Asm. Annette Quijano

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 5116 revises primary election ballot design to address legal concerns about the previous "bracketing" system. The bill requires all primary ballots to arrange candidates by office in standardized "office blocks" (e.g., all Assembly candidates grouped together), with consistent formatting, left-aligned text, and clear candidate labeling - replacing the prior structure that caused voter confusion and legal challenges. It directly affects voters, election officials, and candidates in New Jersey primary elections by standardizing ballot appearance to improve clarity and reduce misinterpretation. The law also removes State committee members from the primary ballot design process, as mandated by the bill’s legislative findings. This change, enacted as P.L.2025, c.32, aims to align with First Amendment principles while ensuring ballots are user-friendly.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Urban Gardening Pilot Program" to fund three urban gardens in low-income neighborhoods. It appropriates $100,000 to provide grants of up to $35,000 each to qualified municipalities or nonprofit groups. To qualify, applicants must demonstrate a garden location in a designated low-income area (based on census poverty or income data), partner with an agronomist for gardening instruction, and work with a social worker to foster community integration. The three-year program requires grantees to use funds solely for urban gardening projects and mandates a final report evaluating neighborhood benefits and effectiveness before the program expires. The initiative directly affects residents in qualifying neighborhoods by supporting food production and community cohesion.

Maddy summaryThe bill would authorize certified medication aides to administer medications to residents in New Jersey's nursing homes, expanding their current scope of practice (which is limited to assisted living facilities and similar settings). To qualify, medication aides would need to be certified as nurse aides, homemaker-home health aides, or personal care assistants, complete a specialized medication administration training course, and pass a standardized exam. Certification would be valid for two years with a requirement for 10 hours of continuing education every two years, including specific training on medication administration for elderly residents. The bill also updates background check requirements to include medication aides and establishes a registry for certified medication aides.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mental health services in New Jersey to be provided in a culturally affirming and linguistically appropriate manner for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It mandates that services be delivered in the client's primary method of communication, as determined by the client's preference or a communication assessment, and that mental health professionals be certified as fluent in that method. The bill establishes a deaf services coordinator position within the Department of Human Services to oversee implementation, develop certification standards for professionals, and ensure access to services statewide, including through telemedicine in underserved areas. It also requires the development of a statewide system of care with specific standards for communication accessibility and cultural competence in mental health services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5350) prohibits the development of affordable housing on land previously identified as contaminated, even after remediation or DEP certification of safety. It requires developers to conduct soil tests for land intended for affordable housing and submit results to local authorities; construction cannot begin on sites determined contaminated, except for DEP-certified safe sites. The bill applies to new development applications and municipal housing plans not yet approved, with penalties for violations including fines and loss of housing credit. It directly affects developers seeking to build affordable housing and municipalities managing housing obligations under state law.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A919 establishes standards for public service privatization contracts, requiring state and local agencies to demonstrate actual cost savings for taxpayers before outsourcing services. The bill mandates competitive bidding, ensures services maintain current quality and pricing for the public, and requires contractors to pay wages and benefits equal to those of displaced public employees. Agencies must provide detailed cost analyses, allow union input on cost estimates, and submit quarterly reports on contractor compliance. The Office of the State Comptroller reviews contracts for compliance, and the State Auditor conducts annual post-audits to verify savings and prevent service degradation or underpayment of workers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A5341 (introduced February 2025) requires all health insurance plans sold in the state - including hospital service corporations, HMOs, individual/group policies, and state/school employee health plans - to cover screening for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia disorders for members aged 65 or older. The bill mandates that this coverage must be provided "to the same extent as for any other condition" under the plan, without additional cost to the patient. It defines "Alzheimer's disease and related disorders" as dementia causing significant impairment in social or occupational functioning. The requirement applies to all contracts delivered, issued, or renewed 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a statewide heat stress standard to protect workers from heat-related illness and injury in New Jersey. It requires most employers to develop and implement heat-related illness and injury prevention plans that include monitoring heat exposure, providing cool or cold potable water, offering paid rest breaks with access to shade or climate-controlled spaces, implementing emergency response procedures, and conducting employee training. Commercial farms have a separate prevention plan developed by the Department of Agriculture, while amusement parks and certain emergency operations (like firefighting and law enforcement) are exempt. Employers must conduct annual reviews of their plans, maintain records for three years, and face penalties for violations or retaliation against employees who report heat-related concerns. The bill takes effect immediately, with the Department of Labor required to adopt implementing rules by June 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey - covering hospital services, medical care, health maintenance organizations, and state/school employee health programs - to cover diagnosis and treatment for PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). It mandates coverage for specific treatments including antibiotics, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, as prescribed by a physician. The coverage must be provided at the same level as for other medical conditions, without additional cost barriers. This directly affects children diagnosed with PANDAS or PANS and their insurance providers across all covered plans.

Maddy summary# Public Advocate Restoration Act of 2018 - Summary This bill would restore the Department of the Public Advocate as a principal department in New Jersey's Executive Branch. The document details a comprehensive restoration of the department, which was first established in 1974, abolished in 1994, restored in 2005, and then abolished again in 2010. ## Key Provisions The restored Department of the Public Advocate would consist of seven divisions and one office: 1. **Division of Administration** - Would prepare the department's budget, fulfill personnel requirements, and conduct relevant research. 2. **Division of Citizen Relations** - Would receive and investigate complaints about agency actions, and would include: - Corrections Ombudsperson (previously in the Department of the Treasury) - Dispute Settlement Office (previously in the Office of the Public Defender) 3. **Division of Mental Health Advocacy** - Would advocate for mental health rights. 4. **Division of Advocacy for the Developmentally Disabled** - Would promote and ensure adequate care for persons with developmental disabilities. 5. **Division of Rate Counsel** - Would represent public interest in utility and service rate proceedings. 6. **Division of Public Interest Advocacy** - Would represent public interest in administrative and court proceedings. 7. **Division of Elder Advocacy** - Would represent interests of elderly adults (including the New Jersey Long-Term Care Ombudsman, previously in the Department of the Treasury). 8. **Office of the Child Advocate** - Would be established within the department but remain independent of supervision and control by the department. ## Leadership Structure - The department would be headed by a Public Advocate, appointed by the Governor to serve during the Governor's term of office. - The Public Advocate would have the authority to appoint division directors, office directors, and ombudspersons. - An Assistant Public Advocate would be appointed to serve during the absence or disability of the Public Advocate. ## Key Philosophy The bill emphasizes that the primary duty of all staff members is to the individual client, with the same protections as private legal representation. It also establishes strong attorney-client and work product privileges for the department. ## Significance This bill would restore a critical government department focused on advocating for vulnerable populations including the indigent, elderly, children, and those with mental health and developmental disabilities. It aims to consolidate previously diffuse advocacy functions into a single, more effective department. The bill is based on P.L.2005, c.155, which was the previous restoration of the Department of the Public Advocate before it was abolished again in 2010.