Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a centralized electronic health information exchange system to support recently incarcerated individuals transitioning to civilian life in New Jersey. It requires the New Jersey Health Information Technology Commission to create secure infrastructure for sharing health records between health providers, correctional facilities, reentry programs, and addiction treatment services - only with a patient’s informed consent. The system must comply with all applicable federal and state privacy laws while facilitating the exchange of health information necessary for reentry support. This policy change directly affects formerly incarcerated people, healthcare providers, and correctional agencies by improving coordinated care during reentry.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's temporary disability benefits to cover workers experiencing pregnancy loss, unsuccessful assisted reproductive technology procedures (like IVF), failed adoptions or surrogacy arrangements, and other fertility-related events. It eliminates the current 7-day waiting period for benefits and allows employees to choose between using earned sick leave or disability benefits for these situations. The bill also requires the Department of Labor and Health to develop and disseminate information about pregnancy loss treatment options and support research on pregnancy loss causes and treatments. These changes affect all New Jersey employees covered by the temporary disability benefits program, including those working for employers with 30 or more employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Director of Homeland Security to create a training program for first responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) on handling emergencies in war zones. The program must cover war-specific hazards like hazardous materials from attacks, treating wartime injuries, self-protection methods, and psychological impacts. It mandates that first responders complete this training biannually after the director develops it within 180 days of the law taking effect. The training must be developed with input from groups like the National Guard, emergency management coordinators, and medical associations. The bill aims to prepare responders for potential military attacks, citing global tensions in Ukraine and Taiwan as context.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes geriatric parole for New Jersey inmates who are 60 or older and have served at least half their sentence, or 65 or older and have served at least one-third their sentence. The parole board must consider factors like age, time served, and diminished physical condition when reviewing requests, while excluding inmates serving sentences for certain serious offenses including sex offenses, murder, robbery, or financial crimes involving fraud. The board must notify sentencing courts, prosecutors, and victims before making a decision, and a denial of geriatric parole doesn't prevent inmates from being considered for regular parole under existing rules. This policy aims to provide an alternative to long-term incarceration for elderly inmates who pose minimal public safety risk.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey public school students experiencing specific menstrual disorders - such as severe cramps (dysmenorrhea), endometriosis, heavy bleeding (menorrhagia), or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - to attend school remotely when symptoms interfere with in-person learning. Parents or guardians must submit a written request by the start of the school day and provide medical documentation as required by the school principal. Remote attendance will count as a full day of school for graduation requirements and course credit. The state education commissioner, in consultation with health officials, will establish guidelines for schools to define eligible remote days.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to provide outreach and services to human trafficking victims using state resources, collaborating with victim support organizations like the Victims of Crime Compensation Office. It authorizes a pilot program to fund service providers in urban areas with the highest crime rates and communities near major ports that have significant minority populations. The pilot program must be evaluated after implementation to determine if it should be continued, expanded, or made permanent. The bill applies statewide but targets specific communities for initial service delivery through the pilot.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies that collect demographic data to create specific categories for Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian/Indian Diaspora communities. It mandates breaking down data by detailed subgroups (e.g., Chinese, Lebanese, Guyanese) and separately tracking primary language spoken at home, replacing current broad categories. Agencies must include this detailed data in public reports and post it online, excluding personal information. The change aims to improve data accuracy for communities currently undercounted or misclassified, such as MENA residents (often grouped as "White") and South Asian diaspora groups. This affects all state agencies collecting demographic information, including departments, boards, and public universities.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3030) allows New Jersey patients to request that their prescription monitoring profile include a "do not prescribe" indicator for opioids and other controlled substances with high addiction potential. Patients can add or remove this indicator at their request through a process established by the Division of Consumer Affairs. The indicator would appear in the state's prescription monitoring system only when actively requested by the patient, helping healthcare providers avoid prescribing these medications. The bill also requires the division to create a method for incapacitated patients to communicate this preference and develop education for healthcare providers about the new option.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 15-member "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" within New Jersey’s Department of Health. The committee will study period inequity (including unequal access to feminine hygiene products, education, and reproductive care) and menstrual disorders, focusing on impacts on underserved groups like minorities, people with disabilities, and transgender/non-binary individuals. Key tasks include examining product pricing/taxation, developing educational guidelines for toxic shock syndrome, and creating strategies to make products more affordable and accessible. The committee must submit an initial report within one year and annual updates with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides financial relief to government contractors who faced unexpected cost increases for construction materials. It applies to contracts valued at $25 million or less that were awarded before December 1, 2021, for materials purchased after March 1, 2020. Contractors can request contract adjustments when material costs rise more than 5% above the original bid (measured by a nationally recognized economic index), with adjustments subject to approval by relevant officials. The bill appropriates $25 million to cover these adjustments, with provisions for both upward adjustments during cost increases and downward adjustments if costs later decrease. This relief applies to contractors working with state agencies, local governments, state authorities, and certain interstate agencies.