Asm. Anthony Verrelli

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for false alarms targeting places of worship in New Jersey. It amends the state's false alarm law to make such incidents a second-degree crime (carrying 5-10 years in prison or fines up to $150,000), while raising the minimum civil penalty from $2,000 to $5,000 (or actual response costs, whichever is higher). The law specifically defines "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used permanently for religious services by a recognized 501(c)(3) organization. It directly affects individuals who falsely report emergencies at churches, synagogues, or temples, and requires law enforcement to report such incidents annually. The bill aims to deter false alarms that disrupt religious gatherings and strain emergency resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1774) requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create critical health care resource allocation policies that comply with federal anti-discrimination laws. It directly affects hospitals, nursing homes, and the DOH by banning policies that exclude or deprioritize people with disabilities from receiving resources based on their disability, using long-term survivability in treatment decisions, or reallocating ventilators from people who normally need them. The bill also mandates hospitals to adjust scoring systems to avoid penalizing patients with unrelated health conditions and prohibits blanket "do not resuscitate" orders, requiring policies to respect individual patient preferences through advance directives or POLST forms. These changes apply to all resource allocation during shortages, such as for beds, equipment, or medications.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1764) requires county correctional facilities in New Jersey to provide specific reentry assistance to inmates sentenced to incarceration who were denied bail under recent bail reform law. At least 10 days before release, facilities must give inmates a copy of their criminal history, information about voting rights and expungement, details on employment/vocational programs, a record of their prison program participation, and a written accounting of financial obligations like fines or child support. It also mandates assistance obtaining a non-driver ID card, birth certificate (if NJ-born), Social Security card, and access to medical records. The goal is to help formerly incarcerated individuals access essential services and reduce barriers to reintegration.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's annual property tax deduction for eligible seniors (65+), persons with disabilities, and veterans from $250 to $500. It directly affects qualifying residents who own or occupy their primary residence, allowing them to reduce their property tax bill by the new higher amount each year. The deduction would take effect starting in 2024, but only after voters approve a constitutional amendment to formalize the change. The bill amends existing laws (P.L.1963, c.171 and c.172) to update the deduction amounts and includes specific provisions for veterans living in continuing care retirement communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to launch a two-year pilot program on light rail trains operating in southern New Jersey, supplying each train set with opioid antidotes (like naloxone) and installing secure storage with silent alerts that notify operators when accessed. NJT must stock at least two doses per train, maintain clear bilingual signage with overdose recognition and emergency contact info, and track antidote usage without requiring staff to administer the antidote or undergo specialized training. The program is funded by a $100,000 appropriation from the General Fund, and NJT must report on its effectiveness within six months of the pilot’s end to decide on a potential statewide expansion. The bill directly affects NJT operations, staff, and passengers on southern light rail routes.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual payments from New Jersey's Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund to municipalities by $15 million (from $740 million to $755 million) over two years. It directly affects most municipalities (excluding those with a municipal purposes tax rate of $0.10 or less per $100) by requiring them to subtract this additional aid from their property tax levies. The bill also prohibits municipalities from anticipating certain revenue when creating annual budgets. These changes aim to provide more direct property tax relief to local governments through the existing fund, which receives energy-related tax revenues.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year pilot program to improve coordination of behavioral health services in New Jersey. It requires the Department of Human Services to identify eligible patients with severe behavioral health disorders using Medicaid data, then contract with community providers to deliver coordinated care. Key mechanisms include mandatory needs assessments, "rapid referrals" for timely access to services, "warm hand-offs" between providers, and hiring service navigators to help patients access treatment. The program directly affects patients with severe mental health or substance use disorders who are identified through Medicaid claims. The pilot will operate across three regions of the state, with managed care organizations administering the program.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A1811 creates an emergency teacher certification for high-need fields like special education and bilingual education when school districts cannot find certified candidates. It allows chief school administrators to apply for this temporary certification, requiring candidates to be enrolled in an educator program, hold a bachelor’s degree, and pass subject exams. The certification can be renewed annually up to two times (maxing three years total), and school districts may employ no more than 10% of their teaching staff under this emergency certificate. The Department of Education must publish the list of eligible high-need fields online, with annual reevaluation by the State Board of Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services for adults aged 21+ by 35%. It also sets a minimum $10 per one-way trip reimbursement for transportation to these services (up from $7), covering both transportation and mileage costs. The changes apply to all Medicaid providers - both fee-for-service and managed care systems - effective after the bill's enactment date. These rate adjustments directly affect adult Medicaid beneficiaries receiving these services and the outpatient facilities delivering them.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey nurse aide workforce development program to support individuals seeking certification. It requires the Department of Health to provide clear information on certification benefits, requirements, and cost-free competency evaluations for nurse aides employed by or offered jobs at long-term care facilities. The program also details employer reimbursement rules: facilities must cover training costs for new hires within 12 months, and employers cannot charge for training if an aide leaves voluntarily or involuntarily. A separate one-year pilot reimburses up to 25% of training costs for completed courses. All resources will be posted on a dedicated Department of Health website.