This New Jersey bill establishes criminal and civil penalties for caretakers who perform invasive grooming, such as shaving or waxing, on vulnerable adults without proper authorization. The law defines "vulnerable adults" as individuals over 18 who lack the capacity to consent due to illness, disability, or incapacity, and requires both written permission from a legal guardian and a physician's certification of medical necessity for such procedures. Penalties escalate based on severity, ranging from a third-degree crime for causing minor distress to a first-degree crime if the act involves sexual gratification, repeated abuse, or recording the incident. Additionally, the bill allows affected adults to sue both the individual caretaker and their employer for damages, while explicitly removing the defense that the caretaker believed the procedure was in the victim's best interest.
This bill requires health insurance carriers and Medicaid programs in New Jersey to pay licensed clinical laboratories for services regardless of whether those labs participate in a managed care plan. It mandates that non-participating labs receive reimbursement at the same rate as participating ones, while still allowing insurers to review services for medical necessity. Additionally, the legislation prohibits state Medicaid officials from forcing labs to join managed care networks as a condition for receiving payment or transitioning from fee-for-service to managed care systems.
This bill requires Administrative Law Judges in New Jersey to enroll in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System. The change directly affects judges working within the Office of Administrative Law by mandating their participation in this specific retirement program. By amending existing state laws, the legislation ensures these officials are included in the same pension structure as other workers' compensation judges.
This bill designates September 24 of each year as "Mothers of Gynecology Day" in New Jersey to honor Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey, three enslaved women whose bodies were used in early gynecological experiments. The resolution formally recognizes their foundational contributions to the development of surgical techniques in the field, which were conducted without their consent or anesthesia in the 1840s. Under the bill, the Governor is requested to issue an annual proclamation calling on public officials and citizens to observe the day with appropriate activities. This measure serves as a commemorative acknowledgment of the historical figures rather than establishing new laws or funding.
This bill modifies New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program by lowering the age requirement for surviving spouses from 65 to 62 years old. The change directly affects widowed individuals who own their primary residence and meet the program's existing income limits, allowing them to qualify for tax relief at an earlier age. By amending the state statute, the legislation expands eligibility without altering other financial thresholds or residency rules. This adjustment aims to provide financial assistance to a broader group of older widows and widowers facing property tax burdens.
This bill requires New Jersey to pay child care subsidies to eligible families for preschool-aged children at a rate equal to the per-pupil preschool education aid given to public schools. The policy specifically applies to three- and four-year-olds enrolled in licensed or registered child care programs that participate in the state's assistance program. To receive this higher reimbursement, child care providers must be rated as high quality under the Grow NJ Kids rating system and apply annually for the subsidy. The Department of Human Services will adjust these rates each year based on current school funding levels and must report annually on how many families and providers benefit from the change.
This New Jersey bill mandates that all health insurance plans and Medicaid programs cover medically necessary tests and FDA-approved treatments designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease and related disorders. The law requires these benefits to be treated the same as coverage for other conditions, specifically exempting them from step therapy requirements that often delay access to medications. These provisions apply to hospital, medical, and health service corporation contracts, as well as individual and group health insurance policies issued or renewed in the state. The coverage must be determined by a physician and align with the official labeling approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
This New Jersey bill introduces temporary surcharges on hotel stays and sales within the Meadowlands district between June 12 and July 21, 2026, to fund preparations for special events. The measure adds a 2.5 percent fee on hotel room rates in most counties and a 3 percent fee on sales of goods, food, drinks, and amusement tickets in the Meadowlands, excluding transactions in the lowest-classified counties and purchases by tax-exempt entities. All collected funds will go to the state's General Fund, and the Department of the Treasury will handle collection and administration using existing tax procedures.
This bill allows New Jersey resident taxpayers to claim a state tax deduction for losses caused by theft if they are also eligible for a federal theft loss deduction. The amount of the state deduction would match the federal deduction allowed under Internal Revenue Code section 165, covering losses from crimes such as larceny, embezzlement, and fraud. The legislation specifically excludes costs or losses that are already netted against other income categories or used to calculate other tax benefits. By mirroring federal rules, the bill ensures that individuals who can deduct theft losses on their federal returns can receive the same relief on their New Jersey state returns.
This bill modifies New Jersey election laws to regulate how individuals can assist voters with filling out mail-in ballots. It limits non-family helpers to assisting a maximum of three voters per election, while allowing up to five if they are immediate family members living in the same household. Additionally, the legislation requires that any non-family assistant must be a registered voter in the same county as the person they are helping. These changes aim to clarify the rules for ballot assistance and delivery without altering the fundamental right to vote by mail.
This bill requires the New Jersey Secretary of State to launch a public awareness campaign explaining how federal postal rules define postmarks and how they might affect the validity of mail-in ballots. The campaign will inform voters about the risk that a ballot could be rejected if its postmark date is later than the election day, even if mailed on time, and will highlight options like requesting a manual postmark or using ballot drop boxes. Additionally, the bill directs the Secretary of State to evaluate the placement and usage of ballot drop boxes across the state and submit a report with recommendations for any necessary changes. To fund these efforts, the bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to the Department of State.
This bill prohibits wearable technology companies in New Jersey from selling or offering to sell consumers' health information without their express written consent. It defines "wearable technology" as devices worn on the body that track physical activities and health metrics, such as heart rate and sleep patterns, and applies to any company that develops or sells these devices. The law requires companies to obtain clear, written permission before monetizing data related to a user's past, present, or future physical or mental health condition. By adding this specific restriction to existing privacy statutes, the legislation aims to give individuals greater control over how their personal health data is used by device manufacturers.
