Asm. John DiMaio

Maddy summaryBill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires used motor vehicle dealers operating in a multi-dealer location (a single building housing multiple dealership offices) to maintain at least four business hours per week, Monday through Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., with the dealer or an authorized representative physically present. It also mandates that a multi-dealer representative must be present Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., without needing authorization for any specific dealership. The bill defines "multi-dealer location" as a building meeting the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission’s regulations for used motor vehicle dealerships. These requirements apply specifically to dealers in such shared-location settings.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryS 3466 extends the special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs in the Highlands Region through 2029, requiring landowners to be provided with two appraisal values when selling property for preservation. The bill allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for land preservation, with $5 million for recreation and conservation and $2.5 million for farmland preservation. It creates a new "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund" to support land acquisition and conservation efforts in the Highlands Region, including matching federal funding for watershed protection. The bill also requires distributing state aid to municipalities hosting watershed lands that don't receive existing watershed moratorium offset aid.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits lead-based paint inspection requirements for certain rental apartments in New Jersey. Landlords of qualifying units (e.g., those with valid lead-safe certification, built after 1978, or in long-registered multi-family buildings with no violations) are exempt from future inspections. It also restricts re-inspections after a hazard is found to only cover the specific areas previously identified, reducing costs. The law modifies existing rules to prioritize certification and streamline enforcement while maintaining safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 179) adopts five articles of impeachment against New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin, formally initiating impeachment proceedings. It alleges he failed to address issues within state law enforcement units (Division of Criminal Justice and OPIA), exceeded authority by unilaterally taking control of the Paterson Police Department, failed to defend state law in court, targeted pro-life pregnancy centers based on political views, and violated public trust. The resolution directs the General Assembly to present these articles to the Senate per New Jersey Constitution, Article VII, Section III. As a procedural resolution, it does not enact new policy but follows the constitutional impeachment process.

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 increases penalties for retail theft offenses based on the value of stolen goods, with shoplifting over $500 becoming a third-degree crime. It creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales) and upgrades penalties for "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime. The bill establishes a retail theft unit within the Attorney General's office to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, and includes new requirements for gift card retailers to prevent fraud through packaging standards and third-party reseller record-keeping. It also creates extended prison terms for repeat retail theft offenders and increases penalties for tax evasion related to retail theft.

Maddy summaryThis resolution commemorates the 75th anniversary of the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, established by the 1950 Dingell-Johnson Act. The program funds conservation and habitat restoration for sportfish populations using excise taxes paid by fishing and boating equipment users. New Jersey benefits from this program through restored fish populations (like striped bass and brook trout), improved habitats, and support for recreational fishing jobs. The resolution directs copies to New Jersey’s Division of Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5340) prohibits foreign governments and foreign persons from acquiring or owning agricultural land in New Jersey after its effective date, with limited exceptions. Current foreign owners must sell or transfer their land to domestic entities within five years, including attaching a deed requiring continued agricultural use. Exceptions allow ownership through debt collection processes (requiring sale within two years), inheritance, or security interests, while respecting applicable U.S. treaties. The bill mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature tracking foreign-owned farmland acreage, ownership trends, and land use purposes.