Asm. Joe Danielsen

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 allows New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools to count virtual or remote instruction days toward their required 180-day school year when schools close due to inclement weather. Schools may use up to three days per year of virtual instruction (requiring at least four hours of instruction) to meet this requirement, provided they follow commissioner-established criteria. School boards must develop and adopt policies for this use before implementation. The bill ensures virtual days count for attendance, graduation, and course credit purposes while requiring equitable access to technology for all students.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of the Ombudsman for Mental Health and Addiction Services within the Department of the Treasury (though not subject to its supervision). The Governor will appoint a qualified ombudsman to help New Jersey residents with mental illness or addiction access treatment, ensure proper care in facilities, provide confidential counseling and job support, and educate the public about substance use disorders. The ombudsman must keep communications confidential and submit annual reports to the Governor, the Commissioner of Human Services, and the Legislature. This office directly supports individuals seeking mental health and addiction services by improving access to care and advocating for their needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $125 million to restore previously diverted funds to New Jersey's Affordable Housing Trust Fund (NJAHTF). The funds will be used to award grants and loans for affordable housing projects in municipalities that have certified compliance with fair share housing plans. It directly affects eligible municipalities and developers working on housing initiatives meeting state requirements. The bill specifically reverses budget diversions made in the 2026 state budget, directing the restored money toward creating new affordable housing units.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill would allow the state to import prescription drugs from Canada and other countries with high drug safety standards. It requires the state health commissioner to establish a program within 120 days that designates entities to import drugs meeting FDA safety standards and expected to provide significant cost savings for residents. The program must include public price listings, registration for pharmacies and health plans, a consumer hotline, and third-party audits to ensure safety and affordability.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a medical relief program for New Jersey residents who lose NJ FamilyCare coverage due to specific provisions in the federal "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA). It creates a $650 million "New Jersey Medical Relief Fund" to provide eligible individuals with electronic benefits transfer cards for qualifying medical services including emergency care, physician visits, prescription drugs, and behavioral health services. The program automatically enrolls people provisionally when they lose NJ FamilyCare coverage, providing benefits for up to 12 months (or until funds are exhausted) with annual eligibility reviews. Individuals can self-pay at NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rates for services after their benefits are exhausted.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's disabled veterans' property tax exemption to include non-spouse partners who had a close personal relationship with the veteran. It adds a new definition of "surviving spouse" for this exemption, allowing individuals who shared a residence for at least three years before the veteran's death, jointly managed finances (e.g., shared accounts or beneficiary designations), and met other specific criteria to qualify. The exemption applies to the dwelling house and lot they occupy, provided they submit an affidavit verifying these conditions. This change directly affects surviving partners who meet all five eligibility requirements, not just legally married spouses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the ARRIVE Together Program to provide mental health and substance use crisis response as an alternative to standard law enforcement interactions. It requires law enforcement agencies (including state police, county departments, and municipal forces) to partner with mental health providers available 24/7 for crisis calls, with designated coordinators in each agency and county prosecutor's office. The program ensures confidentiality for all personal information shared during responses and shields mental health providers from civil liability when acting in good faith. It codifies a temporary pilot program into permanent law, creating structured coordination between law enforcement and mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a nine-member commission within New Jersey's Department of Human Services to analyze how projected federal Medicaid funding cuts would affect the state's Medicaid program. The commission, including the Medicaid director, legislative leaders, and public members, will monitor trends, assess impacts of federal policy changes, and recommend solutions. It must submit an initial report within 12 months (and annual reports thereafter) to the governor and legislature, detailing findings and recommendations. The summary will be publicly available online. This directly affects Medicaid recipients and program administrators by creating a structured process to evaluate and respond to potential federal funding shifts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6042) requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency to create mandatory suicide screening and crisis response training for its caseworkers. The training will teach caseworkers to recognize suicide warning signs in children using validated tools, respond to at-risk youth with immediate de-escalation techniques, and coordinate care with mental health providers and schools. All current and new caseworkers must complete this training as part of initial hiring and biennially thereafter, with existing staff required to finish within 24 months of the bill's effective date. The division must also periodically update the training to maintain effectiveness.