Asm. Shanique Speight

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's Department of Children and Families (DCF) from using federal benefits received by a child in out-of-home placement (such as foster care) to reimburse the state for the child's care costs. Instead, DCF must use these benefits - like Social Security or Veterans benefits - to cover the child's unmet needs (e.g., medical or educational expenses beyond state coverage) or save them in a dedicated account for the child's future. DCF is required to apply for federal benefits on behalf of eligible children, maintain separate accounts for these funds, and provide annual reports to the child, parents, and court on their use. The law ensures children's federal benefits directly support their personal needs and future, rather than offsetting state expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program and Plan First program to cover fertility preservation services for individuals whose fertility may be impaired by medically necessary treatments like cancer therapy. It defines "iatrogenic infertility" as fertility loss caused by medical treatments affecting reproductive organs, and specifies that covered services include storage of sperm, eggs, embryos, and cryopreserved ovarian tissue. The coverage must be provided without discrimination based on age, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics, making these often-expensive services accessible to low-to-moderate income patients who would otherwise be unable to afford them.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes standardized credit transfer rules for New Jersey public colleges and universities, replacing previous "collective agreements" with requirements set by the Secretary of Higher Education. It creates a New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman within the Secretary's office to resolve disputes between students and institutions about credit transfers, conduct compliance reviews every three years, and publish annual reports on transfer outcomes. Public institutions must now provide transfer students with data on program completion rates and ensure associate degrees earned at community colleges are fully transferable toward bachelor's degrees. The changes directly affect students transferring between NJ public colleges and universities, as well as the institutions themselves, by standardizing credit recognition and adding oversight.

Maddy summaryAJR 150 designates July of each year as "Cleft and Craniofacial Awareness and Prevention Month" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution encourages community organizations, medical institutions, and advocacy groups to raise public awareness about cleft lip and palate birth defects - conditions affecting about 1 in 1,700 babies in the U.S. - and promote collaboration on outreach and research. It does not create new laws or funding but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to support this awareness effort. The resolution directly affects New Jersey residents and families impacted by these birth defects by fostering community engagement and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program (NJ FamilyCare) to pay inpatient hospitals the same rate for long-acting injectable antipsychotic drugs as it does for outpatient use. It directly affects hospitals and inpatient providers who treat patients with serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. The key mechanism mandates that reimbursement for these drugs in hospitals must be separate from standard hospital payment systems (DRGs) and match the outpatient rate, which reflects the actual drug cost. This change aims to ensure hospitals receive adequate reimbursement for these high-cost medications, which are designed to manage symptoms for up to 24 weeks with a single dose.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new "alternative compliance payment" (ACP) option for electric power suppliers in New Jersey. Instead of meeting Class II renewable energy generation requirements directly, suppliers may pay a set dollar amount per megawatt hour to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. The ACP mechanism applies specifically to Class II renewable energy targets under existing law (P.L.1999, c.23), providing a financial alternative to generating renewable power. This change directly affects electricity providers who choose this payment method to comply with state renewable energy mandates.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A6160) establishes the "New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Master Plan Study Commission" within the Department of Human Services. The commission, composed of 15 members including state officials, legislative appointees, healthcare providers, family caregivers, and dementia care experts, will develop a comprehensive master plan to address Alzheimer's and related dementias. The plan must include specific measures to improve care quality, support caregivers, promote community-based living, ensure sustainable funding, prevent abuse, and create affordable housing for affected individuals across New Jersey. The commission will submit its final plan to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prostate cancer screening without cost sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). It expands the definition of "prostate cancer screening" to include more diagnostic methods beyond digital rectal exams and PSA tests, such as urinary analysis, serum biomarkers, and medical imaging. The coverage applies to men age 50+ who are asymptomatic, and men age 40+ with family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The bill extends these requirements to additional insurance types, including individual health insurance policies, that weren't previously required to cover prostate cancer screening under current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Professional Corporate Guardians within the Department of Human Services to regulate business entities that serve as guardians for incapacitated or disabled individuals. The office will set licensing requirements, including background checks for owners, insurance coverage, minimum staffing standards, and disciplinary measures for non-compliance. It will maintain a public database of registered guardians and oversee the quality of services provided to vulnerable adults who need guardianship. This affects professional corporate guardians (business entities providing guardianship services) and the incapacitated individuals they serve, creating a standardized oversight system for this type of guardianship.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $175 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Human Services (DHS) for Emergency SNAP Replacement Benefits during fiscal year 2026. It directly affects approximately 800,000 New Jersey SNAP households that experienced reduced federal benefits due to the November 2025 government shutdown. The key mechanism requires DHS to issue monthly replacement benefits equal to the shortfall between a household's certified federal SNAP amount and the actual benefit received, using the existing SNAP EBT system for food purchases. These state funds will be reimbursed by the federal government by June 30, 2026, once federal funding resumes.