Sen. Jim Beach

Maddy summaryThis bill adds cord blood banking services to New Jersey's medical expense tax deduction. It allows taxpayers to deduct costs for collecting and storing umbilical cord blood from their biological children or a dependent's biological children, provided the service is performed by a licensed provider meeting health department standards. The deduction applies to both preventative storage and immediate medical use of the stored blood. This expands the existing medical expense deduction to include these specific services under New Jersey's tax code.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts the value of certain reparations received by Holocaust survivors and their eligible descendants from New Jersey's transfer inheritance tax when those payments are passed to beneficiaries after the survivor's death. It applies to payments made for assets stolen or lost during Nazi persecution (including legal settlements, government reparations, or insurance proceeds), defined as "eligible restitution payments" under the law. The exemption covers the full market value of these payments as determined on the date the survivor received them. This directly benefits Holocaust survivors who received reparations and their descendants who inherit those funds, removing a tax burden on historically significant compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-time $100,000 grant for a New Jersey four-year public university to study and recommend effective methods for increasing youth engagement in government. The university must submit a proposal detailing its study plan and budget, then issue a report within one year identifying existing youth participation strategies and recommending the most effective approaches. The report will be shared online by the state education department and distributed to all school districts within 60 days. The grant aims to inform future efforts to involve young people in civic processes, but does not directly change laws or create new programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent a program allowing wineries on preserved farmland to host special events like weddings or festivals. It requires these events to generate less than 50% of a winery's annual income and prioritize using the winery's agricultural products. Events must follow local noise, waste, and safety rules, occur on permitted days/structures, and avoid harming adjacent properties. The bill also replaces temporary reporting requirements with ongoing biennial reviews to assess the program's impact.

Maddy summaryS 1222 directs New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to create a three-year pilot program establishing at least three locations (including one in northern and one in southern New Jersey) that exclusively sell "Jersey Fresh" agricultural products. These venues - such as kiosks at toll plazas, airports, or state parks - must offer only products approved under the Jersey Fresh Program, including fresh produce, seafood, and processed foods made with state-sourced ingredients. The bill appropriates $500,000 for implementation and requires venues to accept multiple payment types, donate surplus food to hunger-relief programs, and submit a report to the Legislature after two years detailing program costs and effectiveness. This directly affects farmers participating in the Jersey Fresh Program and consumers shopping at these designated venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows farm wineries in New Jersey to temporarily use fruit from outside the state for production, rather than requiring them to use only New Jersey-grown fruit. The legislation amends existing winery licensing laws to provide this waiver for a limited period. It directly affects winery operators who currently must source fruit locally but may face supply challenges or quality issues. The bill does not change other winery requirements or licensing fees, focusing solely on the fruit sourcing provision.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1290 requires all new motor vehicles sold or leased in the state to include a radio capable of receiving AM broadcasts. This applies to manufacturers selling new vehicles (including electric vehicles) in New Jersey, addressing concerns that some are removing AM radio support. The bill mandates this to ensure drivers can access emergency alerts during disasters, as AM radio often remains functional when other communication systems fail. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under state law, with penalties up to $20,000 per offense. The law takes effect one year after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 845 requires most health insurance plans sold in the state to cover hearing aids. Specifically, it mandates that insurers provide coverage for one hearing aid per ear every 48 months (as recommended by a licensed audiologist or hearing aid dispenser) with patient out-of-pocket costs capped at 15% of the device's cost. This applies to hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, group and individual health insurance policies, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and individual health benefits plans. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents with these insurance plans and their providers, ensuring more accessible hearing aid coverage without increasing patient costs beyond the 15% limit. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and referred to the Commerce Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 115) removes a requirement that New Jersey National Guard members must serve in federal active duty to qualify for a $6,000 annual gross income tax deduction. It directly affects honorably discharged New Jersey National Guard members who previously needed federal active duty service to claim this deduction. The key change amends the tax code (N.J.S.54A:3-1) to make the deduction available regardless of whether a servicemember was ever called to federal active duty. The policy change ensures all qualifying National Guard members receive the same tax relief as veterans of other military branches, without requiring federal service status. The bill applies to taxable years beginning after its enactment.

Maddy summaryS 1206 would allow individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to qualify for a handicapped parking placard in New Jersey. To be eligible, a person must have a PTSD diagnosis certified by a licensed psychiatrist or psychologist in New Jersey, a neighboring state, or at a military installation in New Jersey. This bill adds PTSD to the list of qualifying conditions under the state's handicapped parking program, aligning it with existing medical criteria. The application process would require this certification, following the same requirements used for other qualifying disabilities.