Rep. Avi Schnall

Maddy summaryThe Climate Superfund Act (A 3735) holds fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments into a state fund. Companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels during 1995-2026 and emitted over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gases must pay based on their proportional liability, with joint liability for companies in a "controlled group." Funds collected will be distributed to implement climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs in overburdened communities. The Department of Environmental Protection will administer the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to manage payments and fund these projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing requirement for health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screenings without any out-of-pocket costs. It specifically requires coverage for annual screenings - including digital rectal exams and PSA tests - for men aged 50 and older (asymptomatic) and men aged 40 and older with a family history of prostate cancer or other risk factors. The law applies to most health insurance plans, including high-deductible plans where permitted by federal law, and mandates coverage "to the same extent as for any other medical condition." It does not alter existing coverage for other preventive services but ensures no cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays) applies to these specific screenings.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new trust fund to provide health benefits, including medical, pharmacy, dental, and vision coverage, to eligible public school employees and their dependents in New Jersey. It defines who qualifies as an employee and dependent, specifying that full-time workers must work at least 25 hours per week and that dependents include spouses, domestic partners, and unmarried children up to age 31. The legislation creates a board of trustees to manage the fund and ensure its assets are used solely for the benefit of the covered individuals. Additionally, the bill includes an appropriation to fund the initial operations of this new trust.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that a "mortgage loan" refers specifically to loans made primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, secured by residential properties (1-6 dwelling units). It directly affects homebuyers and renters with standard mortgages by exempting these loans from prepayment penalties, meaning borrowers can pay off their loans early without extra fees. The key mechanism updates the legal definition to ensure consumer loans (not commercial ones) cannot include prepayment penalties, while allowing such fees for commercial mortgage loans. This applies to all new mortgage loans entered into after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires health insurers to explain in detail why they deny coverage for private duty nursing services that a patient's doctor has deemed medically necessary. When an insurer rejects such a request, it must provide a full description of the reason, specifically explaining why the doctor's assessment is invalid if medical necessity is the issue. Additionally, the law mandates that insurers share the criteria they use to evaluate these requests and give examples of approved cases along with the required documentation. These provisions aim to increase transparency in the approval process for private duty nursing by ensuring patients receive clear rationales for denials. The changes will take effect 90 days after the bill is enacted.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows school districts in New Jersey to use leftover state funding from one nonpublic school program to pay for expenses in the other program. Specifically, it permits unspent money designated for nonpublic school textbooks to be used for the Nonpublic Technology Initiative, and vice versa. Currently, districts must return any unused funds to the state after the school year ends, but this legislation would let them apply those funds to the alternative program first. The change aims to provide districts with more flexibility in managing their budgets for these specific educational services.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and insurance carriers to increase transparency and fairness in prescription drug coverage. It requires carriers and PBMs to establish pharmacy and therapeutics committees with strict conflict-of-interest rules, prohibits commission-based PBM compensation (mandating flat fees instead), and mandates detailed reporting of PBM fees for insurance filings. The law directly affects insurers, PBMs, and pharmacies by changing how drug formularies (approved drug lists) are managed and how PBM costs are calculated and disclosed. Key provisions include banning preferential formulary placement for higher-cost drugs over lower-cost generics/biosimilars and requiring actuarial documentation for PBM compensation. The bill aims to reduce patient cost-sharing and ensure PBM compensation aligns with administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires chatbots powered by generative artificial intelligence to clearly disclose when they are providing election-related information or candidate details to voters. The law applies to any AI system that generates text, audio, video, or print content about topics such as voter eligibility, polling locations, ballot procedures, or candidate qualifications. Operators of these chatbots must include a permanent or difficult-to-remove disclosure before presenting any content, and failure to comply could result in fines of up to $6,000 for the first violation and $12,000 for subsequent offenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the definition of Health Care Service Firms in New Jersey to include any agency that refers individuals to provide companion, health care, or personal care services in the homes of people with disabilities or those aged 60 and older. Under the new rules, these firms must register with the Division of Consumer Affairs and obtain accreditation from a recognized body within 12 months of registration. Additionally, the legislation requires larger firms to submit annual financial statements and periodic audits or third-party reports based on their revenue and Medicaid funding levels. These changes aim to increase oversight and transparency for a broader range of organizations serving elderly and disabled residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school districts to use leftover state funding from one nonpublic school program to pay for services in the other program. Specifically, it permits unspent money from the nonpublic textbook aid or the Nonpublic Technology Initiative to be redirected to the alternative program if the district does not spend the full amount originally allocated. Under current rules, districts must return any unused funds to the state by December 1 after the school year ends, but this legislation changes that requirement by enabling the transfer of funds between the two specific aid categories. The change applies directly to school districts that receive state assistance for nonpublic schools and aims to provide more flexibility in how they utilize available financial resources.