Asm. Avi Schnall

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey school districts to use leftover state funding from one nonpublic school program to pay for services in another program instead of returning the unused money to the state. Specifically, it permits funds originally designated for nursing services or security services to be redirected to the other category if a district spends less than the allocated amount. Under current rules, districts must refund any unspent aid after the school year ends, but this legislation creates flexibility by letting districts apply those funds to the alternative program's needs. The change directly affects public school districts that manage state aid for private school nursing and security services, enabling them to utilize available resources more efficiently.

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's NJBEST educational savings program to expand eligibility for matching grants. Taxpayers with gross income of $75,000 or less who open an NJBEST account will now qualify for a dollar-for-dollar match on **all initial deposits** (not just the first deposit), up to a total $750 grant. The change clarifies that all initial contributions to the account - within the $750 cap - will be matched, whereas current law only referenced "the initial deposit." It directly affects low-to-moderate-income New Jersey residents opening these accounts for education savings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to create and distribute a client satisfaction survey to individuals using support coordination services. The survey will rate agencies on a 1-5 star scale based on client feedback, with results updated quarterly and published online. Support coordination agencies - which help people with developmental disabilities access medical, social, and educational services - are directly affected by this new rating system. The policy mandates transparency in service quality without altering existing support structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3986) requires towing companies in New Jersey to accept electronic authorization from vehicle owners or operators to release towed vehicles to designated third parties. It directly affects towing companies registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs and third parties like insurance companies or collision repair shops. The key provision mandates that towing companies must accept written authorization sent electronically instead of requiring in-person pickup. The bill also requires the Director of Consumer Affairs to issue guidelines ensuring lawful property transfers. This update to the 2007 Predatory Towing Prevention Act simplifies vehicle release when owners don't need to be present.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires insurance carriers in New Jersey to cover prescription drugs for serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and PTSD without requiring prior authorization or step therapy. It directly affects individuals with these conditions who need mental health coverage through health plans, ensuring they can access necessary medications without unnecessary administrative hurdles. The law also mandates that insurers report annually on how they develop medical necessity criteria for mental health and substance use disorder treatments, increasing transparency in coverage decisions. Additionally, carriers must provide information about in-plan exceptions when qualified providers are not available in their network.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey child care centers to create procedures for notifying parents or guardians when a child is absent without an excused reason, as a condition for obtaining or renewing their state license. The Department of Children and Families (DCF) must verify these procedures before issuing a license and can deny, revoke, or refuse to renew a center's license if the procedures aren't established. Centers must determine the reason for unexcused absences following existing law (P.L.2020, c.152). The policy directly affects licensed child care centers and their enrolled families, mandating a specific administrative process tied to licensing compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other local government entities to purchase at least 5% of their goods and services from the Central Nonprofit Agency (CNA), which supports rehabilitation facilities. It grants the CNA a "right of first refusal" for any goods/services typically bought through cooperative purchasing catalogs, provided they can match prices within 15% of fair market value. The bill also mandates that the Division of Purchase and Property create training protocols for all purchasing agents to ensure awareness of the CNA program, with annual reporting on compliance by all affected entities. These requirements apply to all state and local government bodies authorized to make purchases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires drivers to stop at least 25 feet from school buses loading/unloading children or individuals with developmental disabilities on undivided highways, and to slow to 10 mph on divided highways. It establishes that violations captured by school bus monitoring systems (like cameras) will result in a $300 civil penalty instead of criminal charges or license points. The law directly affects drivers near school buses, school bus operators, and enforcement agencies. Key provisions include standardized stopping distances, speed limits for divided highways, and shifting penalties for monitored violations to a civil fine system. This changes enforcement by prioritizing evidence from monitoring systems to reduce penalties for documented violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a 50% sales tax exemption for small retail businesses operating in municipalities affected by ongoing public highway projects. It applies to businesses with a fixed location offering goods or services (like retail stores or charter boat services) during the "relief period" - the time between when a highway project starts and ends. Businesses must apply to the Tax Division Director for approval, verifying their location within an impacted area. The exemption automatically ends 30 days after the Transportation Commissioner notifies the Tax Division that the highway project is complete.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remove conservation restrictions from property when the owner needs the land for expanding a special needs school, provided they also establish a new conservation restriction on a parcel at least twice as large within 20 miles. It applies specifically to properties with restrictions tied to Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permits. The new restriction must protect land similarly to the original. This creates a trade-off between development for education and expanded conservation coverage.