Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Female Inmates' Rights Protection Act," requiring the Commissioner of Corrections to implement gender-responsive disciplinary policies and create a nursery program allowing newborns to remain with incarcerated mothers. Eligible mothers must meet specific criteria (e.g., no prior convictions for crimes against minors, no substantiated child abuse history, and no recent serious disciplinary violations) and undergo mental health evaluations. The program requires transfer to a residential community release program, provides parenting classes and doula services during pregnancy/birth, and mandates accommodations for parenting time with the child’s other parent. It also requires annual reporting on disciplinary actions by inmate gender and mandatory staff training on gender-responsive policies at Edna Mahan Correctional Facility for Women.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT), New Jersey Transit (NJT), and Department of Human Services (DHS) to study and improve transportation accessibility for people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities. Specifically, it mandates DOT to review current infrastructure design practices for highways and transit projects, then adopt new standards to help these individuals travel more independently. The agencies must also study nationwide best practices for operating public transportation and mobility programs to make them more accessible. Finally, DOT must encourage local governments applying for state funding to adopt these improved accessibility standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans the sale of flavored cigarettes (including menthol, which was previously exempt), non-premium cigars, and oral nicotine pouches in New Jersey. It defines "flavored" as any added taste or aroma (like fruit, mint, or chocolate) that makes a product taste or smell other than tobacco, excluding naturally occurring flavors without added flavorings. Retailers who sell these products face civil penalties starting at $250 for the first violation, increasing to $1,000 for third and subsequent offenses. Repeat violations may also lead to suspension or revocation of a retailer's tobacco sales license.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1975 bill requires the Department of Corrections to assign transgender, non-binary, and intersex inmates to state correctional facilities based on their gender identity or expression - not their sex assigned at birth or anatomy. During initial classification, staff must ask inmates about their gender identity, expression, and preferred pronouns, with no discipline for refusing to answer. The bill also mandates that all correctional staff, volunteers, and contractors use the inmate's preferred pronouns, and consistent failure to do so may result in disciplinary action under established rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's Medicaid reimbursement rates for private duty nursing (PDN) services by $4 per hour. It raises the rate to at least $65/hour for registered nurses and $53/hour for licensed practical nurses, applying to all Medicaid delivery systems (fee-for-service and managed care). The change affects nursing providers who deliver home-based, continuous care to Medicaid beneficiaries. The bill requires the state to seek federal approval for these rate changes to maintain federal funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey law to remove the automatic disqualification from jury service for individuals with prior convictions of serious crimes (indictable offenses), except for convictions of murder or aggravated sexual assault. It allows people who have completed their sentences for other serious crimes to be considered for jury duty, provided they meet standard qualifications like U.S. citizenship and county residency. The bill does not affect those currently incarcerated for serious crimes, who remain disqualified. This update expands the pool of potential jurors by including more people with past criminal records, while maintaining specific exclusions for the most severe offenses.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1710 bill creates legal protections for children receiving gender-affirming health care by preventing other states from interfering with this care. The bill amends child custody laws to ensure New Jersey courts can handle cases where children receive this care here, and prohibits New Jersey from extraditing, prosecuting, or sharing medical records related to gender-affirming care with other states. It specifically prevents courts from considering a parent's decision to seek gender-affirming care as a factor against them in custody disputes, and stops New Jersey courts from enforcing other states' laws that would remove children from parents for allowing this care. The bill applies to all providers, parents, and medical professionals involved in providing or facilitating gender-affirming care for children in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for motor vehicle theft and related crimes for both adults and juveniles. For adults convicted of motor vehicle theft, it mandates a minimum 180-day prison sentence for a first offense (no parole) and one year for subsequent offenses. Juveniles face 30 days in custody for a first offense, 60 days plus a nonresidential program for a second offense, and six months plus such a program for third or subsequent offenses. The bill also imposes stricter penalties on adults who use minors to commit these crimes, requiring 6-12 months for a first offense and 5+ years for repeat offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits courts from issuing arrest warrants for unpaid fines or fees related to non-moving traffic violations (like parking tickets or equipment violations that don’t add points to a driver’s license). It directly affects residents who owe money for these specific traffic tickets, preventing arrest warrants from being issued solely due to non-payment. The law defines "non-moving violations" as those not assessed with motor vehicle points under existing law (N.J.S.A. 39:5-30.5). Existing warrants issued before this law’s effective date for such violations are voided. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for in-person partial care and intensive outpatient behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment services for adults aged 21 and older. It raises provider payments by 35% for these services and sets a minimum $10 reimbursement per one-way trip for transportation to or from treatment. The changes apply to both Medicaid fee-for-service and managed care systems, affecting clinics, treatment centers, and adult Medicaid beneficiaries. These rate adjustments aim to improve access to community-based care by ensuring providers are adequately compensated.