Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes standardized credit transfer rules for New Jersey public colleges and universities, replacing previous "collective agreements" with requirements set by the Secretary of Higher Education. It creates a New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Secretary's office to resolve disputes between students and institutions about credit transfers, conduct compliance reviews every three years, and publish annual reports on transfer outcomes. Public institutions must now provide transfer students with data on program completion rates and ensure associate degrees earned at community colleges are fully transferable toward bachelor's degrees. The changes directly affect students transferring between NJ public colleges and universities, as well as the institutions themselves, by standardizing credit recognition and adding oversight.

Maddy summaryAJR 150 designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution encourages community organizations, medical institutions, and advocacy groups to raise public awareness about cleft lip and palate birth defects - conditions affecting about 1 in 1,700 babies in the U.S. - and promote collaboration on outreach and research. It does not create new laws or funding but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to support this awareness effort. The resolution directly affects New Jersey residents and families impacted by these birth defects by fostering community engagement and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program (NJ FamilyCare) to pay inpatient hospitals the same rate for long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs as it does for outpatient use. It directly affects hospitals and inpatient providers who treat patients with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The key mechanism mandates that reimbursement for these drugs in hospitals must be separate from standard hospital payment systems (DRGs) and match the outpatient rate, which reflects the actual drug cost. This change aims to ensure hospitals receive adequate reimbursement for these high-cost medications, which are designed to manage symptoms for up to 24 weeks with a single dose.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prostate cancer screening without cost sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). It expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to include more diagnostic methods beyond digital rectal exams and PSA tests, such as urinary analysis, serum biomarkers, and medical imaging. The coverage applies to men age 50+ who are asymptomatic, and men age 40+ with family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The bill extends these requirements to additional insurance types, including individual health insurance policies, that weren't previously required to cover prostate cancer screening under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every New Jersey municipality to provide basic life support (BLS) services - such as CPR, wound care, and emergency ambulance transport - to meet community needs. It designates BLS as an "essential service" and gives municipalities five options to arrange it: contracting with private or nonprofit entities, entering mutual aid agreements with other towns, partnering with hospitals, or using existing fire/EMS departments. The law applies directly to all 565 New Jersey municipalities and takes effect immediately. It does not specify funding sources or service standards beyond the defined BLS scope.

Maddy summaryAJR 232 designates July of each year as "Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month" in New Jersey. This resolution aims to increase public awareness about uterine fibroids - a common noncancerous growth affecting many women - and their impact on health and quality of life. It specifically highlights that fibroids disproportionately affect women of color and often lead to delayed diagnosis (average 3.6 years) and significant symptoms like heavy bleeding and infertility. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to encourage statewide recognition and support for research into better diagnosis and treatment options.

Maddy summaryBill A4372 allows educational research and services corporations to contract for any goods or services - including educational technology, consulting, staffing, and related support - on behalf of member institutions like public colleges, school districts, and municipalities. The bill exempts these contracts from public bidding requirements under New Jersey law, including the County College and State College Contracts Laws. It broadens the scope of agreements these corporations can enter into and classifies them as "shared services agreements," streamlining procurement without standard public bidding processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools to count virtual or remote instruction days toward their required 180-day school year when schools close due to inclement weather. Schools may use up to three days per year of virtual instruction (requiring at least four hours of instruction) to meet this requirement, provided they follow commissioner-established criteria. School boards must develop and adopt policies for this use before implementation. The bill ensures virtual days count for attendance, graduation, and course credit purposes while requiring equitable access to technology for all students.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale of cosmetic and personal care products containing 1,4-dioxane above specific limits in New Jersey, affecting manufacturers, retailers, and distributors of these products. It sets maximum allowable concentrations: 10 parts per million for cosmetics and 2 parts per million for personal care products (reducing to 1 part per million after two years). Manufacturers may request a one-year waiver if they are actively reducing 1,4-dioxane but cannot comply immediately, with a possible second waiver. The Department of Environmental Protection must establish these limits and review them within three years to determine if lower levels are needed for health protection.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc." license plates for motor vehicles. Vehicle owners who apply pay a $50 one-time fee and a $10 annual fee, with the collected funds (after covering administrative costs) deposited into a dedicated "Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. License Plate Fund." The fund's annual appropriations support the sorority's mission, including youth education programs, economic development, and community health initiatives for disadvantaged groups. The program requires 500 initial applications and private funding to cover startup costs before implementation.