Asm. Roy Freiman

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prostate cancer screening without cost sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). It expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to include more diagnostic methods beyond digital rectal exams and PSA tests, such as urinary analysis, serum biomarkers, and medical imaging. The coverage applies to men age 50+ who are asymptomatic, and men age 40+ with family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The bill extends these requirements to additional insurance types, including individual health insurance policies, that weren't previously required to cover prostate cancer screening under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts the realty transfer fee for deeds transferring preserved farmland to a qualified beginning farmer who holds written certification from the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. To qualify as a beginning farmer, a person must have never farmed before, farmed in New Jersey for 10 years or less, or meet federal first-time farmer criteria. The Department of Agriculture must establish a certification process, including eligibility rules and a $100 fee, with the application form published on its website. This exemption applies only to preserved farmland transfers and requires the certification to be presented when recording the deed.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission to establish stricter testing standards for cannabis laboratories, directly affecting licensed testing facilities and retail businesses. Key provisions include mandating consistent testing practices, quality control systems, and proficiency standards for labs; creating external audit programs using microbiologists and chemists to detect fraud; requiring public disclosure of all test results on the Commission's website; and establishing a whistleblower program with protections for employees reporting violations. Violations like falsifying test results or selling noncompliant products would face escalating penalties - first offenses as disorderly persons offenses (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine), repeat offenses as fourth-degree crimes (up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine). The bill also enables civil lawsuits for fraud victims to recover triple damages plus legal fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4603) allows commercial farmers in New Jersey to recover reasonable legal costs and attorney fees when defending against complaints they win under the "Right to Farm Act." It directly affects farmers who successfully prove a complaint was filed in bad faith and that their farming activity met the Act's legal standards. Key provisions require farmers to apply to their county agriculture board or the State Agriculture Development Committee (SADC), which must then determine if the complaint was filed in bad faith (by a preponderance of evidence) and if the costs/fees are reasonable before ordering the complainant to pay. The change provides a specific remedy for farmers facing frivolous legal challenges, strengthening existing protections under the Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) rules to include pay for extracurricular activities in teachers' pension calculations. Currently, additional compensation for duties like coaching sports teams, directing school plays, or supervising clubs is not counted toward pension benefits. The bill changes the definition of "compensation" to include remuneration for extracurricular activities beyond the regular school day or year. This change would affect teachers who receive extra pay for these activities, potentially increasing their future pension benefits. The bill applies to all teachers whose extracurricular duties qualify under the new definition.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4971) creates a "Small Business Interruption Grant Program" administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA). It provides grants to small businesses in low-income communities (defined as municipalities under 10,000 population with >7.5% poverty rate) that suffered economic loss due to prolonged state infrastructure or construction projects. Grants are based on actual or projected revenue loss from closures or reduced business, with $750,000 appropriated from the General Fund to fund the program. Businesses must independently own and operate (<100 employees), be located in a qualifying community, and demonstrate project-related revenue loss to qualify.

Maddy summaryS 3132 requires secondhand dealers of cell phones and wireless devices to document each transaction with the device’s ID number (MEID/IMEI/ESN) and verify seller identity. Dealers must collect two forms of ID (including one photo ID), confirm the seller is the lawful owner, and record details if photo ID is unavailable. The bill prohibits dealers from selling devices with altered identifiers or knowingly purchasing devices from sellers providing false information. Violations incur civil penalties of $250-$1,000 per offense, collected by the Division of Consumer Affairs. This applies to dealers purchasing used phones, excluding carriers and their authorized retailers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5601) requires New Jersey state agencies to offer businesses an optional electronic service for receiving certain legally required notices, such as violation alerts, underpayment notifications, and unemployment claims. It applies to all state departments, agencies, and related entities (defined as "State entities" in the bill). Within 60 days of the bill's effective date, these entities must notify affected businesses about the electronic option and provide instructions to opt in. The bill takes effect 90 days after enactment, making electronic notices a standard but voluntary option for businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey state agencies to extend the 60-day cure period for certain business violations by an additional 30 days, if the agency determines denial would be contrary to equity and good conscience. It applies to businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees (or equivalent) facing first-time violations that don’t endanger public safety, harm the environment, or affect employee income. The extension applies only to violations not related to criminal activity, intentional acts, labor laws, or federal program requirements. Agencies must provide written notice of the violation to trigger the cure period, and must report waived infractions annually on their public websites. The bill amends existing law (P.L.2023, c.28) to add this extension provision.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5421) requires New Jersey's Division of Taxation to create and maintain a free, online training program specifically for small and micro-businesses. The program will teach how to file and pay state taxes, including corporation business tax, gross income tax, and sales tax. It must be updated as tax laws change and made available on the Division's website. The bill directly affects small and micro-business owners who need guidance on New Jersey tax filing processes.