Asm. Linda Carter

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A5823 establishes a licensure pathway for non-hospital based inpatient residential mental health treatment facilities serving adolescents (12-21) and adults requiring 45-120 day care. These facilities would provide comprehensive treatment including medication management, trauma-informed therapies, and holistic services - addressing a gap where current hospital-based care focuses only on short-term stabilization. The bill mandates strict licensing requirements covering staffing ratios, staff training, treatment plans, facility safety, and operator qualifications, while also creating a Mental Health Workforce Development Program with grants, loan forgiveness, and salary incentives to address the shortage of mental health professionals. This aims to improve access to mid-to-long-term care, reduce hospital strain, and align with similar models in states like Pennsylvania and Florida.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a five-year pilot program to inventory, assess, and improve safety for all bridges under New Jersey state, county, or municipal jurisdiction. It requires the Department of Transportation to create a digital bridge inventory, develop risk scoring models (including climate vulnerability assessments), and build a public dashboard. The $9.5 million appropriation allocates $4.5 million for the core pilot program and $5 million specifically for testing AI-powered sensor monitoring on high-risk bridges through a new "Bridge Infrastructure Innovation Module." The program mandates annual reports to the legislature on progress and a final report recommending statewide expansion of the model after five years.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs statewide. The 20-member commission includes state agency leaders, legislative appointees, and representatives from child care organizations, educators, and researchers. Its key duties are to assess current programs, develop statewide standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program quality across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The commission must submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years, after which it will expire. The bill directly affects all organizations providing out-of-school time programs in New Jersey by setting a framework for their review and improvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million annually from cannabis-related Social Equity Excise Fee revenues to fund Freedom Schools in New Jersey. The funds, collected through New Jersey's regulated cannabis sales program, will be allocated to the Department of State to support these programs. Freedom Schools provide year-round academic support, including summer programs and tutoring, for K-12 students and their families. The funding directly affects students in New Jersey public schools participating in these community-based educational initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5763) requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to create and implement a mandatory training curriculum for all operators of NJT motorbus regular route service (including contracted operators). The training must cover four key areas: basic disability types (physical, sensory, intellectual, developmental), safe passenger assistance techniques, emergency procedures for disability-related incidents, and resources from disability organizations. NJT must also seek input from recognized disability groups before updating the curriculum and post the full training content on its website for public access. The policy directly affects NJT bus operators and passengers with disabilities, aiming to improve service accessibility and safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurers in New Jersey - including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and individual/group health plans - to cover comprehensive testing for suspected dyslexia. It mandates that insurers provide coverage for screening, diagnosis, and related neuropsychological examinations as part of standard medical benefits, without exclusion. The policy applies to all covered contracts issued, renewed, or executed in New Jersey on or after the effective date, ensuring coverage is provided "to the same extent as for any other condition." It directly affects individuals seeking dyslexia evaluations, including children and adults, by removing financial barriers to diagnostic testing.

Maddy summaryThe Graduate Physician Licensing Act establishes a new license category for medical school graduates who have not completed residency programs. These "graduate physicians" would be permitted to provide primary care services in medically underserved areas under the supervision of a collaborating physician through formal collaborative practice arrangements. The bill sets specific licensure requirements (including passing Step 2 of the medical licensing exam and having no criminal history) and outlines detailed oversight requirements for collaborative practice arrangements, including documentation, chart review, and patient disclosure. Health insurance plans, Medicaid, and state health benefit programs would be required to reimburse graduate physicians at the same rate as physician assistants for their services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4812) establishes a 15-member Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding to examine New Jersey's higher education system. The task force, appointed by the Governor, Senate President, and Assembly Speaker, includes representatives from public universities, community colleges, student groups, faculty unions, and alumni associations. It will study governance structures, funding mechanisms, oversight roles, and best practices from other states to assess how well the system meets current challenges. The task force must issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year, using $200,000 in state funds for administrative costs. The bill does not change funding or governance directly but creates a process for evaluating these systems.

Maddy summaryAJR 56 designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to honor older residents' contributions and encourage community recognition of their ongoing value. It does not create new laws or alter existing policies, but formally recognizes older Americans' roles in society, including their workforce participation and community engagement. This ceremonial designation aligns with the national observance established since 1980.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits how school districts and charter schools can use or disclose student waiver forms related to financial aid applications. It requires waiver forms to collect only basic information (name, contact details, date, and signature) and prohibits schools from sharing waiver content or personal details without student or parent consent, in line with federal privacy laws like FERPA. The bill mandates that all waiver forms include clear, prominent language about these privacy restrictions. This applies to both new waivers and those submitted before the bill's effective date, directly affecting students, parents, and schools handling these records.