Asm. Will Sampson

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for illegal payments related to patient referrals to substance use disorder treatment facilities. It makes such payments a third-degree crime (up from fourth-degree) with a mandatory $50,000 fine, affecting healthcare providers, facilities, non-profits, and recovery residences. The law prohibits payments that vary based on patient volume, treatment duration, or insurance benefits, but allows flat fees not tied to these factors. It clarifies that referrals to certified treatment facilities or recovery residences (sober living homes) must not involve commission-based payments.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, and their contracted administrators from charging service fees to E-ZPass account holders. It specifically bans fees added to monthly bills solely for enrolling in the E-ZPass system, not for actual toll usage. The bill defines "service fee" as an extra charge for enrollment, not for toll transactions, and applies to all current and future E-ZPass account holders in New Jersey. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects unionized faculty and staff at New Jersey City University (NJCU) if the university merges with Kean University. It prohibits termination, layoffs, or adverse employment actions for three years post-merger, requires Kean to first offer vacant positions to transferred NJCU employees, and preserves all existing union contracts, benefits, and seniority for three years. Kean must honor all negotiated terms like salaries, benefits, and grievance procedures without changes without union consent, and must implement a clear communication plan for affected employees. Violations allow unions to seek immediate legal remedies, including injunctions and binding arbitration, with disputes prioritized by the Public Employment Relations Commission.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most public and private 18-hole golf courses in New Jersey to maintain an automated external defibrillator (AED) and train staff in its use. It applies specifically to full-sized courses open to the public (excluding 9-hole, executive, par-3, driving ranges, or miniature golf facilities). Within one year of the law taking effect, course owners must acquire and store an AED in an accessible location, provide staff with CPR and AED training, and ensure at least one certified employee is on-site during business hours. Violations carry civil penalties starting at $250 for the first offense, with immunity from liability provided for courses that properly maintain the AED.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill reorganizes New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program governance by expanding the State Health Benefits Commission to 11 members and eliminating the previous Plan Design Committee. It requires the program to offer exactly five health plans for employees and non-Medicare-eligible retirees, including a new "NJ Gold" plan that doesn't require salary-based employee contributions. The bill establishes an escalator system to adjust employee contribution rates based on premium cost trends, increasing rates if premiums rise significantly above inflation and decreasing them if premiums fall. Additionally, it mandates that local government employers must decide within one year whether to join the SHBP, with a two-year commitment if they choose to participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to create secure mobile driver's licenses and digital non-driver ID cards for residents who voluntarily request them. The digital versions will include all the same information as physical licenses, be accessible on smartphones or tablets, and allow users to update their motor vehicle records (like address changes) in real time, with updates overriding physical copies. The MVC must implement security features to prevent fraud and will be permitted to charge a reasonable fee for the service. The bill also explicitly allows drivers to display these digital IDs to police officers instead of physical cards, while protecting the privacy of other device contents.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1439 requires health insurance plans (including hospital, medical, health service, and individual policies) to cover orthotic and prosthetic appliances from licensed providers - including podiatrists - when medically necessary for daily activities. It also mandates coverage for *additional* appliances needed for specific sports and recreational activities like running, swimming, skiing, and team sports, as determined by a physician. Insurance plans must reimburse at the same rate as federal Medicare for these appliances. This applies to all relevant health insurance contracts in New Jersey, directly affecting insured individuals needing these devices for mobility or recreation.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits how consumer service contracts can be written. It prohibits companies from including clauses that let a contract for one service (like streaming or gym access) control unrelated purchases from the same company or its affiliates (such as groceries or insurance). The rule applies to written agreements for personal, family, or household services, excluding financial transactions like stocks or commodities. It takes effect 180 days after enactment for new or renewed contracts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4194 prohibits public works contractors from bidding on state projects if any member of their cooperative entity failed to pay prevailing wages. Specifically, it extends the existing three-year ban on wage violators to entire cooperatives (defined as collective ownership structures where members control operations), preventing them from securing public contracts if one member is listed for nonpayment. The law requires public bodies to verify contractors against a commissioner's list of wage violators before awarding contracts, with broad definitions covering ownership ties, shared resources, or business relationships. This directly affects cooperative businesses in construction and related fields bidding on state-funded projects.