Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2260 strengthens legal protections for patients and providers accessing or delivering reproductive and gender-affirming health care services within the state. The bill explicitly defines "legally protected health care activities" to include seeking, providing, or assisting with these services (such as abortion, contraception, or gender-affirming care), regardless of a patient's location. It prohibits obstruction, intimidation, or physical barriers at facilities offering these services and grants licensing boards authority to impose civil penalties for violations. This directly affects patients traveling to New Jersey for care (not available in their home states) and healthcare providers operating in these fields. The law codifies existing protections to prevent harassment or violence against these services, following increased threats and protests nationwide after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryAJR 119 designates November 7 of each year as "Shwachman Diamond Syndrome Awareness Day" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution directly affects residents of New Jersey living with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome (SDS), a rare genetic disorder impacting bone marrow, pancreas, and skeletal development. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day with awareness activities. It aims to increase public understanding of SDS, support affected individuals, and promote further research into the condition. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but serves as a formal recognition of the disorder.
Maddy summaryS 743 appropriates $58.145 million in natural resource damages funds - collected from settlements with companies like Exxon and Atlantic Richfield - to New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The funds directly support habitat restoration, land acquisition, and oversight projects across specific regions (including the Lower Delaware, Atlantic, and Raritan watersheds) and Superfund sites, as prioritized by state law. The DEP may use the money for state costs, including grants to local governments or nonprofits, and can reallocate funds with approval from the Treasury Division. The bill requires written notice of any fund reallocation to key legislative committees.
Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Children and Families to improve access to mental health care for children and their families. It requires the department to expand services through the New Jersey Pediatric Psychiatry Collaborative, which includes adding telehealth options, providing real-time psychiatric support to pediatric doctors, and offering better training and referral systems. The legislation also mandates greater transparency by setting specific performance goals for service providers, making contract results public, and launching a public awareness campaign to help families find care. Additionally, the bill establishes a new requirement for hospitals and clinics to report standardized data on how often children seek psychiatric or behavioral health services.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $111.6 million in natural resource damages revenues to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection for habitat restoration, land acquisition, and oversight projects. The funds come from legal settlements with various corporations and are allocated across different water regions and specific sites like the Ciba-Geigy Superfund Site. The Department of Environmental Protection may distribute these funds through grants or loans to local governments and nonprofit organizations, with the ability to reallocate money among projects subject to budget approval and legislative notification.
Maddy summaryThis bill codifies protections for patients and providers accessing or offering legally permitted reproductive and gender-affirming health care in New Jersey. It prohibits obstructing or intimidating individuals at facilities providing these services - including blocking entrances, causing reasonable fear of harm, or threatening violence. The law defines "legally protected health care activity" to cover all such services lawful in New Jersey, regardless of a patient’s location, and applies to both in-state residents and out-of-state patients seeking care here. It expands existing safeguards by explicitly banning physical obstructions and threats at facilities offering these services.
Maddy summaryThe Climate Superfund Act (A 3735) holds fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments into a state fund. Companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels during 1995-2026 and emitted over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases must pay based on their proportional liability, with joint liability for companies in a "controlled group." Funds collected will be distributed to implement climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs in overburdened communities. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to manage payments and fund these projects.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing requirement for health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screenings without any out-of-pocket costs. It specifically requires coverage for annual screenings - including digital rectal exams and PSA tests - for men aged 50 and older (asymptomatic) and men aged 40 and older with a family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The law applies to most health insurance plans, including high-deductible plans where permitted by federal law, and mandates coverage "to the same extent as for any other medical condition." It does not alter existing coverage for other preventive services but ensures no cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays) applies to these specific screenings.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows public high school students observing Ramadan to substitute required physical education classes with an instructional course or study hall during the marking period containing Ramadan. Students must provide written notice to their principal before schedule creation, and the substitute must award the same graduation credits as physical education. It also permits student-athletes to be excused from sports, intramural, or cheerleading programs during Ramadan by submitting written notice to their coach, with coaches prohibited from penalizing such absences. The bill takes effect immediately for the first full academic year after enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands the role of the New Jersey Health Care Quality Institute to improve access to mental health care for children by creating a new data dashboard and coordinating system improvements. The legislation transfers $3 million from the Department of Children and Families to the Department of Human Services to fund this initiative, which includes hiring a stakeholder group to map out the current process families face when seeking care. The Health Care Quality Institute will conduct research across the state to identify barriers, analyze funding structures, and develop a visual guide that outlines the steps required to access services. Additionally, the Institute will serve as the central entity to implement recommendations from this research and ensure better coordination among schools, state agencies, and insurers. The bill also requires the Institute to submit a comprehensive report within 13 months detailing eligibility rules, coverage details, and policy suggestions to address disparities in pediatric mental health outcomes.