Asm. Sterley Stanley

Maddy summaryBill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the municipalities of Edison, Metuchen, and South Plainfield - each of which appoints members to the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preservation Commission - to appoint one alternate member per municipality. The alternate serves a five-year term and may participate in commission meetings but can only vote when a regular member is absent or unable to serve. The bill does not alter the commission’s structure, duties, or membership size, but ensures continuity by mandating alternates for regular appointments. This applies specifically to the commission overseeing wildlife preservation in the designated area of Middlesex County.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacists in New Jersey to transfer Schedule II prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications between pharmacies, directly affecting patients who need these medications. Currently, patients must obtain a new prescription from their doctor if a pharmacy cannot fill an ADHD prescription; this bill enables direct pharmacy-to-pharmacy transfers instead. The transfer must comply with federal regulations and applies only to ADHD prescriptions for Schedule II drugs (stronger medications like Adderall), not all Schedule II substances. This change aims to improve access during medication shortages and reduce patient wait times.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require courts to order counseling for children who have witnessed or experienced domestic violence in their household when appropriate. It establishes a legal presumption that custody of children should be awarded to the non-abusive parent upon entry of a final restraining order in domestic violence cases. The bill permits courts to order the abusive parent to pay for the child's counseling services and requires documentation of payment. It also mandates that victim and child whereabouts be kept confidential in subsequent child support proceedings. The bill aims to provide additional protections for children affected by domestic violence while prioritizing the safety of domestic violence victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Virtual Currency Kiosk Consumer Protection Act" for New Jersey, requiring virtual currency kiosk operators to provide clear disclosures about risks (including that virtual currency isn't legal tender or FDIC-protected), display scam warnings, and use blockchain analytics to prevent transactions to fraudulent wallets. Operators must obtain a money transmitter license from the Department of Banking and Insurance, maintain anti-fraud policies, designate full-time compliance and consumer protection officers, and submit quarterly location reports. The law directly affects businesses operating virtual currency kiosks in New Jersey, aiming to increase transparency and consumer protection in this emerging market.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover treatment for stuttering, including habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy as determined medically necessary by a patient's doctor. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any cost-sharing such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It applies to all insurance types including individual and group health plans, health maintenance organizations, and Medicaid, and covers both in-person and telehealth services. The bill defines habilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve daily living skills, and rehabilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps restore or improve skills that have been lost or impaired. This legislation would directly affect individuals with stuttering who rely on insurance or Medicaid for speech therapy services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3540 establishes criminal penalties for creating or sharing deceptive audio or visual media (commonly called "deepfakes") that falsely depict someone doing something they didn't actually do. It makes it a crime to produce such media for unlawful purposes (like harassment, theft, or privacy violations) or to share it without clearly labeling it as fake. Individuals harmed by these deepfakes can sue for $1,000 per violation plus damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law exempts news media from penalties unless they knowingly share unmarked fake content created in violation of the bill.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires licensed public adjusters in New Jersey to include specific details in written contracts with property owners. Contracts must clearly state the adjuster's license number, describe services and fees, and include a notice of the owner's right to cancel within three business days. It also mandates that contracts specify how compensation is calculated (e.g., avoiding terms that prevent owners from pursuing claims if insurers pay in installments). The bill updates existing law by removing the requirement for escrow accounts to be interest-bearing, while keeping the core consumer protection rules for public adjuster contracts.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 185) urges Comcast and the YES Network to renew their broadcast agreement before it expires on March 25, 2025. It directly affects hundreds of thousands of Comcast customers in New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania who watch New York Yankees and Brooklyn Nets games. The resolution highlights past disruptions (like the 2016 blackout) and recommends Comcast reimburse customers for broadcast interruptions while encouraging both parties to negotiate terms that avoid rate increases for Yankees fans.