Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric and gas public utilities in New Jersey to set their rates at or below the levels charged in 2020 for a five-year period. It mandates that utilities file updated rate schedules with the Board of Public Utilities, which must approve them within 30 days. The rate caps apply to all residential, commercial, and industrial customers who receive utility services in the state. This measure is designed to limit utility price increases and maintain affordability for ratepayers during the specified timeframe.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prescription drugs for serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD without requiring prior authorization or step therapy. It directly affects individuals with these conditions who need mental health coverage through health plans, ensuring they can access necessary medications without unnecessary administrative hurdles. The law also mandates that insurers report annually on how they develop medical necessity criteria for mental health and substance use disorder treatments, increasing transparency in coverage decisions. Additionally, carriers must provide information about in-plan exceptions when qualified providers are not available in their network.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the president of every public college or university in New Jersey to create a menstrual equity plan. The plan must outline how the institution will provide free menstrual products to students and staff, including estimates of need, distribution locations, costs, and a timeline for full implementation within 12 months. Once developed, the plan must be submitted to the institution's governing body, the Governor, and the Legislature. The law defines menstrual equity as ensuring equal access to menstrual hygiene products while reducing stigma around menstruation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits electric and gas utilities in New Jersey from charging residential customers on budget billing plans for service during interruptions caused by major emergency events. It defines major emergencies as severe weather or disasters that affect at least five percent of customers or trigger a state or federal emergency declaration. The law requires utilities to waive charges for service periods when customers experience outages due to damage from these events, though they may still collect payment for services provided before the emergency began.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires electric utilities in New Jersey to reimburse residential customers up to $500 for spoiled food and the full cost of spoiled medicine when service outages last more than 72 hours after a major event like a storm or natural disaster. Utilities must establish an online application system within 90 days of the bill's effective date and process reimbursement requests within 30 days of receipt. The costs incurred by utilities for these reimbursements cannot be passed on to customers through rate increases. Customers must provide itemized receipts and purchase lists for claims exceeding $250 for food or $500 for medication.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers in New Jersey to provide accommodations to employees who are breastfeeding, adding breastfeeding to the list of protected characteristics under state employment discrimination laws. The legislation amends existing statutes to prohibit employers from discriminating against employees based on breastfeeding status, ensuring they receive the same protections against unfair treatment as those afforded to other protected groups. By updating the Law Against Discrimination, the bill aims to support working parents by legally mandating workplace accommodations for breastfeeding needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to create a 24-hour, toll-free Mental Illness Resource Hotline for individuals seeking help with non-emergency mental health issues or crises. The hotline will be staffed by licensed professionals trained to connect callers with appropriate state and local services, resources, and healthcare providers, with a focus on regional availability and multilingual support in English and Spanish. If a caller indicates potential suicide risk, staff will immediately transfer them to the New Jersey Suicide Prevention Hopeline using a warm hand-off method that keeps the caller connected throughout the transfer. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign targeting children and young adults, requires department websites to display the hotline number, and ensures the hotline operates separately from existing social services and mental health hotlines.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Safe Sanitary Subsidized Rental Housing Bill of Rights" to strengthen protections for tenants in publicly subsidized rental housing in New Jersey. It requires landlords receiving rental subsidies to maintain safe and sanitary conditions and creates a process where courts must notify the Department of Community Affairs when habitability issues are alleged in subsidized units. Under the bill, housing inspections must occur within 10 days of such notices, and landlords found to have significant violations may face withholding of rental subsidies until repairs are completed. The legislation also mandates that landlords of subsidized properties register for at least 90 days before a court can enter a judgment of possession, and it updates existing landlord registration requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Men's Health Commission within New Jersey's Department of Health to address the growing gap in life expectancy between men and women. The commission will consist of 25 members appointed by the Governor, Senate, and Assembly, as well as representatives from men's health organizations and individual applicants. Its main duties include developing awareness programs, researching health disparities among men, and creating strategies to improve men's health outcomes through community outreach and partnerships. The commission will meet at least four times per year and can request data from state agencies to support its work.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a Haitian Migrant Assistance Program for undocumented Haitian migrants who have lived in the state for at least two years. The program would provide financial aid, help with housing and public benefits applications, employment support including language training, legal referrals, and community orientation services. It specifically targets individuals of Haitian descent without legal immigration status and aims to offer practical assistance with settlement and integration. The legislation defines eligible recipients and outlines seven categories of support including cash assistance, vocational training, and information about local services and civic processes.