Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2996, eliminates physician collaboration requirements for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey, allowing them to practice independently without supervision or joint protocols. It directly affects APNs - registered nurses with specialized training in primary and specialty care - and aims to improve healthcare access, particularly in underserved communities and for populations facing barriers like low income or transportation challenges. The key provision removes statutory restrictions that previously limited APNs' scope of practice, aligning New Jersey with 24 states that grant full practice authority. The bill cites pandemic-era waivers (Executive Order No. 112) that allowed similar independent practice without adverse incidents, and notes APNs could reduce healthcare access disparities by over 38% if restrictions are lifted.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of human trafficking crimes in New Jersey and removes the statute of limitations for prosecuting these offenses, allowing authorities to pursue cases regardless of how much time has passed. It also creates specialized human trafficking response teams to coordinate investigations and support services, while increasing training and education requirements for law enforcement and related professionals. Additionally, the bill appropriates $1 million to the Commission on Human Trafficking to fund these initiatives and improve victim support systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates mandatory collaboration requirements between advanced practice nurses (APNs) and physicians in New Jersey. It directly affects APNs - registered nurses with advanced certifications who provide primary and specialty care - by allowing them to practice independently without physician supervision or joint protocols. The key provision removes statutory restrictions that previously limited APNs' scope of practice, aligning New Jersey with 24 other states that grant full practice authority. This change aims to expand healthcare access, particularly in underserved areas, by enabling APNs to work to the full extent of their training.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases financial aid to New Jersey municipalities that host watershed lands within the Highlands Region, directing funds from the Highlands Protection Fund and other environmental funds to offset property restrictions. It requires that at least 25% of the aid received by each municipality be used for school funding purposes. Additionally, the bill adjusts how money from realty transfer fees is allocated to the Highlands Protection Fund, ensuring ongoing support for watershed protection efforts. The legislation applies specifically to municipalities identified by the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council as hosting watershed lands.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to study how recording customer service calls to the Division of Unemployment Insurance can improve the timely delivery of benefits. Under the program, a representative sample of intake calls will be recorded and analyzed to measure resolution rates, response times, and any relationship between call duration and benefit amounts. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature based on survey results, and the program will expire after the third report is submitted.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions made to qualified New Jersey-based organizations from their gross income during public health emergencies. The deduction is limited to $10,000 for married couples filing jointly or heads of household, and $5,000 for single filers or married individuals filing separately. A qualified organization must be registered under state law, maintain an office or employ staff in New Jersey, and provide services within the state. The provision applies to contributions made during an active public health emergency declaration and for 30 days after the emergency concludes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Auditor to conduct performance audits of a random sample of school districts to examine how public funds were used during the COVID-19 pandemic. The audits will focus on fiscal operations from March 2020 through the end of the 2020-2021 school year, checking for cost savings, best practices, and any misuse of funds across districts in northern, central, and southern regions that used different teaching methods like remote, hybrid, or in-person instruction. Results will be reported to state officials and posted online, with copies sent to each school district's board of education.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires operators of artificial intelligence companion systems to clearly notify users that they are not communicating with a human. The notification must be provided verbally or in writing at the start of each interaction and repeated at least every three hours. The law defines AI companions as systems that simulate human relationships through personalized conversations, emotional engagement, and sustained dialogue. Operators who fail to provide these notifications face a $15,000 civil penalty for each violation. The bill applies to any business or individual offering AI companions for personal use within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prescription drugs for serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD without requiring prior authorization or step therapy. It directly affects individuals with these conditions who need mental health coverage through health plans, ensuring they can access necessary medications without unnecessary administrative hurdles. The law also mandates that insurers report annually on how they develop medical necessity criteria for mental health and substance use disorder treatments, increasing transparency in coverage decisions. Additionally, carriers must provide information about in-plan exceptions when qualified providers are not available in their network.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires nursing homes in New Jersey to provide detailed financial and ownership information to the Department of Health before a sale or transfer of ownership occurs. The new requirements include submitting a transfer fee, a cover letter identifying the facility, a description of the transaction with full details on current and proposed owners, and copies of sales and management agreements. The Department of Health must post these applications on its website within 30 days while redacting personal and proprietary information, and the public will have an opportunity to comment on each transfer. Additionally, ownership transfer approval depends on the Department reviewing the new owners' disciplinary history and ensuring all outstanding Medicaid claims and penalties are resolved or assumed by the new owners.