Asm. Margie Donlon

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act," requiring Medicaid to pay pharmacies at least the national average drug cost plus a $10.92 dispensing fee for all covered prescriptions, applying to both direct Medicaid services and managed care plans. It mandates that Medicaid managed care plans must allow patients to choose any participating pharmacy without restrictions and prohibit plans from unfairly blocking pharmacies from joining under unequal terms. The bill also requires the State Auditor to audit Medicaid drug spending flows from managed care organizations to pharmacies to identify potential state savings. These provisions address rising Medicaid prescription costs, which increased by $700 million (3.3%) from $2.1 billion in FY 2019 to $2.8 billion in FY 2024.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey-Haiti Commission within the Department of State to strengthen economic and cultural ties between New Jersey and Haiti. The 13-member commission (including the Secretary of State as chair and 12 appointed public members) will study historical connections, analyze data on New Jersey's Haitian-American community (which has the 4th largest Haitian population in the U.S.), and identify economic collaboration opportunities like trade and cultural exchanges. The commission must hold quarterly public hearings, conduct research, and submit annual reports with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting. It directly affects New Jersey's Haitian-American residents and the state's relationship with Haiti by focusing on concrete policy recommendations for economic development and partnership.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 185) urges Comcast and the YES Network to renew their broadcast agreement before it expires on March 25, 2025. It directly affects hundreds of thousands of Comcast customers in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania who watch New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets games. The resolution highlights past disruptions (like the 2016 blackout) and recommends Comcast reimburse customers for broadcast interruptions while encouraging both parties to negotiate terms that avoid rate increases for Yankees fans.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey local governments to offer reduced or no beach access fees to children aged 12-17, expanding current exemptions that already cover children under 12. It also revises veteran fee policies by removing the requirement that veterans must have served at least 90 days in active duty or have a service-connected disability to qualify for fee exemptions - now all honorably discharged veterans are eligible regardless of service length or disability status. The bill affects municipalities managing public beaches and bathing facilities, which would need to update local ordinances to implement these changes. It does not alter existing exemptions for seniors, disabled residents, active military personnel, National Guard members, or Gold Star Families.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5446) prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving electric or gas utility rate increases that would raise the average residential customer's annual bill by more than 2%. It directly affects residential utility customers across New Jersey by capping annual rate hikes. The key mechanism requires the BPU to reject any proposed rate increase projected to exceed this 2% annual limit on average residential bills. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2423, now P.L.2025, c.35) formally renames New Jersey's "Juvenile Justice Commission" to "Youth Justice Commission" throughout state law. It updates all statutory references, definitions, and provisions (such as in Sections 1, 3, and 1 of related laws) to replace "Juvenile" with "Youth" while preserving all existing legal procedures and policies unchanged. The bill has no policy impact - it solely adjusts terminology to reflect the commission's focus on youth services rather than juvenile justice. The name change is now law, effective March 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Children's System of Care (DCSOC) to change how family support and respite care services are provided to individuals under 21 with developmental disabilities. It establishes a 12-month authorization period for services (replacing the current 90-day renewal), ensures families receive a dedicated "bank" of respite care hours separate from other support hours, and replaces annual reapplications with an annual reevaluation of service needs. The bill specifically covers three respite care types: agency-hired (worker employed by contracted agency), agency-weekend (weekend services outside home), and self-hired (family hires and pays for care). It prohibits reducing existing respite care hours during the 12-month period.

Maddy summaryACR 157 is a symbolic resolution condemning Hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry, directly affirming support for Hindu Americans in New Jersey. It formally declares the state's stance against prejudice toward Hinduism ("Sanatana Dharma") and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes and Hindu contributions to U.S. society. The resolution requires transmission to the Governor, New Jersey’s congressional delegation, and the Hindu American Foundation in Washington, DC. As a concurrent resolution, it does not create legal obligations but serves as a public statement of the state’s position. It recognizes Hinduism’s global significance and the community’s economic and cultural contributions to New Jersey and the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5449) exempts specific oral healthcare products from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It adds "oral healthcare products for human use" to the list of tax-exempt items, covering products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, dental floss, and oral irrigators designed to maintain oral health. The exemption excludes food, dietary supplements, and durable medical equipment. This change directly affects consumers purchasing these everyday oral care items, reducing their cost by removing the state tax.