Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care providers in New Jersey to provide patients with clear, detailed bills within 30 days after insurance processes a claim. The bills must list specific services and expenses by date (not using vague codes like "miscellaneous charges"), include drug names (brand/generic), and display a contact for billing disputes - without charging patients for these summaries. Providers must also offer plain-language versions upon request and include information about financial assistance programs. Health care facilities must respond to billing questions within 10 business days, with sensitive services (e.g., sexual health care) excluded unless specifically requested by the patient.

Maddy summaryAJR 32 is a procedural resolution proposing a rule change to New Jersey's evidence rules. It would allow evidence that a victim promptly reported sexual assault or employment discrimination to be admitted as a hearsay exception, specifically to address jury assumptions about delayed reporting. This change directly affects cases involving these crimes by enabling courts to consider timely complaint evidence without requiring the victim to testify about the report itself. The resolution, if adopted, would be implemented by the New Jersey Supreme Court under existing procedures, not by creating new law. It focuses on clarifying admissibility for factual evidence, not altering legal standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential property buyers to record deeds within 90 days of receiving them, imposing a $10 daily late fee (capped at $500 total) for delays beyond that period. Exceptions include county office closures on the 90th day, deeds held in escrow, and agent-caused delays (where the agent pays, not the buyer). Proceeds from these fees will fund New Jersey’s homelessness housing trust. The fee does not apply to state entities or residential transfers in escrow.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to teach cursive handwriting to students in grades three through five. It mandates that school districts incorporate specific curriculum activities to help students read cursive text and write legibly in cursive by the end of fifth grade. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment, applying to all public school districts in the state. It directly affects elementary school students and educators responsible for implementing the curriculum.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows 12th graders who are enlisting or planning to enlist in the U.S. military or National Guard to miss school for required military activities without penalty. Absences for military enlistment activities - including testing, medical exams, interviews, or fingerprinting - must be recorded as excused and won’t appear on transcripts, job applications, or affect perfect attendance records. Schools may request documentation to verify the student’s military plans. The bill applies only to students in grade 12.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State Capitol Joint Management Commission to create and implement an environmental sustainability plan for the New Jersey State House Complex. The plan must include specific measures like improving energy efficiency (using Energy Star products and alternative energy), water conservation, adopting green building standards, using sustainable food services (like locally sourced foods and compostable utensils), and reducing carbon emissions. The Commission must update the plan every four years, issue annual public progress reports online, and track performance metrics. This requirement directly affects all operations and management of the State House Complex, including maintenance, renovations, and contracting decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a first-degree crime for New Jersey law enforcement officers to knowingly choke another person by pressing on their throat, windpipe, or neck to hinder breathing or blood flow. It directly affects officers who use such tactics, punishable by 10-20 years in prison or up to $200,000 in fines. The law prohibits chokeholds and carotid restraints - banned by the state in 2020 except in life-threatening situations - effective immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an Office of Financial Assistance within New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to help small businesses access public financial assistance. It directly affects eligible entities - companies with under 225 NJ-based employees in tech or green energy sectors (like biotech, renewable energy, or IT) - by streamlining their access to state and federal grants, loans, and tax credits. The key mechanism is a new common online application platform that lets businesses identify all available programs, store required documents for reuse, apply to multiple programs simultaneously, and track application status. The EDA office will develop this platform and provide technical support to help businesses navigate the application process.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2134) automatically grants tenant protections under New Jersey's Relocation Assistance Act to renters displaced by fire in multi-unit buildings (two or more dwelling units). It defines "displaced person" to include tenants forced out when fire damage makes their rental unit uninhabitable, as certified by a housing inspector. Key provisions require landlords to offer displaced tenants the right of first refusal to return to their repaired unit (with amenities equal to or better than before the fire) and allow tenants to pay $1/month rent to maintain this right while the unit is uninhabitable. The bill removes the prior need for municipalities to pass separate resolutions to extend these protections to fire victims, streamlining access to relocation assistance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program to expand paratransit services for seniors and people with disabilities in New Jersey, focusing on areas not well-served by the existing Access Link program. It requires the Transportation Commissioner to designate three regions (north, central, and south), prioritize community-based organizations serving seniors/disabled individuals, and set strict standards for providers (including insurance, vehicle safety, staff training, and 15-minute pickup guarantees). Approved providers must maintain detailed service logs and report on wait times and complaints. After the pilot, the Transportation and Human Services Commissioners must submit a report evaluating the program’s success and recommending whether to make it permanent statewide. The bill directly affects seniors, people with disabilities, and community-based transportation providers seeking to participate.