jersey cable TV companies to create and maintain a toll-free phone number for customers. It directly affects cable TV subscribers and the companies providing service, mandating that customers can report outages, get real-time updates on outage status, and receive estimated restoration times. Companies must prominently display this number on every customer bill and on their website homepage. The law takes effect immediately but has a 60-day delay before enforcement.

Maddy summaryS 2576 establishes a grant program within New Jersey's Department of State to fund the preservation and management of Revolutionary War battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites threatened by development. Local governments and qualified non-profit organizations can apply for competitive grants based on specific preservation plans, public benefit, and demonstrated management capabilities. The bill appropriates $50 million from the state's General Fund to support this initiative, aiming to protect these historically significant sites for future generations.