Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) to include annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) in contracts with organizations providing child, youth, and family services. The COLA would be calculated using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the previous year (October 1-September 30) and announced by DCF each October 1. It directly affects contracted social service organizations - including those receiving Medicaid funding - by ensuring their fixed service rates (which cover staff wages and operational costs) adjust annually for inflation. This mechanism aims to sustain funding for essential services and maintain competitive staff compensation as living costs rise. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) and Department of Health (DOH) to provide SNAP (food assistance), WFNJ (cash assistance), and WIC (nutrition program) recipients with clear information about card skimming, cloning, and fraud prevention. It mandates that agencies replace stolen benefits through established claims processes using federal funds (per the 2023 Consolidated Appropriations Act) or state funds if federal funds are unavailable. DHS and DOH must also coordinate with card vendors to implement security measures like embedded microchips and transaction alerts. The bill directly affects millions of low-income New Jersey residents who rely on these programs for essential support.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes the first $5,000 earned annually as a community outreach worker in health promotion or disease prevention programs from income calculations for New Jersey's Medicaid (NJ FamilyCare), Work First New Jersey (WFNJ), and SNAP programs. It directly affects low-income individuals working temporary, hourly or stipend-based roles with non-profits, health systems, or local health departments - where they connect communities to health services. The key provision ensures this modest income isn’t counted toward eligibility thresholds, preventing beneficiaries from losing assistance due to small earnings. The bill defines "health promotion" as programs empowering healthy behaviors and "disease prevention" as reducing health risks, applying to all three state assistance programs. It requires state agencies to update eligibility rules to implement this change.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies current regulations allowing more healthcare providers (including nurse practitioners and physician assistants) to perform abortions in New Jersey, which has been permitted since 2021. It removes medically unnecessary facility requirements that increase costs and create barriers to care, such as excessive licensing rules. The bill amends licensing statutes to clarify that abortion facilities must meet basic safety standards but eliminates non-essential mandates that don't improve patient health. This change directly affects abortion providers and patients seeking timely, affordable reproductive care across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most tobacco retailers (excluding cigar shops) to stock and sell at least one FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) product, such as gum or patches, to help people quit smoking. Retailers can choose which specific NRT products to carry, how much to stock, and whether to offer multiple types, but must display these products behind the counter with clear signage and include the NJ Smoking Quitline contact information. If a retailer runs out of NRT products, they must order new stock within five business days and restock within 14 days. The law aims to increase access to smoking cessation tools at the point of tobacco purchase.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's proposed A1678 would create a new Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as a principal agency within the state executive branch. The department would be led by a commissioner appointed by the governor, who would advise state agencies on diversity in investments, procurement, and housing programs. It would transfer existing diversity functions from the Treasury Department's Office of Diversity and Inclusion to this new department. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover social adult day care services for seniors aged 60 and older who meet the clinical, income, and asset requirements for the state's Medicaid Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program. It expands current coverage - previously limited to MLTSS enrollees - by mandating Medicaid coverage regardless of MLTSS enrollment. Social adult day care is defined as non-medical, community-based care provided during daytime hours when caregivers are unavailable, designed to support seniors with functional impairments. The bill also requires the state to seek federal Medicaid waivers for funding, with implementation pending federal approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year oral health pilot program called the MOM Project in New Jersey's Department of Health, appropriating $4.15 million. It directly affects low-income pregnant women and new mothers (under 300% of the federal poverty level) who are not enrolled in Medicaid and reside in medically underserved areas. The program requires maternal health consortia to provide eligible mothers with three hours of culturally tailored oral health education (covering hygiene, nutrition, and disease links), followed by a year of dental treatment including cleanings, risk assessments, and restorative care at participating community health centers. The initiative aims to improve access to oral care for this at-risk group, addressing barriers like cost, lack of insurance, and language needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2125) expands New Jersey's wrongful imprisonment statute to include individuals mistakenly convicted of a crime and later civilly committed as a "sexually violent predator" under P.L.1998, c.71. It allows these claimants to sue the state for damages if they prove, by clear and convincing evidence, they did not commit the crime and did not cause their conviction through misconduct. Damages would be calculated as either twice their pre-incarceration income or $50,000 per year of imprisonment (plus $25,000 per year of post-release supervision), with possible non-monetary relief like vocational training. Claimants must file within two years of release, conviction vacating, or pardon. The bill is pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey government entities - including municipalities, counties, school districts, and state agencies - to review their cybersecurity systems and submit recommendations. Each entity must evaluate current security, identify high-risk issues, propose improvements for computer systems/networks, and suggest policy changes. They must report findings to the Governor and Legislature within 45 days of the bill's effective date. The bill does not create new cybersecurity standards but mandates a systematic review process across all public entities.