Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurers in New Jersey to maintain coverage for prescription drugs for individuals with complex/chronic medical conditions or rare diseases during any appeal stage if coverage was previously denied based on medical necessity. It prevents insurers from imposing new cost increases, coverage limits, or moving drugs to higher-cost tiers while an appeal is pending. Insurers may only deny coverage during an appeal if the prescribing doctor stops recommending the drug, the FDA issues a safety warning, or the drug manufacturer discontinues production. The law applies to all group and individual health insurance plans sold in New Jersey that cover prescription drugs.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 87) is a symbolic statement condemning hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). It formally denounces anti-AAPI racism and discrimination, citing statistics including 3,795 reported hate incidents across the U.S. between March 2020 and February 2021, with race as the primary motive in over 90% of cases. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but directs copies to state and federal officials, including the Governor, Attorney General, and New Jersey’s congressional delegation. It directly addresses AAPI communities in New Jersey (nearly 1 million residents, 10% of the state population) and nationwide, emphasizing their contributions and stating that discrimination should be "condemned by all persons of this State."

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's voter registration deadline from 21 to 14 days before an election. It directly affects voters who move within their county before an election but fail to update their registration in time. The key provision amends R.S.19:12-7 to allow voters who move without filing a change of address by the 14th day before the election to still correct their registration and vote using a provisional ballot at their current polling place. The change applies to primary elections, general elections, and school elections. Voters must still notify election officials within the new 14-day window to avoid provisional ballot requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits self-service storage facilities in New Jersey from charging late fees, pre-foreclosure fees, or unlock fees to customers who pay using government-issued vouchers (such as those from Work First New Jersey or other income assistance programs) when payment delays are caused by the voucher-issuing authority. It directly protects low-income residents using these assistance programs from punitive fees due to administrative delays beyond their control. Violations carry a $1,000 penalty for first offenses, with subsequent violations treated as consumer fraud under state law. The law takes immediate effect and applies to all self-storage facilities defined under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits retail stores experiencing a coin shortage from charging customers extra for paying with cash. It specifically applies to in-person transactions (excluding online or phone sales) and bans retailers from imposing higher prices for cash payments during such shortages. Violations would be treated as consumer fraud under New Jersey law, potentially leading to fines up to $20,000 per offense. The law aims to prevent businesses from unfairly penalizing cash users when coin supplies are low.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts specific baby products and sunscreen from New Jersey's sales tax starting October 1, 2025. It directly affects parents and caregivers purchasing baby necessities like baby wash, car seats (child restraint systems), cribs, nursing bottles, and strollers, as well as sunscreen regulated by the FDA for sun protection (excluding cosmetic products). The bill amends existing tax law to add these items to the list of exempt sales, clarifying definitions for terms like "child restraint system" and "sunscreen." It does not change tax rates but removes tax from these specific retail purchases. The exemption applies to all qualifying products sold after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $1.5 million in state funding to New Jersey's Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) for staffing and enforcement activities. The funds specifically support the Commission's work enforcing the state's campaign finance laws, including the Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act (C.19:44A-1 et seq.). The appropriation directly increases ELEC's budget to maintain sufficient staff for monitoring campaign disclosures and investigating violations. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, aimed at strengthening the Commission's operational capacity.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2265) requires all public school districts to include water safety instruction in health education for students in grades K-12 as part of existing curriculum standards. It mandates teaching specific topics: the dangers of rip tides, beach safety practices (especially for students not near coastlines), hand signals for swimmer distress, and lifeguard sightline limitations. The instruction must be integrated into the Comprehensive Health and Physical Education standards starting with the first full school year after enactment. The bill directly affects all New Jersey public school students and their health education curriculum.

Maddy summaryBill A1800 would allow small private theaters (seating under 400 people) that charge admission for live musical or theatrical performances to obtain an alcohol license. Currently, only nonprofit theaters with over 1,000 seats qualify for similar licenses, which permit alcohol service during shows and two hours before/after. This bill specifically authorizes for-profit theaters to serve alcohol during performances and the adjacent time window, requiring municipal approval with oversight from New Jersey's Alcohol Beverage Control division. It removes population-based license restrictions that currently apply to other venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds a new mitigating factor to New Jersey's sentencing guidelines for defendants convicted of crimes. Specifically, it allows courts to consider whether a defendant suffered physical, sexual, or emotional abuse that contributed to their criminal behavior. The provision applies directly to individuals whose abusive past was a factor in their offense, requiring judges to weigh this circumstance during sentencing decisions. The bill does not change sentencing ranges but gives judges an additional consideration to potentially reduce penalties for eligible defendants. The bill was introduced to the Assembly Judiciary Committee on January 13, 2026, and remains pending.