Asm. Reginald Atkins

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the scope of practice for optometrists in New Jersey by allowing them to prescribe more pharmaceutical agents (including some controlled substances), administer certain immunizations (for coronaviruses, influenza, and varicella-zoster virus), and perform simple ophthalmologic procedures like non-invasive laser treatments. It clarifies that optometrists must complete specific training and credentialing to provide these expanded services, including evidence of competence through accredited education programs. The bill directly affects licensed optometrists in New Jersey and their patients, who will have access to a broader range of eye care services from optometrists. The legislation updates the legal definition of optometry practice to better align with optometrists' doctoral education and clinical training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state, county, and private adult and juvenile correctional facilities to provide free voice, video, and electronic mail services to incarcerated individuals, eliminating all fees for calls or messages. It prohibits facilities from charging per-minute rates, setup fees, or any other charges to incarcerated persons or their families, and mandates that services must be provided at no cost to any party. The bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to cover implementation costs, ensuring facilities can provide these services without financial burden. As a result, incarcerated individuals and their families will no longer face costs previously associated with communication, such as domestic call fees up to 11 cents per minute.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3875) requires that low-speed electric bicycles, powered mobility devices, and their batteries undergo safety testing by an accredited lab before being sold, rented, leased, or distributed to consumers in New Jersey. The testing must verify compliance with established safety standards (like UL 2849 for e-bikes or UL 2272 for mobility devices), and proof of testing must be visibly displayed on the product or its packaging. Retailers and distributors who fail to comply face a $1,000 penalty per violation after an initial warning. The requirement does not apply to second-hand sales without original packaging or documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the non-consensual creation and distribution of deepfake pornography (realistic fake videos or images that appear to show someone engaging in sexual activity they didn't actually participate in). It makes it a crime to create or share such content without consent, with penalties ranging from 3-5 years in prison and $15,000 fines for general deepfakes to 10-20 years in prison and $200,000 fines for deepfakes involving children. Victims can pursue civil claims for $1,000 per violation plus additional damages. The law updates existing privacy and child pornography statutes to address technology that wasn't covered when those laws were written, applying to anyone who creates, shares, or distributes deepfake content without consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Student Teacher Scholarship Program to help reduce financial barriers for future teachers. It provides eligible students up to $7,200 per semester for full-time clinical practice in teacher preparation programs, covering a maximum of two academic semesters. To qualify, students must be New Jersey residents enrolled full-time in approved education programs and complete required steps for clinical practice. The program requires participants to maintain good academic standing, and scholarships terminate if students are dismissed or withdraw due to illness (without requiring repayment). The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority will manage applications and collect annual data on program participants.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's mileage reimbursement rate for state employees using personal vehicles on official business. It replaces the current fixed rate of $0.18 per mile (adjusted twice yearly for gas prices) with the federal IRS standard mileage rate for business vehicle costs, which changes annually. The rate will now automatically align with the IRS rate in effect at the time of travel, eliminating the need for separate state adjustments. This directly affects all state officers and employees who claim mileage reimbursement for work-related travel. The change takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurers to collect and publicly report specific data about claims processed through automated systems. Insurers must track denied claims (including appeal outcomes), denial patterns by medical specialty, and prior authorization decisions, then submit this data annually to the Department of Banking and Insurance. If an insurer unjustifiably denies 20% or more of claims, it must refund the denied service costs to affected patients. Additionally, insurers must disclose denial rates and automated system usage on their websites, include consumer assistance instructions on denial notices, and ensure all claims are reviewed by a medical director.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of senior citizen high-rise buildings (50+ units) in New Jersey municipalities with violent crime rates exceeding six per 1,000 people to provide 24-hour security. For buildings with 75+ units, this must include on-site security guards; for 50-74 unit buildings, 24-hour video surveillance of entrances, exits, and common areas (where crimes occurred in the past year) is acceptable. The Commissioner of Community Affairs must annually notify affected building owners and may require security in lower-crime areas if persistent crimes against residents are documented. The law applies to retirement communities classified as "multiple dwellings" under existing housing regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Firefighter Critical Mental Health Assistance Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Human Services. It appropriates $1 million to fund confidential mental health services for firefighters (full-time public fire department employees) and their immediate family members (spouses, domestic partners, children, or parents living in the same home) experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts. The program awards grants to mental health providers who meet geographic accessibility criteria (aiming to limit travel time to under one hour), with the Commissioner of Human Services managing applications, selection, and publishing a list of approved providers online. The bill directly addresses barriers to treatment by creating a confidential, accessible service pathway for firefighters and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Division on Marijuana and Cannabis Enforcement within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety. The division will collect and maintain data on marijuana-related arrests, seizures, and driving incidents (including DUI cases involving cannabis), and run public awareness campaigns about the risks of driving under the influence of cannabis or combining it with alcohol. It will submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with this data and any policy recommendations. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies (as the centralized resource) and the public (through safety information).