Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $10,067,905 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for grants to nonprofit organizations. The funds will support 11 land acquisition projects ($5.7 million), four park development projects ($3.58 million), and two stewardship activities ($309,000) across multiple counties. These grants will help nonprofits acquire or develop lands for recreation and conservation purposes, with $479,000 allocated for DEP administrative costs. The bill specifies that funds come from dedicated tax revenues established by the Preserve New Jersey Act and will support specific projects approved by the DEP.

Maddy summaryThe Next New Jersey Program Act establishes a tax credit program administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to attract artificial intelligence (AI) investments to the state. Eligible businesses must make a minimum $100 million capital investment and create at least 100 new full-time jobs in AI-related activities, where at least 50% of employees or revenue comes from AI operations. The tax credit amount equals the lesser of 0.1% of capital investment multiplied by new jobs, 25% of capital investment, or $250 million. This program allocates up to $500 million in tax credits originally designated for the New Jersey Aspire Program and Emerge Program specifically for qualifying AI businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how health insurers in New Jersey calculate their minimum loss ratio requirement for individual and small employer health plans. It requires insurers to maintain at least 80% of premiums spent on claims and quality improvements, calculated using a three-year rolling average instead of annual figures. The law specifies that the numerator must include claims paid plus quality improvement spending, excludes new taxes from the calculation, and mandates that insurers issue rebates if the loss ratio falls below 80%. This applies to all health insurance carriers selling plans in New Jersey's individual and small-group markets.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Mobility and Transportation Innovation Pilot Program from a Mercer County-only initiative to cover the entire state, allowing local governments and transit agencies statewide to apply for grants. It adds specific requirements for projects, including ensuring access for low-income residents without smartphones or credit cards and requiring wheelchair-accessible vehicles and accessible mobile apps. The bill appropriates $20 million in new state funding (beyond an existing $2 million) to support these grants. The program funds transportation projects using innovative technologies to improve mobility, accessibility, and sustainability in disadvantaged communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide one individual textbook (including physical books, workbooks, manuals, or electronic versions) for every student enrolled in any class that uses textbooks as the main learning resource. It directly affects public school districts and all students in classes using textbooks, ensuring each student receives their own copy instead of sharing. The key provision mandates that school boards must supply these individual textbooks immediately upon the bill's enactment. This policy change aims to address situations where students lacked textbooks, potentially hindering their ability to complete assignments and prepare for assessments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover self-administered hormonal contraceptives (such as birth control pills, vaginal rings, and diaphragms) when dispensed by pharmacists under a standing order. Currently, Medicaid beneficiaries need a doctor's prescription for these contraceptives before getting them at a pharmacy, but this bill would eliminate that requirement. The bill defines "standing order" as a prewritten medication order that allows pharmacists to provide these contraceptives without an individual prescription. This change would increase access to contraceptives for Medicaid recipients without requiring additional doctor visits. The policy change applies specifically to Medicaid beneficiaries who use these contraceptive methods.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4647 requires all public school districts to provide full-day kindergarten programs, with implementation deadlines based on district classification (A/B/CD/DE districts by 2020-2021, others by 2021-2022). It establishes a uniform age requirement: children must be five years old by October 1 of the school year to enroll in kindergarten, replacing current district-specific cutoffs. The bill amends existing education statutes (N.J.S.18A:38-5 and N.J.S.18A:44-2) to mandate these changes. This directly affects all New Jersey public school districts and kindergarten students entering school.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's four-year public universities to create and annually update a reproductive health services plan ensuring students can access contraception (including emergency contraception via vending machines or on-campus retail), STI testing/treatment, prenatal care, and abortion referrals. County colleges must establish a referral network connecting students to verified local providers for these services. The plan must include 24-hour access to over-the-counter contraception and evidence-based reproductive health education. Institutions are not required to directly provide abortion services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover emergency contraception (like Plan B) without needing a prescription or provider authorization. It directly affects Medicaid enrollees who need emergency contraception, removing the current barrier that forces them to pay out-of-pocket for over-the-counter options or obtain a prescription for coverage. The key provision mandates that Medicaid managed care organizations include this coverage as a standard benefit, eliminating the need for separate authorization. This changes current practice where Medicaid only covers prescription-based emergency contraceptives, improving access for enrollees.

Maddy summaryBill A4661 creates a voluntary contribution option on New Jersey's state income tax returns to support reproductive health care access. Taxpayers can choose to add a contribution to their refund or send a separate payment to the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" established in the Department of the Treasury. The fund would be distributed annually, equally to the three largest Medicaid reproductive health care providers in the state, to cover services for low-income individuals. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" broadly to include pregnancy-related care and abortion services. This policy directly affects New Jersey taxpayers who file state returns and Medicaid providers serving uninsured patients.