This bill directs unclaimed electric, gas, and water utility deposits held in the Unclaimed Utility Deposits Trust Fund to be paid to Statewide nonprofit public utility assistance organizations meeting specific criteria. These organizations must have at least 200 partner organizations with physical presence in every county, a board with at least five utility representatives, and a multilingual call center offering assistance in 150 languages. The bill also allocates $25 million from societal benefits charge revenues to fund utility assistance grants for households in need. Organizations receiving funds must report annually on the number of households served, average assistance amount, recipient income levels, and verification methods used.
This bill (A1700) requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a public awareness campaign about perinatal anxiety and develop policies for healthcare providers. It directly affects pregnant and postpartum women (within one year of childbirth), healthcare providers (including doctors and nurse midwives), and birthing facilities. Key provisions mandate that providers screen patients for perinatal anxiety at least once per pregnancy trimester, before discharge after birth, and during early postpartum visits - using either the Perinatal Anxiety Screening Scale (PASS) or an approved alternative. Providers must also educate patients and family members about symptoms, coping strategies, and treatment resources, with a focus on including partners and caregivers in the support process.
This bill would exempt poll workers' wages from being counted toward unemployment compensation calculations. Currently, earnings from poll work could reduce or eliminate an individual's unemployment benefits. The bill amends New Jersey's unemployment compensation law to specifically exclude wages earned by members of district boards of elections from being considered "employment" for unemployment benefit purposes. This change would directly affect individuals who serve as poll workers during elections and seek unemployment benefits afterward.
This bill establishes a state-funded internship program for New Jersey legislators, allowing each member to hire interns using up to $10,000 annually from a $1.2 million state appropriation. It requires interns to be full- or part-time students at accredited higher education institutions (excluding law and PhD programs), with New Jersey residents or students at NJ schools receiving priority. Participants complete at least one work period in a legislator's district office and receive a $1,000 stipend per period, paid bi-weekly or monthly. The program aims to provide practical experience for students while supporting legislative staff capacity.
This bill (A1973) requires hospitals, birthing centers, and healthcare providers in New Jersey to screen individuals who were diagnosed with preeclampsia during pregnancy and later show symptoms of endometriosis. It mandates that providers use industry-standard screening tools, provide education about endometriosis symptoms, and obtain written consent (with an option to refuse screening) within six weeks of giving birth. If screening is positive, providers must discuss results and develop a treatment plan to address endometriosis risks. The bill directly affects pregnant people and new mothers with preeclampsia who exhibit endometriosis symptoms, aiming to improve early detection through standardized health system protocols.
This bill (A 5426) amends New Jersey's domestic violence public awareness campaign to require inclusion of information about coercive control - a pattern of controlling behavior often used in abusive relationships - and expands the languages available for campaign materials. The campaign, managed by the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, must now cover coercive control (defined in existing law) alongside other topics like prevention and victim services. It also mandates annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature on campaign activities and requires materials to be available in English, Spanish, and additional languages recommended by the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence. The bill directly affects state agencies administering the campaign and aims to improve public and professional awareness of domestic violence dynamics.
Bill A3598, designated as Claudia's Law, requires healthcare providers to include specific information in patient chest x-ray reports when an abnormality is detected. It mandates that the notification state: "Your chest x-ray shows an abnormality that may be associated with a risk factor for various illnesses" and advises patients to discuss results with their healthcare provider to determine if further screening is needed. This applies directly to patients receiving chest x-ray results with abnormalities, ensuring they receive clear, standardized information. The law aims to increase patient awareness and encourage proactive conversations about personal health risks with their doctors. The Commissioner of Health must adopt implementing rules under the Administrative Procedure Act.
This New Jersey bill (A4982) prohibits health insurance companies from using a person's body weight to decide whether to cover treatment for eating disorders. It directly affects individuals seeking treatment for eating disorders and all health insurance carriers (including companies, hospitals, and health plans) operating in New Jersey. The key provision bans insurers from considering body weight as a factor in coverage decisions for eating disorder treatments. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment, applying to policies issued or renewed after that date. It does not change coverage requirements for other medical conditions.
This bill amends New Jersey's bribery statute (N.J.S.2C:27-2) to clarify that it applies to benefits received either before or after an official act. The amendment explicitly states that "benefit as consideration" includes any unauthorized benefit, regardless of timing relative to the act. It directly affects public officials who may accept or offer benefits in exchange for votes, decisions, or duties in government matters. The change responds to a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited federal bribery law to pre-act benefits, ensuring New Jersey's law covers all such exchanges.
This bill requires retail gun dealers to report to the State Police when a background check denies a firearm or ammunition purchase due to the buyer being a prohibited person (e.g., convicted of certain crimes or domestic violence offenses). Local law enforcement chiefs are then notified if a denied purchase occurs in their municipality, allowing them to address potential safety concerns. It applies directly to gun dealers conducting sales, local police departments, and individuals barred from firearm ownership under existing law. The key mechanism is mandating this notification process to improve communication between state and local law enforcement regarding denied transactions.
This bill prohibits the construction of new crematories within 1,000 feet of public or private schools, residentially zoned areas, or specific recreational spaces like parks, playgrounds, beaches, or conservation areas. It applies to all new crematory construction applications submitted after the bill's effective date, requiring the Cemetery Board to deny permits that violate these location limits. The restriction does not apply to crematories operated within funeral homes under existing law. This policy change directly affects developers and applicants seeking to build new crematories in New Jersey.
This bill exempts creditors from paying municipal property registration fees when a property is subject to an automatic stay under federal bankruptcy law. It specifically prevents municipalities from charging creditors an annual fee for properties included in chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy cases under federal law, as long as the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) remains in effect. This applies to mortgage lenders and other creditors seeking to foreclose on properties while those properties are under federal bankruptcy protection. The exemption ensures creditors are not required to pay additional fees during the bankruptcy process, which is a change from current law that required such fees.
