This bill requires New Jersey financial institutions (like banks, credit unions, and mortgage servicers) to allow homeowners (mortgagors) to choose biweekly payments (every two weeks), bimonthly payments (twice monthly), or extra payments directly to their mortgage principal - without penalties. It mandates that any amount paid beyond the annual required total in biweekly plans must reduce the principal balance. The law applies to all new mortgage agreements signed six months after enactment and affects homeowners seeking more flexible repayment options to potentially pay off loans faster. It does not change existing mortgage terms but expands payment choices for future agreements.
This bill (A1825) establishes guidelines for health insurance plans regarding "step therapy" protocols, which require patients to try lower-cost medications before coverage is provided for a preferred medication selected by their doctor. It requires insurers to base these protocols on clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards, and creates a clear process for patients to request exceptions when step therapy would be harmful or ineffective. Insurers must grant or deny exception requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies), and must report on exception requests and outcomes to the state insurance commissioner. This affects all health insurance carriers in New Jersey, including those offering SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid plans, as well as the patients and healthcare providers who use these plans.
This joint resolution designates May 18 of each year as "Six Triple Eight Day" in New Jersey to honor the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, an all-African American, all-female U.S. Army unit that served during World War II. The resolution commemorates their historic achievement in delivering over 14 million pieces of backlogged mail to U.S. personnel in Europe under difficult conditions. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day. The resolution specifically recognizes that 28 New Jersey women served in the unit, including those from Allentown, where one member was born on May 18.
This bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for time spent in military service academies (such as West Point or the Naval Academy), in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or as a class two special law enforcement officer before joining the police force. It amends existing law to permit purchasing credit for these specific service periods by paying into the retirement system's annuity savings fund, with options for installment payments over up to 10 years. The bill specifies that credit purchased for military academy enrollment, police academy training, or special law enforcement officer employment will be treated the same as actual police service for retirement benefit calculations. This applies to current and future SPRS members who want to count these pre-service periods toward their retirement eligibility and benefits.
This bill would have New Jersey join the Social Work Licensure Compact, allowing social workers licensed in New Jersey to practice in other participating states without obtaining separate licenses. The compact establishes a system where social workers must meet specific requirements (including passing national exams, holding appropriate degrees, and completing supervised practice) to qualify for a multistate license. It creates a commission to manage the compact, handle data sharing among states, and address disciplinary actions. The compact aims to increase access to social work services, reduce duplicate licensing requirements, and support workforce mobility for social workers across member states. This would directly affect social workers seeking to practice in multiple states and the states' licensing authorities.
This bill creates a new "funeral arranger" license category in New Jersey, allowing individuals to arrange funerals without needing to be trained in embalming. Currently, New Jersey's 70-year-old Mortuary Science Act requires funeral professionals to be licensed as "practitioners of mortuary science," which includes proficiency in both funeral directing and embalming. The new license would enable people who don't want to learn embalming (for religious, cultural, environmental, or personal reasons) to enter the funeral services profession. The bill modifies licensing requirements, including examinations that exclude embalming content, while maintaining the existing requirements for mortuary science practitioners. This change aims to better accommodate New Jersey's diverse population and increasing preference for cremation or burial without embalming.
Bill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.
This bill establishes a framework for designating a Public Health Institute in New Jersey to strengthen public health infrastructure. It requires the Commissioner of Health to select a nonprofit entity meeting specific criteria (like being a 501(c)(3) organization with public health expertise) to serve as the Institute. The Institute will coordinate with state health agencies, provide administrative support, develop programs to address racial health disparities, and bridge gaps between public and private health services. A new Public Health Institute Fund within the Department of Health will provide dedicated funding for the Institute’s operations and initiatives.
S 2236 exempts nursing mothers of children one year old or younger from jury duty in New Jersey. This change adds to existing hardship exemptions under N.J.S.2B:20-10(c)(3)(b), allowing mothers who are nursing or expressing milk to claim exemption without needing to prove additional financial or medical hardship. The policy directly affects nursing mothers summoned for jury service during their infant's first year. The law took effect immediately upon approval (P.L.2025, c.43) and applies to all jury summonses issued after that date.
This bill requires the municipalities of Edison, Metuchen, and South Plainfield - each of which appoints members to the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission - to appoint one alternate member per municipality. The alternate serves a five-year term and may participate in commission meetings but can only vote when a regular member is absent or unable to serve. The bill does not alter the commission’s structure, duties, or membership size, but ensures continuity by mandating alternates for regular appointments. This applies specifically to the commission overseeing wildlife preservation in the designated area of Middlesex County.
This bill allows pharmacists in New Jersey to transfer Schedule II prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications between pharmacies, directly affecting patients who need these medications. Currently, patients must obtain a new prescription from their doctor if a pharmacy cannot fill an ADHD prescription; this bill enables direct pharmacy-to-pharmacy transfers instead. The transfer must comply with federal regulations and applies only to ADHD prescriptions for Schedule II drugs (stronger medications like Adderall), not all Schedule II substances. This change aims to improve access during medication shortages and reduce patient wait times.
This bill redirects leftover funds from New Jersey's 1989 Bridge Rehabilitation Bond Act to the Department of Transportation for immediate bridge repairs. It specifically allocates unspent money for emergency repairs on bridges carrying state highways (Section 1) and county/municipal roads (Section 2), with funds for local roads redistributing to counties after two years if unspent. The bill does not create new funding but realigns existing resources to address urgent bridge maintenance needs across the state.
