S 1597 requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to create a free bereavement counseling program for family members and volunteer caregivers of veterans who died by suicide. The program provides up to 24 months of counseling (max 30 hours yearly) through clinicians licensed in mental health fields, matching participants with available clinicians after application. Eligible participants include spouses, parents, siblings, or unpaid volunteer caregivers from qualified veterans' organizations who provided care for at least three months before the veteran's death. The DMVA must proactively inform grieving families through Veteran Service Officers and funeral directors when a veteran's death is by suicide, and the program will be advertised online. This bill directly affects New Jersey veterans' families and unpaid caregivers grieving suicide losses, with implementation beginning six months after enactment.
This bill requires new public buildings or those undergoing substantial renovation (costing over $40,000) to install induction loop listening systems - hardwired systems that transmit sound directly to hearing aids and cochlear implants for people with hearing loss. It applies to spaces like theaters, libraries, banks, medical waiting areas, and grocery checkouts, mandating visible signage and biennial maintenance checks. Owners may request exemption if installation is deemed impractical by local authorities, but must still submit self-certification of system functionality every two years. The law aligns with New Jersey’s construction code and aims to improve accessibility in public venues without requiring retrofits for existing buildings.
This bill increases the percentage of cigarette and tobacco tax revenues dedicated to anti-smoking programs in New Jersey from 1% to 3%. It directs these funds - projected to rise from approximately $5 million to $15 million annually - to the Department of Health for evidence-based tobacco control programs. These programs must align with CDC best practices and focus on preventing youth smoking, reducing secondhand smoke exposure, and promoting cessation, with priority given to Medicaid populations and youth initiatives. The change applies to revenues collected under the Cigarette Tax Act and Tobacco Products Tax Act, effective for fiscal years beginning July 1, 2025.
This bill requires that parties involved in arbitration cases about personal injury protection (PIP) coverage claims must be represented by a licensed New Jersey attorney. It specifically applies to disputes over PIP coverage, which covers medical costs after car accidents under existing New Jersey law. The requirement takes effect 90 days after the bill becomes law and applies only to new arbitration cases filed after that date. This changes the process for handling certain auto insurance disputes by mandating legal representation in these specific proceedings.
This bill shifts $45 million in state funding for opioid care from the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to the General Fund for the 2026 fiscal year. The funds must be distributed to four specific hospitals - $10 million to Hackensack, $15 million to RWJ Barnabas, $15 million to Cooper, and $5 million to Atlantic Health - to provide opioid-related treatment. Each hospital must submit quarterly reports detailing fund usage, patient outcomes, and remaining balances until all funds are expended.
This bill (S 145) creates a New Jersey state tax deduction for seniors (62+), blind, or disabled taxpayers. It allows up to $50,000 annually in deductions for qualified long-term care expenses (like in-home care, assisted living, or nursing facility services) paid for the taxpayer, their spouse, or disabled dependents. It also provides a separate $50,000 deduction for unreimbursed funeral expenses of a spouse or disabled dependent who was 62+ or disabled at death. The deduction applies only to unreimbursed expenses not already claimed under existing medical expense tax rules.
This New Jersey bill (S 2405) requires most health insurance plans sold in the state to cover hearing aids. Insurers must provide one hearing aid per ear every 48 months for medically necessary devices prescribed by licensed audiologists or hearing aid dispensers, with patients paying no more than 15% of the cost. The mandate applies to hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and individual/group health insurance policies. It directly affects all health insurers operating in New Jersey and policyholders needing hearing aids.
New Jersey's S 904, the "Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Act," establishes a state licensing system for naturopathic doctors. It creates the State Board of Naturopathic Examiners to set licensure standards, review applicants, issue licenses, and enforce rules for practitioners. The bill prohibits unlicensed practice or using titles like "naturopathic doctor" without a valid license, directly affecting naturopathic doctors seeking to practice in New Jersey and consumers relying on their services. Key provisions include requiring board members to be licensed naturopathic doctors with five years of practice, setting continuing education standards, and defining naturopathic medicine as a primary health care system.
S 1607 (New Jersey) prohibits health insurance carriers (including companies, HMOs, and health service corporations) from restricting coverage based on the duration of anesthesia services before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. The bill defines "anesthesia services" using standard medical coding (AMA’s Current Procedural Terminology codes) and requires insurers to cover these services without time-based limits. It applies to policies delivered, issued, or renewed 90 days after enactment. This directly affects insurers operating in New Jersey and ensures continuous coverage for anesthesia during all phases of care.
This bill extends personal injury protection (PIP) benefits to people injured while riding bicycles, low-speed electric bicycles, or low-speed electric scooters in traffic accidents. It requires law enforcement to file crash reports for incidents involving these vehicles, which was previously not mandated. Previously, PIP coverage for injuries typically applied only to pedestrians or automobile occupants, but this change explicitly includes micro-mobility users. The law directly affects New Jersey residents operating these vehicles who are involved in accidents, ensuring they can access medical and income-loss benefits without needing to prove fault.
