Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid managed care organizations to automatically include lower-cost generic and biosimilar drugs on their formularies with better cost-sharing (like lower copays) when they are cheaper than the original brand drugs. It directly affects insurers managing Medicaid plans and their enrollees, ensuring patients pay less for equivalent treatments. Key provisions mandate that if a generic drug's price is lower than its reference brand at launch, insurers must list it with favorable cost-sharing and remove barriers like prior authorization. The bill does not force insurers to stop covering brand drugs but ensures cheaper alternatives are prioritized for cost savings. It applies only when cheaper options are available and respects medical appropriateness decisions by insurers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4443) requires New Jersey residential mortgage lenders to pay at least 2% annual interest on hazard insurance proceeds held for property repairs after damage. It applies to loans securing 1-4 family homes and prohibits lenders from charging fees that would reduce the effective interest rate below 2%. Lenders must deposit these funds in interest-bearing accounts at eligible financial institutions (like banks or credit unions), with exceptions for funds mandated by state/federal authorities to be held in non-interest accounts. The rule takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires owners of short-term rentals to be physically present at their property during guest stays unless the visit lasts longer than 30 days or a written agreement states otherwise. It also mandates that each rental unit can only have one active short-term booking at any given time. Owners who fail to follow these rules face a $1,000 fine for each violation, which can be enforced through a local court. The law applies to various types of private homes and managed units but excludes hotels, schools, hospitals, and long-term leases of 90 days or more.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to display a person's full legal name - including Roman numerals - on specific driver's licenses, permits, and identification cards. It directly affects residents whose legal names (as recorded on birth certificates) include Roman numerals (e.g., "John Smith III"). The MVC must display these names upon receiving standard documentation proving identity, age, and residence, as already required for license issuance. The policy applies to all standard licenses, REAL ID cards, and commercial driver's licenses, ensuring official documents reflect legally recognized names.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new registration and operational rules for retail health clinics and urgent care facilities in New Jersey that are not already licensed as ambulatory care centers. It requires these facilities to register annually with the Department of Health, providing details such as their location, hours, and the names of their medical and operational supervisors. The legislation also mandates that clinics forward patient records to primary care providers within five days and make copies available to patients within 24 hours, while prohibiting fees that exceed the actual cost of providing these records. Additionally, the bill defines specific roles like medical supervisors and operational supervisors, limits the number of facilities a supervisor can manage, and requires clinics to encourage patients to follow up with their primary care providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create and maintain a comprehensive Statewide Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Plan. The plan must include resource inventories, performance metrics to improve response times and access, regional coordination with county health boards, and specific goals like reducing patient treatment delays and designating trauma centers. It mandates triennial updates and public availability of the plan online, while also addressing training, disaster response teams, and mental health support for EMS personnel. The law directly affects all emergency medical services providers, hospitals, and 911 dispatch centers across New Jersey by setting statewide standards for system coordination and performance.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Jersey Department of Children and Families to create a statewide program offering therapeutic treatment and counseling for children and their families affected by domestic violence. To support this initiative, the department will issue grants to service providers, assign staff to assist with implementation, and require organizations to keep detailed records of their activities. Additionally, the bill mandates that the department collect data on the program's reach and effectiveness and submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature. Funding for these efforts will be drawn from the state's General Fund, and the law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new brain injury screening and education program within New Jersey's Department of Children and Families to help identify children and young adults aged five to 21 who have or are at risk of having brain injuries. The program will use validated screening tools and provide training to a wide range of professionals, including teachers, judges, law enforcement, healthcare workers, and social service staff, to better recognize and treat these conditions. It also aims to educate parents and guardians about the connection between brain injuries and issues like juvenile delinquency or early psychiatric diagnoses while establishing guidelines for follow-up assessments. To support these efforts, the bill authorizes the department to seek funding from federal, private, and other sources and requires an annual report to the Governor and Legislature on the program's progress.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurance carriers to increase transparency and fairness in prescription drug coverage. It requires carriers and PBMs to establish pharmacy and therapeutics committees with strict conflict-of-interest rules, prohibits commission-based PBM compensation (mandating flat fees instead), and mandates detailed reporting of PBM fees for insurance filings. The law directly affects insurers, PBMs, and pharmacies by changing how drug formularies (approved drug lists) are managed and how PBM costs are calculated and disclosed. Key provisions include banning preferential formulary placement for higher-cost drugs over lower-cost generics/biosimilars and requiring actuarial documentation for PBM compensation. The bill aims to reduce patient cost-sharing and ensure PBM compensation aligns with administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3256) requires restaurants to clearly disclose any mandatory gratuity fee to customers. It mandates that the fee be visible on menus, at the restaurant entrance, on the customer's bill, and on the restaurant's website. Restaurants that fail to disclose the fee face fines of $1,000 for the first violation, $2,500 for the second, and $5,000 for the third or subsequent offenses, with each day of violation counted separately. The law directly affects restaurants operating in New Jersey and ensures customers are informed about mandatory service charges before paying.