Asm. Wayne DeAngelo

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1213) provides $15 million in supplemental state funding to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation via the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA). The funds will support expanding the Vietnam Era Museum by 11,850 square feet to achieve accreditation, acquire modern equipment for preserving artifacts, and enhance educational programming. The Foundation, which serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually, will use the expansion to improve museum facilities and visitor experiences. This direct funding supports the Foundation's mission to honor Vietnam War veterans and educate the public through its museum and programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) specifically for New Jersey's state veterans' facilities, directly affecting these facilities and the state agencies responsible for them. The OIG will investigate complaints about facility policies, conduct inspections to ensure safety and quality of care, and have authority to subpoena documents and testimony. Crucially, the OIG must immediately investigate policies linked to high death rates during the COVID-19 pandemic at veterans' facilities, reporting findings to the Governor and Legislature within 180 days. All investigation reports will be made public online and shared with the facilities involved, ensuring transparency in oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey auto insurers from using an applicant's education level, occupation, or credit score to determine insurance rates or eligibility. It also bans insurers from asking about these factors during the application process. The law amends existing insurance regulations to explicitly forbid these rating practices and requires insurers to file their underwriting rules with the state commissioner. This directly affects all New Jersey drivers applying for or renewing auto insurance policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault laws to specifically address assaults on people with disabilities. It defines a "person with a disability" as someone with a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment that substantially limits their ability to resist, including those determined disabled under federal Social Security or similar programs. Under the bill, causing bodily injury to such a person would be upgraded to aggravated assault, classified as a third-degree crime with a mandatory minimum 3-year prison sentence. The bill was prompted by the 2006 assault of Joey Damiano, a Trenton man with an intellectual disability, and would directly affect anyone committing assault against a person with a disability in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1143 establishes an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for mental health, substance use treatment, and developmental disability service programs. The COLA, based on the previous year's Consumer Price Index (CPI) from October 1 to September 30 (as published by the U.S. Department of Labor), must be included in state contracts for these programs starting on the bill's effective date. This applies to all state-funded programs - whether fully or partially Medicaid-funded - that are licensed or approved by New Jersey's Department of Human Services. The Department must announce the annual COLA rate each October 1, ensuring service providers receive regular inflation-based funding increases.

Maddy summaryAJR 35 designates March of each year as "Women Veterans Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month with activities honoring women veterans. It does not create new programs, funding, or legal requirements. This commemorative resolution directly affects all New Jersey residents by establishing an annual observance to recognize women veterans' service. The bill focuses solely on ceremonial recognition, not policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1690) creates two new NJ Transit programs. The "NJpass Program" provides discounted transit fares to eligible organizations like workforce training providers, schools, and government agencies when they purchase passes for their approved groups. The "GO NJ Transit Card Program" establishes a reloadable card for general use, allowing riders to pay for any NJ Transit service with non-expiring funds and featuring a fare-capping system to ensure the lowest possible cost. Both programs require NJ Transit to publish details online, report annually on effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature, and consider similar programs used by other states.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey, allowing them to practice to the full extent of their training without requiring physician supervision or joint protocols. APNs with more than 24 months or 2,400 hours of experience can practice independently, while those with less experience must maintain a joint protocol with a physician for prescribing medications. The bill updates requirements for prescribing medications (including pharmacology continuing education), authorizing medical cannabis, and practicing anesthesia, and repeals sections of law requiring physician collaboration. These changes aim to improve healthcare access, particularly in underserved areas, by expanding the scope of practice for APNs who are already trained to provide primary and specialty care. The bill also modifies documentation requirements so that APNs can use their own signatures instead of requiring physician endorsements.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows municipalities to permit new cigar lounges to open under specific conditions, creating a pathway for businesses that weren't operating before 2005 to register and operate. To qualify, new lounges must not sell food or alcohol (except at private events), have a distinct public entrance, be equipped with a safety exhaust system, and ban hookah use. Registration is valid for one year and requires annual renewal, with lounges needing to maintain at least 15% income from tobacco sales/humidors and avoid expanding or relocating. Failure to renew would permanently bar the owner from registering another new lounge.