Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to hire an independent third party to study the feasibility and potential cost savings of returning public utilities to public ownership. The study will examine options such as full or partial acquisition by state entities, joint ownership arrangements, and the financial and environmental impacts on ratepayers and the state budget. Utilities and public agencies must cooperate with the study by providing requested information, and the board must submit a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. The legislation also appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to cover the cost of conducting this study.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Council on Lupus Education and Awareness within the Department of Health to improve care and public understanding of lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that disproportionately affects women, particularly women of color. The 15-member council will be appointed by the Governor, Senate President, Speaker of the General Assembly, and the Health Commissioner, including patient advocates, medical experts, and representatives from healthcare organizations. The council will develop and distribute educational materials about lupus, create a directory of specialized healthcare providers, and work to reduce health disparities through coordinated policy recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover and reimburse for services provided by mental health professionals who hold provisional licenses and work under the supervision of a fully licensed professional. It specifically prohibits insurance companies from denying claims solely because the provider is provisionally licensed, ensuring that individuals can access care from these supervised professionals. The law applies to major insurance programs including the State Health Benefits Program, School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and State Medicaid program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all passenger automobiles manufactured in New Jersey after its effective date to be equipped with rear-seat detection systems that alert drivers when children or pets are left unattended in the vehicle. The system must use auditory, visual, and haptic warnings to notify people inside and outside the car, and it cannot be disabled or overridden by the driver. The New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission will establish the specific design specifications for these systems, which may also include features to notify emergency services of the vehicle's location. This legislation aims to prevent heatstroke deaths by ensuring vehicles automatically warn owners when someone is left inside after the engine is turned off.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities from approving electric or gas rate hikes that would raise average residential customer bills by more than two percent over a five-year period. It directly affects utility companies and residential customers by setting a cap on cumulative rate increases within a specific timeframe. The law requires the Board to review projected bill increases before approval and denies any requests that exceed the two percent threshold during the five-year window. This measure aims to limit utility cost growth for home energy consumers without changing how utilities operate or generating revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation within the New Jersey Department of Treasury to help families of emergency responders who die in the line of duty. The office will be staffed by individuals who have personally experienced the loss of a first responder and will assist beneficiaries with applying for government and private benefits, provide summaries of eligible benefits, and offer ongoing support during the application process. The legislation appropriates $1,000,000 annually from the General Fund to support these operations and is named in honor of three emergency responders who died in the line of duty.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to mandate that electric and gas utilities offer equal payment plans to residential customers, which spread utility costs into consistent monthly installments. It prohibits utilities from charging lump-sum payments when actual usage exceeds forecasts and bans the practice of underbilling, which occurs when bills are based on estimates rather than actual meter readings. The legislation also prevents utilities from adding outstanding balance differences from estimated bills to future charges and restricts monthly bill adjustments to annual updates based solely on usage data. These changes aim to provide more predictable and stable utility billing for home and business energy consumers.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Pancreatic Cancer Commission to study and address pancreatic cancer issues across the state. The commission will examine prevention, early detection, treatment, patient outcomes, and access to care, including reviewing incidence rates, screening practices, barriers to treatment, research efforts, and education needs. It will consist of 13 members appointed by the Governor, Senate President, Assembly Speaker, and minority leaders, including representatives from health departments, medical institutions, advocacy groups, and patient families. The commission will operate without compensation but receive expense reimbursement, and must submit a final report with findings and recommendations within 12 months of organization before expiring. The Department of Health will provide staff support, and the commission can access state employees as needed for its work.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Jersey Department of Health to distribute grants to organizations, including community-based groups and small businesses, for women's health research and innovation projects. The Office on Women's Health would use these funds to support studies on conditions specific to women across their lifespans, address health disparities, develop data standards, and apply new technologies like artificial intelligence to improve health outcomes. Additionally, the office would establish public-private partnerships for health awareness campaigns, serve as a resource center for women's health information, and review other state departments to improve coordination on women's health initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits electric, gas, and water utilities in New Jersey from cutting off service to residential customers who fail to pay their bills during declared epidemics. The law applies only when the Governor officially declares a public health emergency and state of emergency due to a widespread disease outbreak, with exceptions for urgent safety situations like gas leaks or water contamination. Once the emergency declaration is lifted, utilities may resume normal collection practices, and customers become responsible for any unpaid balances from the epidemic period. The legislation also requires utilities to restore service to any residential customers whose accounts were disconnected before the epidemic began.