Asm. Margie Donlon

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for New Jersey charter schools, their boards of trustees, and charter management organizations. It mandates transparency by requiring charter schools to maintain public websites with budgets, meeting notices, annual reports, and board member information. The bill sets standards for board membership (requiring relevant experience and local residence), prohibits non-disclosure agreements as employment conditions, and requires charter management organizations receiving public funds to file tax documents. These provisions aim to increase accountability and governance standards while maintaining charter schools' independence from traditional public schools.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows adults, emancipated minors, and their authorized representatives (like parents or legal guardians) to create a formal written directive preventing healthcare providers from prescribing or administering opioids. The directive must be created using a form developed by the New Jersey Department of Health and entered into the patient's electronic health record. Healthcare providers are protected from liability or disciplinary action for following the directive in good faith, though opioids may still be prescribed if medically necessary. Individuals can revoke the directive at any time, either orally or in writing.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows chiropractic medicine students in their final year or two semesters to complete supervised clinical training under a New Jersey-licensed chiropractor, known as a preceptorship. Students must apply for a non-renewable limited license through the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners, providing proof of good academic standing and paying a fee. The student's chiropractic school must also be approved by the board. The goal is to support New Jersey chiropractic program graduates in transitioning to licensure and practicing within the state.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill would require restaurants and other food service businesses to stop automatically providing single-use utensils (like forks and knives) and condiments (such as ketchup and mustard packets) to customers, instead offering them only when specifically requested. Businesses with 50 or more on-site seats would need to provide reusable utensils for dine-in customers who must return them for cleaning and reuse. The bill includes exemptions for schools (for five years), food courts (for two years), and health care facilities during infectious disease outbreaks or outdoor events. Violations would result in penalties of $2,500 for second offenses and $5,000 for third or subsequent offenses, with funds going to environmental cleanup programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates tiered retirement benefits in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), moving all current non-retired members to the "Tier 1" benefit level previously available to members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days, and automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants - without transferring their contributions - unless they opt out within six months. Disability recipients under long-term insurance become eligible for disability retirement benefits if they apply within two years. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $615,000 from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) for a grant to the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership. The funding directly supports the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership, which operates New Jersey’s statewide 2-1-1 service providing free information and referrals to health, social, and emergency services. The bill adds this amount to the existing fiscal year 2026 budget for DHS’s Behavioral Health Services division. The 2-1-1 service, designated by New Jersey in 2002 as the sole state administrator for the nationwide 2-1-1 dialing code, connects residents to community resources through a single phone number.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5052) requires New Jersey health insurers, Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare), and state health benefit programs to cover screening, prevention, and treatment services for children's behavioral health issues without requiring a formal mental health diagnosis. It establishes "at-risk diagnosis" as a billing mechanism, allowing providers to use Social Determinants of Health Z-codes (instead of standard mental health codes) for preventive care based on factors like family circumstances. Coverage must be provided at the same level as other medical services for children under 18. The law applies to all health plans, Medicaid contracts, and state employee health programs effective 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public colleges and universities in New Jersey that partner with sports gambling companies (e.g., through stadium advertising or promotional agreements) to establish gambling addiction prevention programs. Institutions must provide students with educational materials on responsible gambling and share hotline information for gambling support services. The required materials must be posted on campus websites and in high-traffic areas like dorms, libraries, and student centers. The law takes immediate effect and directly affects all public higher education institutions with such sports wagering partnerships.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5217, the "Ensuring Fairness in Cost-Sharing Amounts Act of 2024," requires health insurance carriers and pharmacy benefits managers to count third-party discounts and payments toward patients' out-of-pocket costs like copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. This means discounts from drug manufacturers, patient assistance programs, or other third parties must reduce what patients actually pay for covered health services, rather than being ignored by insurers. The bill prohibits insurers from using "accumulators" that would prevent these discounts from counting toward a patient's deductible. It applies to all health benefits plans in New Jersey and requires annual compliance certification from insurers and pharmacy benefits managers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to create a collaboration framework within 180 days, bringing together state academic institutions, healthcare providers (including Level 1 trauma centers), and Medicaid managed care organizations. The goal is to better use federal and state Medicaid funds to improve healthcare quality across the state. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the General Fund to support this work and mandates DHS to seek necessary federal Medicaid waivers or plan amendments to maintain funding. It directly affects DHS, healthcare providers, academic institutions, and Medicaid managed care organizations.