Asm. Eliana Pintor Marin

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to pay providers the same rate for certain primary and mental health services as the federal Medicare program, starting July 1, 2023. It applies to services provided by physicians in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, or OB/GYN; advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, midwives; and mental health professionals like psychologists and licensed counselors. The law prevents Medicaid reimbursement rates from decreasing below prior year levels and covers both fee-for-service and managed care systems. It also mandates a report within one year on how these rate changes affect access and quality of care for Medicaid beneficiaries, including recommendations for underserved areas.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students at New Jersey's public colleges and universities to voluntarily donate unused meal plan funds at the end of a semester to a new state Emergency Meal Fund. The fund, created in the Department of State, will transfer all donations directly to the New Jersey Federation of Food Banks for distribution to local food banks statewide. Public institutions must establish clear procedures to verify unused meal plan balances (including both cash and unused meal points) and facilitate these donations. The policy applies to all public higher education institutions offering meal plans and takes effect for the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes the limit on annual property tax increases for New Jersey counties by revising how the maximum allowable tax levy is calculated. Currently, counties must ensure their tax levy does not exceed the lower of two calculations; the bill updates this to require counties to not exceed the greater of the two calculations. This directly affects all New Jersey counties in their annual budgeting process for property taxes. The change does not alter the underlying formulas but shifts the ceiling from the lower to the higher of the two amounts. The bill takes effect immediately and is retroactive to January 1, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2064) requires Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare managed care organizations to offer primary care providers either a "patient-centered medical home" model or another "alternative payment model" that incentivizes high-quality, efficient care. It directly affects primary care providers (like doctors, nurse practitioners, and clinics serving Medicaid/NJ FamilyCare patients) by changing how they are paid for services. Key provisions include annual reporting to the state on model details (financial structure, quality metrics, participating providers), the state establishing standardized quality metrics for all such models, and allowing waivers if organizations offer equivalent alternative payment approaches. The goal is to promote team-based, continuous care that improves health outcomes while aligning with broader payment standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Direct Wine Shipping License" that would allow wineries (both in New Jersey and out-of-state) to ship wine directly to consumers, with a limit of 12 cases per year (each case not exceeding nine liters). To qualify, wineries must not have distributed wine through a New Jersey licensed wholesaler in the 120 days before applying, and they must not distribute wine through a New Jersey wholesaler during the license term. The license is available to wineries that produce 250,000 gallons or less annually, which is already the current limit for direct shipping under New Jersey law. License holders would also be required to collect and pay applicable taxes on direct shipments.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Emerging Technology Urban Grant Program through New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to attract technology businesses to four designated urban areas: Newark, Trenton, Camden, and New Brunswick. It provides grants covering cloud computing service costs (up to $125,000 per quarter for two years, capped at $1 million per business) to qualifying emerging tech companies that maintain headquarters in these zones for five years, employ ≤100 full-time workers, and show 20% annual growth in staff or revenue. The program is limited to $80 million total, with no more than $20 million allocated per city, and requires quarterly proof of continued eligibility. Businesses must use the funds solely for cloud-based technology services to support job creation and economic growth in targeted urban cores.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2037) allows New Jersey municipalities to extend the deadline for homeowners to apply for short-term tax breaks on property improvements. Specifically, if a previous owner completed renovations but didn’t apply for a tax exemption within 30 days, a new homeowner can now file within one year of purchase. It also requires sellers to notify buyers in writing about unapplied improvements that could increase property taxes. The law targets properties in designated rehabilitation areas and aims to prevent unexpected tax increases for new owners. It modifies existing state law to clarify deadlines and add transparency in property transactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey campaign committees (including candidate committees, political party committees, and continuing committees) to adopt anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, provide training on these policies to staff who work 280+ hours per year, and designate coordinators to handle complaints. It creates an Office on Discrimination and Harassment Prevention within the Election Law Enforcement Commission to receive, investigate, and address complaints about discrimination or harassment in political campaigns. The office will maintain a secure complaint portal, provide trauma-informed investigations, and require committees to report on compliance. The bill appropriates $2 million to fund this office and its operations. It also prohibits nondisclosure agreements that would conceal discrimination or harassment claims in political settings.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities, counties, and regional police and fire departments to require new hires to live in their jurisdiction for five years. It permits departments to adopt ordinances making residency a condition of employment, with new hires given six months after completing training to relocate. Exceptions are included if a member faces injury or threats related to their job, such as intimidation or attempts to manipulate investigations. The law directly affects police and fire personnel seeking employment in these public safety roles across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies how tax revenues from Urban Enterprise Zones (UEZs) are deposited into the Enterprise Zone Assistance Fund, appropriating $82.5 million annually (adjusted for inflation) for economic development in designated zones. It requires that revenues from retail sales qualifying for a 50% sales tax exemption be deposited into the fund, while excluding medical and recreational cannabis sales from this exemption. The bill establishes a formula for determining annual appropriations based on tax savings from the UEZ program. This affects businesses operating in designated enterprise zones, the UEZ Authority, and municipalities managing enterprise zones.