Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Large Animal Veterinarian Loan Redemption Program, which helps certified veterinarians with student loan debt by redeeming a portion of their loans in exchange for working in underserved areas. To qualify, participants must be New Jersey residents who graduated from an approved veterinary program, completed a residency, and agree to practice large animal veterinary medicine in a state-designated underserved area for five years. For each year of service, the state redeems 20% of eligible student loan expenses (principal and interest), totaling 100% after five years. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority administers the program and matches participants to underserved areas designated by the Secretary of Agriculture due to veterinarian shortages.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers to provide paid meal breaks of at least 30 minutes after five hours of continuous work and paid rest breaks of at least 15 minutes after four hours of continuous work. It establishes regulations for work quotas in warehouse facilities, requiring warehouse employers (with 100+ employees at a single location or 1,000+ across multiple locations) to provide written descriptions of quotas to employees and ensure quotas don't interfere with breaks, bathroom access, or safety requirements. Employees can request their personal work speed data related to quotas, and employers face penalties under New Jersey's wage and hour laws for violations, including taking adverse actions against workers for failing to meet non-compliant quotas. The bill specifically targets warehouse employers while applying to all employers regarding meal and rest period requirements.
Maddy summary"Madalyn's Law" requires New Jersey school districts to teach students in grades 4-12 about toxic shock syndrome (TSS) as part of health education, including causes, symptoms, and risk reduction. It also mandates that public restrooms with two or more toilets (excluding elementary schools' lower grades) display signs about TSS warning signs, causes, and dangers, placed near tampon dispensers or in prominent locations. Owners of affected facilities face $100 penalties per violation for non-compliance. The state Department of Health must create signage standards and provide public informational materials about TSS online. The law applies to all school districts and public restrooms meeting the specified criteria.
Maddy summaryThis bill allows counties, municipalities, and local economic development organizations to form joint regional partnerships to coordinate economic planning and development. These partnerships can include businesses, schools, nonprofits, and other regional entities working together to attract new businesses, support existing ones, redevelop areas, and share project costs. Partnerships may access loans or matching grants for marketing and business growth initiatives, and must register with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. The bill also permits local governments to create alternative agreements for joint economic projects, subject to approval by the Local Finance Board.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A2080) requires New Jersey colleges and universities to place automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in every athletic facility and student center. The AEDs must be in unlocked, accessible locations with clear signage during normal operating hours, near athletic fields. Institutions must ensure at least two staff members are trained in CPR and AED use during operations, and regularly maintain the devices while notifying emergency services of their location and type. The bill also grants legal immunity to institutions and staff using the AEDs.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) to disclose pricing information to purchasers, including their methodology for generic drug pricing and whether different pricing lists are used for retail versus mail orders. It establishes a Prescription Drug Review Commission to develop a list of critical drugs, requiring manufacturers to report production, R&D, marketing, and pricing data for these drugs. The Commission can set maximum allowable prices for drugs deemed excessively priced in New Jersey compared to other states or their production costs. The bill also prohibits "price gouging" for essential off-patent or generic drugs (defined as drugs with expired patents, made by three or fewer manufacturers, and on WHO's essential medicines list), with manufacturers needing to justify price increases of 50% or more within a year for drugs costing over $80 for a 30-day supply.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a new rule of evidence that would allow statements reporting sexual assault or employment discrimination to be admitted as evidence, even though they would normally be considered hearsay. The statement must have been made spontaneously within a reasonable time after the incident to someone the victim would typically turn to for support. This evidence would be admissible to assess the complainant's credibility, counter the idea that delay means the report was fabricated, and help explain the investigative process. It would apply to both criminal and civil cases involving these allegations.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A1653) prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from requiring student parents (those with full or partial custody of a child) to purchase meal plans, live in on-campus housing (except for specific residential programs, access programs, or scholarship conditions), or pay fees for campus gym or fitness center use. It specifically states institutions cannot charge separate fees for recreational facilities, though they may deny access if those fees aren't paid. The law applies to all public and private institutions of higher education in New Jersey and takes effect for the first full academic year after enactment. It directly affects student parents by removing mandatory financial and housing requirements tied to their parental status.
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 summaryThe Mental Health Access Act (A2500) requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to reimburse providers for specific outpatient behavioral health services at rates no lower than Medicare's rates. This directly affects licensed mental health professionals and facilities that provide evidence-based counseling (such as individual or group therapy for mental health, addiction, or emotional disorders) to Medicaid patients. The bill defines "evidence-based" as treatments meeting state criteria set by health officials and mandates that services must be delivered in outpatient settings. It also directs state agencies to seek federal approval for funding adjustments to cover the increased costs, with implementation beginning four months after enactment.