Asm. Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools and participating nonpublic schools in the federal school meal programs to follow the USDA's stricter 2012 nutrition standards for breakfast and lunch, rather than weaker standards recently proposed by the federal government. It mandates compliance with specific USDA requirements for whole grains, sodium limits, and milk offerings as published in federal regulations from 2012 (and any future stricter standards). The law directly affects schools serving federally subsidized meals, ensuring they maintain healthier meal options for students. It takes effect immediately for the 2024-2025 school year.

Maddy summaryS 4476 permits New Jersey school boards to award preschool education service contracts (for licensed childcare providers or Head Start programs receiving state preschool aid) without public bidding, using a board resolution instead. It extends the maximum contract term for these services from 24 months to three years. This change applies only to preschool programs funded through state preschool education aid, simplifying the contracting process for early childhood education providers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1439 requires health insurance plans (including hospital, medical, health service, and individual policies) to cover orthotic and prosthetic appliances from licensed providers - including podiatrists - when medically necessary for daily activities. It also mandates coverage for *additional* appliances needed for specific sports and recreational activities like running, swimming, skiing, and team sports, as determined by a physician. Insurance plans must reimburse at the same rate as federal Medicare for these appliances. This applies to all relevant health insurance contracts in New Jersey, directly affecting insured individuals needing these devices for mobility or recreation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacies in New Jersey to display a notice and provide a pamphlet about insulin manufacturer assistance programs at all points of sale. The materials must be created by the Department of Banking and Insurance and will be available to anyone purchasing insulin or requesting them. Insulin manufacturers offering assistance programs may request to be included in these materials. The bill directly affects pharmacies (by mandating the notices/pamphlets) and insulin users (by providing access to cost-saving program information). It does not create new programs but ensures existing manufacturer assistance options are clearly communicated to patients.

Maddy summaryS 4162 limits how New Jersey public and charter schools can use or share personal information from waiver forms students or parents submit to avoid completing financial aid applications for high school diplomas. The bill requires waiver forms to collect only minimal contact details (name, phone, email, date, and signature) and prohibits schools from disclosing this information without consent, in line with federal student privacy laws like FERPA. Schools must include clear disclosure notices on all waiver forms, whether created by the Department of Education or the school. This applies to students in the 2023-2024 grade 11 class through the 2025-2026 school year, and covers waivers submitted before the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public and certain nonpublic schools to offer parents a no-fee option for paying school meals, field trips, activity fees, and other school-related costs. It mandates that payment platforms used by schools must clearly disclose all fees, average annual user costs, and the availability of the no-fee alternative. Schools must include this fee information and the no-fee option in all payment requests sent to parents. The law applies to all school districts and charter schools, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits how consumer service contracts can be written. It prohibits companies from including clauses that let a contract for one service (like streaming or gym access) control unrelated purchases from the same company or its affiliates (such as groceries or insurance). The rule applies to written agreements for personal, family, or household services, excluding financial transactions like stocks or commodities. It takes effect 180 days after enactment for new or renewed contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study how data centers impact electricity rates for residential customers. The BPU must determine if non-data center customers unfairly subsidize data center costs, whether infrastructure for data centers causes unreasonable rate hikes, and project the future portion of residential rates attributable to data centers over the next 20 years. The study will also evaluate policy options to prevent rate increases from data center growth. The BPU must complete the study within one year and submit a report to the governor and legislature within 15 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill would permit New Jersey county boards of elections to extend the prohibited distance for electioneering from 100 feet to 200 feet around polling places and ballot drop boxes during elections. Currently, electioneering is prohibited within 100 feet of these locations. County boards would have discretion to choose the extended 200-foot distance but must provide clear notice of this rule and its penalties before implementation. This change would directly affect voters, candidates, and campaign workers near polling locations during election periods.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows commercial farms on preserved farmland (producing $10,000+ annually in agricultural products) to host special occasion events like weddings or parties, provided they meet specific conditions. Key restrictions include: events cannot interfere with farming, must stay under 10% of the farm’s annual revenue from such events, and cannot use permanent structures built within the last five years unless the revenue threshold is met. Farms must obtain written approval from the land’s grantee (e.g., state or nonprofit entity), limit events to 26 per year (with no more than six events exceeding 250 guests), and follow local regulations for noise, parking, and temporary structures. The policy aims to support farm revenue while maintaining agricultural use of preserved land.