Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2127) prohibits electric and gas public utilities in New Jersey from charging residential tenants in multi-unit dwellings (like apartments) a meter-reading fee that exceeds the actual cost of their electricity or gas usage for a billing cycle. It specifically targets fees charged to customers who have opted out of smart meter installation and require manual meter readings. The law sets a clear cap: utilities cannot charge more for manual readings than the customer’s regular utility usage cost. This applies directly to renters in shared housing who choose manual metering, ensuring fees align with actual consumption rather than arbitrary charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the 3-year time limit for New Jersey tax authorities to reassess income tax when a taxpayer received an erroneous refund due to intentional fraud. It directly affects taxpayers who intentionally filed false returns to obtain extra money back from the state. The key change removes the previous 3-year deadline, allowing tax assessments at any time for cases where fraud caused the refund. This applies only to deliberate fraud, excluding accidental errors, negligence, or reliance on incorrect advice. The law retroactively covers cases from the five years before the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Women's Menstrual Health Program within New Jersey's Department of Health to identify and assist patients experiencing symptoms related to endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The program requires the Department to provide evidence-based education and training for healthcare providers, emergency staff, and the public on menstrual health screening and care. It also mandates the creation of online resources, including clinical guidelines for screening, referral, and treatment, and public educational materials about these conditions. The program directly affects individuals with symptoms of endometriosis or PCOS, aiming to improve access to appropriate care through standardized resources and provider education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's child abuse reporting hotline (maintained by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency) to provide callers with information about available resources for victims and their families. The hotline must now include details about community services such as counseling, parenting classes, substance abuse treatment, in-home support, foster care, and residential care. It directly affects families reporting or experiencing child abuse by connecting them to immediate support options. The policy change amends existing law to ensure victims and families are informed about these resources during hotline interactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Education (DOE) to create and distribute annual guidelines for school districts and colleges. The guidelines must include research-backed materials on vaping's health risks (lung effects, mental health, comparison to smoking, dangers to pregnant people and children), age-appropriate anti-vaping campaigns, decision-making tools to resist peer pressure, and promotional materials for students from middle school through college. Schools and colleges must use these guidelines to implement campus anti-vaping programs. The DOH and DOE will update the guidelines yearly and post them online with additional resources.

Maddy summaryBill A 2205 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Health (working with the Attorney General) to create clear, easily understandable signs for emergency rooms. These signs must display VCCO services/benefits, contact details, and how to file a compensation claim. The bill mandates posting these signs in all general hospital emergency departments and satellite emergency departments, with electronic displays permitted. It aims to make VCCO information more accessible to individuals who may qualify for victim compensation after crimes. The bill takes effect four months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to create and distribute a client satisfaction survey to individuals using support coordination services. The survey will rate agencies on a 1-5 star scale based on client feedback, with results updated quarterly and published online. Support coordination agencies - which help people with developmental disabilities access medical, social, and educational services - are directly affected by this new rating system. The policy mandates transparency in service quality without altering existing support structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey healthcare providers to refer pregnant people or new mothers diagnosed with preeclampsia who later show endometriosis symptoms for evaluation. It mandates obstetric care providers to educate patients about endometriosis, explain evaluation benefits, and either conduct the evaluation or refer for one (with a written refusal option). The Commissioner of Health must develop patient education materials on endometriosis symptoms and warning signs, in consultation with advocacy groups. If diagnosed, providers must create a treatment plan to minimize endometriosis risks. The bill is pending in committee and would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "Sexual Violence Restorative Justice Pilot Program" administered by New Jersey's Attorney General to provide trauma-informed restorative justice services for survivors of sexual violence, including those who chose not to report the crime to police. It requires the Attorney General to partner with organizations specializing in trauma care (not affiliated with law enforcement) to design and run the program, emphasizing survivor autonomy - participants may join or leave at any time - and mandates strict confidentiality for all communications related to the program, protecting them from use in court. The program will serve survivors statewide (replacing the prior requirement for specific county locations) and must be evaluated within 90 days of completion, with a report recommending whether to continue, expand, or make it permanent. The bill amends existing law by removing the requirement to compensate partner organizations and updating service delivery parameters.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2188) requires birthing centers, federally qualified health centers, and healthcare providers offering prenatal or postpartum care (within 12 weeks of birth) to screen patients showing symptoms of high blood pressure during or after pregnancy for preeclampsia. Providers must use evidence-based tools from recognized medical groups, inform patients about symptoms and evaluation benefits, and discuss results - developing treatment plans if preeclampsia is confirmed. The law applies to people who haven’t been previously diagnosed with the condition in the current or recent pregnancy. It aims to standardize early detection and care for a serious postpartum health risk.