This New Jersey bill requires private health plans, state-purchased insurance contracts, and Medicaid to cover a 12-month supply of prescription hormone replacement therapy for individuals who do not need refrigeration. The legislation defines these drugs as FDA-approved medications used to regulate hormone levels but explicitly excludes certain weight-loss drugs. While the law mandates this coverage, it allows for specific exceptions, such as limiting refills during the last quarter of a plan year if a full supply was already provided, or temporarily reducing supplies to 90 days during acute drug shortages. Additionally, insurance providers retain the ability to use standard drug management strategies to oversee how these medications are prescribed and dispensed.
This bill designates June 2026 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month in New Jersey to honor the contributions and achievements of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and non-binary individuals. It does not create new laws or change existing policies but serves as a symbolic recognition of the state's commitment to inclusivity. The resolution urges public officials and citizens to commemorate the month with appropriate activities, aligning New Jersey with federal and international traditions of celebrating LGBTQ+ visibility.
This bill proposes to increase penalties for crimes involving heroin and fentanyl while creating new offenses specifically for distributing heroin mixtures. It also aims to make certain defendants eligible for drug court programs as an alternative to traditional prosecution. The legislation achieves these goals by amending state statutes to redefine key terms like "adulterants" and "controlled substance analogs," ensuring that laws cover synthetic variants and fake drugs. These changes directly affect individuals charged with drug-related offenses and the courts that handle such cases.
This bill directs the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry to officially recognize orofacial pain as a specialized area of dentistry. It requires the board to update its rules so that licensed dentists can obtain permits to publicly announce this specialty, joining other recognized fields like orthodontics and periodontics. The change allows dentists who focus on treating pain in the mouth, face, and jaw to formally identify themselves as specialists in this area.
This bill designates accounting as a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subject to increase its visibility in educational programs. It requires the New Jersey Department of Education to create outreach initiatives that encourage young women and minorities to pursue careers in these fields. The legislation also mandates that institutions of higher education develop strategies to recruit and retain underrepresented students in accounting and other STEM programs. By explicitly including accounting in STEM definitions, the bill aims to broaden career opportunities and address historical underrepresentation in the workforce.
This bill proposes to increase the New Jersey child tax credit for families with children under six years old and to expand eligibility to include children aged six through 11. Under the new provisions, taxpayers with an income of $30,000 or less would receive a $2,000 credit for each child under six, while those with children aged six to 11 would receive a $1,000 credit, with amounts gradually decreasing as income rises to $80,000. The legislation also sets a maximum total credit limit of $2,500 per taxpayer and clarifies that the credit is refundable if it exceeds the tax owed. These changes would apply to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, for resident New Jersey taxpayers.
This New Jersey bill requires hospitals to obtain a state certificate of need before selling or leasing their property to real estate investment trusts, ensuring such deals do not jeopardize public health or the hospital's financial stability. The legislation mandates that these transactions use a standardized contract form developed by the Department of Health, which includes clauses allowing buyers to reclaim funds if performance targets are missed, giving priority to lessees in future sales, and permitting reduced rent during financial hardships. Additionally, the bill requires hospital owners to submit annual financial statements to the Department of Health regarding costs associated with these agreements.
This bill creates a 12-member task force to study how safe students are when schools open and close each day. The group will examine bus loading procedures, traffic congestion around schools, and whether enough police or other staff are present during arrival and departure times. Members include representatives from various education organizations, government officials, and parents, who will work without pay to review current practices and research. The task force must organize within 60 days and submit a final report with its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. Once the report is submitted, the task force will end its work.
This New Jersey bill lowers the minimum required liability insurance coverage for autocabs from $1.5 million to $200,000. The change directly affects owners of autocabs operating in the state by reducing the financial protection they must maintain. The legislation amends existing statutes to specify that autocabs must carry policies covering at least $200,000 for bodily injury, death, or property damage per accident. This adjustment aligns the insurance requirements for autocabs with the lower limits set for other non-commercial vehicles in the state.
This New Jersey bill requires pharmacy benefits managers to be paid only a flat, itemized service fee rather than commissions tied to drug prices or sales volume. The law directly affects insurance carriers, pharmacy benefits managers, and the state's Department of Banking and Insurance by mandating that compensation reflect the fair market value of actual services provided. Under the new rules, managers cannot receive fees based on drug costs, rebates, or the number of prescriptions filled, and carriers must submit detailed documentation to verify these payments. The legislation aims to ensure that administrative fees are transparent and not passed on to patients through inflated drug pricing.
This bill creates a new, independent New Jersey Human Rights Commission to regularly review the state's human rights situation and develop public standards for government contracts. The commission will be made up of ten public members representing various communities, along with two senators and two assembly members, with appointments distributed among the Governor, Senate President, and Speaker of the General Assembly. It also authorizes New Jersey to join an interstate compact that allows states to participate in the United Nations Universal Periodic Review process, even though the federal government has chosen not to engage in that international review.
This bill designates May 24, 2026, as "Watchung Centennial Jubilee Day" to mark the 100th anniversary of the Borough of Watchung's incorporation. As a commemorative resolution, it does not alter laws or allocate funds but formally recognizes the borough's history and civic milestones. The measure directs the Secretary of State to send copies of the resolution to the borough's mayor and council. It serves as an official state acknowledgment of the community's heritage and growth since 1926.
