Asm. Anthony Verrelli

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4682) requires health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover nonopioid prescription drugs for acute pain on equal terms with opioid drugs when prescribed by a doctor. It prohibits insurers from denying coverage for nonopioid drugs in favor of opioids or requiring patients to try opioids first. For insurers with drug formularies (coverage lists), nonopioid pain medications approved by the FDA cannot face stricter rules, higher costs, or more barriers than opioid alternatives. The law applies to all private insurance plans, state employee health plans, school employee plans, and Medicaid, effective January 1, 2026. It does not prevent insurers from favoring one opioid over another or one nonopioid over another.

Maddy summaryS 2822 increases the maximum contingency attorney fee cap in New Jersey workers' compensation cases from 20% to 25% of the settlement or award amount. This directly affects attorneys representing injured workers who typically work on a contingency basis (paid only if they win the case). The bill amends R.S. 34:15-64 to adjust this fee limit, which has not been updated since its original establishment. The change applies to all pending and future workers' compensation claims after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's "Design Professional Self-Certification Act" (A4360, now law as P.L.2024, c.58) creates a program allowing licensed architects and professional engineers to self-certify that certain construction projects comply with building codes. It directly affects qualified design professionals who can now submit construction permit applications with self-certification forms for eligible projects (like renovations under specific size limits for residential or commercial buildings), bypassing full code reviews by local agencies. Local building departments must then conduct a simple "supervisory check" to confirm all required documents are present and issue permits - same as before - within 1-5 days. This applies only to projects not excluded (e.g., structural alterations requiring special inspections, new kitchens, or electrical upgrades over 400 amps), with the Department of Community Affairs setting qualification rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to purchase retirement credit for prior service as a class two special law enforcement officer with a public employer in the state. To qualify, the member must have worked in that role and then started a PFRS-covered position within 120 days of ending that service. Members can purchase up to 10 years of credit by paying the cost, calculated based on their salary and an actuarial factor, with current members having one year from the bill's effective date to apply. This change aligns the process for purchasing such credit with existing rules for federal or military service.

Maddy summaryThe "Louisa Carman Medical Debt Relief Act" prevents credit reporting agencies from including paid medical debt or medical debt under $500 in credit reports, regardless of when the debt was incurred. It prohibits medical creditors and debt collectors from reporting medical debt to credit agencies for services provided after the law takes effect. The bill requires a 180-day waiting period before collection actions can begin and mandates a 30-day notice with a clear payment deadline before starting collections. Additionally, it protects patients by prohibiting debt collection during pending insurance appeals and requiring credit bureaus to remove debt information if an appeal is pending or the debt is paid.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement for teacher candidates in New Jersey to pass a basic skills test (such as the Praxis Core) to obtain certain teaching certificates. Specifically, it eliminates the need for candidates seeking a certificate of eligibility, certificate of eligibility with advanced standing, provisional certificate, or standard instructional certificate to complete a Commissioner-approved test of basic reading, writing, and math skills. The change directly affects individuals pursuing teaching certification in the state by streamlining the certification process. It repeals the existing law requiring these tests, making certification more accessible for educators meeting other standard qualifications. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water systems to maintain a minimum free chlorine residual of 0.3 milligrams per liter at all times and conduct regular testing to prevent Legionella bacteria growth. It mandates water system operators to provide written notice to customers about disruptions that could increase Legionella risk and report such disruptions to the Department of Environmental Protection within 24 hours. Certain buildings - including hospitals, facilities treating immunocompromised individuals, buildings with spas or cooling towers, and structures over 10 stories - must implement water management programs following ASHRAE standards to minimize Legionella transmission. Building owners who fail to comply face penalties up to $2,000 for first violations and $10,000 for violations causing serious injury or death. The Department of Health must investigate Legionnaires' disease cases, develop public awareness campaigns, and publish annual reports on cases and prevention efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes specific work hour rules for minors (ages 14-15) employed as professional athletes by sports leagues or teams. It allows these young athletes to work after 11 p.m. on nights continuing a workday that started before 11 p.m., but only with a written parental/guardian permit specifying allowed hours. The bill prohibits work before 6 a.m. or after 3 a.m. on days preceding a school day, and requires the permit to detail permitted work times. It amends New Jersey's existing minor labor laws to create this exception for professional sports employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the maximum contingency fee cap for attorneys representing injured workers in New Jersey workers' compensation cases from 20% to 25% of the judgment amount. It directly affects injured workers' attorneys who typically work on a contingency basis (paid only if they win the case) and the injured workers themselves. The key change amends Section 34:15-64 of New Jersey's workers' compensation law to adjust this fee cap, which has remained at 20% since its establishment. The bill does not alter other fee structures, such as fixed fees for medical witnesses or the $400 witness fee limit. This adjustment aims to align attorney compensation with current practice demands in workers' compensation cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that workers on projects financed through New Jersey's Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) program receive prevailing wage rates. It amends existing law to explicitly classify C-PACE financing as "authority financial assistance" under state law, triggering prevailing wage requirements for all construction work related to these projects. The bill affects property owners who use C-PACE financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, water conservation, or resiliency improvements, as well as the contractors and workers performing the work. The prevailing wage rate, determined by the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development, must be paid to all workers involved in projects connected to C-PACE financing. This policy change ensures that C-PACE financed projects meet the same labor standards as other publicly assisted projects.