Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryThe bill establishes a three-year pilot program for electronic monitoring of defendants charged with or convicted of sexual assault, human trafficking, kidnapping, domestic violence crimes, or contempt of domestic violence orders in Middlesex, Monmouth, and Union counties. Electronic monitoring would require victim consent and be ordered only after a court hearing considering risk factors using a standardized assessment tool. Defendants would pay an initial $250 fee and $50 per day (with waivers for financial hardship), with all funds going to the Electronic Monitoring and Crime Victim Notification Fund. The monitoring system would operate 24/7 and notify victims when offenders approach within specified distances (3 miles, 1 mile, and 1/2 mile). The bill appropriates $15 million total ($12 million for the monitoring program, $3 million for domestic violence victims).

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a third-degree crime (carrying up to 5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine) for someone to enter the dwelling of a domestic violence victim protected by a restraining order against them, if they intend to cause harm or commit another crime. It creates a legal presumption that such intent exists if a restraining order is active or if the person has prior domestic violence charges or convictions involving the victim. This presumption prevents judges from imposing nonimprisonment sentences (like probation) for these offenses. The bill directly affects individuals who violate domestic violence restraining orders by trespassing in a victim's home.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4982) prohibits health insurance companies from using a person's body weight to decide whether to cover treatment for eating disorders. It directly affects individuals seeking treatment for eating disorders and all health insurance carriers (including companies, hospitals, and health plans) operating in New Jersey. The key provision bans insurers from considering body weight as a factor in coverage decisions for eating disorder treatments. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment, applying to policies issued or renewed after that date. It does not change coverage requirements for other medical conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts creditors from paying municipal property registration fees when a property is subject to an automatic stay under federal bankruptcy law. It specifically prevents municipalities from charging creditors an annual fee for properties included in chapter 7 or 13 bankruptcy cases under federal law, as long as the automatic stay under 11 U.S.C. § 362(a) remains in effect. This applies to mortgage lenders and other creditors seeking to foreclose on properties while those properties are under federal bankruptcy protection. The exemption ensures creditors are not required to pay additional fees during the bankruptcy process, which is a change from current law that required such fees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to conduct unscheduled surprise inspections of school buses in addition to existing scheduled inspections. Specifically, it mandates a minimum of two annual inspections per school bus operator, with one being a surprise visit, to ensure ongoing safety compliance. School bus operators (owners or day-to-day managers) must provide access to buses and required maintenance/employment records during these inspections, with fines of $50-$500 per violation for non-compliance. The bill updates New Jersey’s School Bus Enhanced Safety Inspection Act to strengthen safety checks through unpredictable inspections, using collected fines to fund the program itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases income thresholds for three Medicaid eligibility groups in New Jersey from 100% to 138% of the federal poverty level. It directly affects individuals who are aged 65 or older, blind, or disabled (ABD); those qualifying as "medically needy" by deducting medical expenses from income; and participants in the Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) program. For an individual, this means the ABD income limit would rise from $15,650 to $21,597 annually in 2025, while the medically needy monthly income limit would increase from $367 to $1,800. The bill aligns the ABD income threshold with that for younger, non-disabled Medicaid beneficiaries and requires the Commissioner of Human Services to seek necessary federal waivers for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1825) establishes guidelines for health insurance plans regarding "step therapy" protocols, which require patients to try lower-cost medications before coverage is provided for a preferred medication selected by their doctor. It requires insurers to base these protocols on clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards, and creates a clear process for patients to request exceptions when step therapy would be harmful or ineffective. Insurers must grant or deny exception requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies), and must report on exception requests and outcomes to the state insurance commissioner. This affects all health insurance carriers in New Jersey, including those offering SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid plans, as well as the patients and healthcare providers who use these plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "funeral arranger" license category in New Jersey, allowing individuals to arrange funerals without needing to be trained in embalming. Currently, New Jersey's 70-year-old Mortuary Science Act requires funeral professionals to be licensed as "practitioners of mortuary science," which includes proficiency in both funeral directing and embalming. The new license would enable people who don't want to learn embalming (for religious, cultural, environmental, or personal reasons) to enter the funeral services profession. The bill modifies licensing requirements, including examinations that exclude embalming content, while maintaining the existing requirements for mortuary science practitioners. This change aims to better accommodate New Jersey's diverse population and increasing preference for cremation or burial without embalming.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5464) prohibits New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from approving any electric utility rate increase without first conducting a full rate review. It directly affects electric utilities (like power companies) and their ratepayers (customers), requiring the BPU to complete a comprehensive review of a utility's rates before any increase can be approved. The key provision mandates that the BPU cannot approve rate hikes for electric services to end users without this full review process, as defined under state law. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program for building electrification and mandates electric public utilities to develop multi-year plans to replace fossil fuel systems with electric alternatives. The plans must meet specific greenhouse gas reduction targets and be cost-effective from a societal perspective, considering environmental benefits like reduced methane emissions. Key mechanisms include converting gas heating/water systems to electric heat pumps, replacing gas appliances with electric models (e.g., induction stoves), and funding contractor training programs. The bill directly affects electric utilities, building owners, and contractors by requiring systemic shifts toward electrified heating, cooking, and industrial processes.