Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services (DHS) and the State Board of Medical Examiners to create a faster process for reviewing applications from doctors who want to join NJ FamilyCare (the state's Medicaid and children's health insurance program). Specifically, the medical board must share a physician's license number with DHS within 5 days of issuing it (or provide denial documentation within 5 days if licensure is denied), and DHS must begin processing applications immediately if they include license details or proof of pending licensure. DHS must also notify applicants within 10 days of receiving the license number if additional documents are needed. The bill does not change existing licensing or enrollment requirements and clarifies that approval cannot be granted before DHS receives a National Provider Identifier number.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator. The coordinator will develop a master plan for dementia care, coordinate existing state programs, prevent service duplication, identify gaps in care, and improve access to quality treatment for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The position is authorized to request data from state agencies and consult with experts, with all departments required to cooperate. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to the Department of Human Services to implement these changes. It directly affects individuals with dementia, their families, and the state agencies providing related services.
Maddy summaryThis bill (A 4101) requires social media companies with at least five million global users to provide New Jersey residents a free, 24-hour toll-free phone number to report fraudulent account activity, such as unauthorized access. Social media companies must publish this number in security emails sent to New Jersey users and on their platform’s homepage or help page. Non-compliance would violate existing consumer protection laws, potentially leading to penalties. The law directly affects New Jersey account holders and major social media platforms operating in the state.
Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Veterans and Military Spouses Asset Protection Act provides enhanced creditor protections for veterans, active-duty service members, and their military spouses. It exempts both their primary residence and one secondary residence (e.g., seasonal or retirement home) from being seized to pay debts, with exceptions for mortgages, taxes, or judgments from fraud/criminal activity. The bill also shields retirement accounts, pensions, disability benefits, and veterans’ benefits from creditors, and exempts up to two vehicles per household (valued at $25,000 each) from seizure, excluding similar exceptions. These protections apply to debts incurred on or after January 1, 2025, and supplement existing federal safeguards like the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey retail food establishments (like restaurants and cafes) to clearly label beverages containing 150 milligrams or more of caffeine per serving with a "High caffeine" notice or approved symbol. The disclosure must appear directly next to the beverage name on all menus, including digital displays and drive-thru boards. Violations carry fines of $200-$500 for the first offense and $500-$1,000 for repeat offenses, enforced by the Department of Health or local health boards. The law preempts local regulations on caffeine disclosures and prohibits private lawsuits for non-compliance.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to immediately notify specific entities when drinking water quality standards are violated. Affected groups include municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools within the affected area. Suppliers must provide detailed information via phone and email, including contaminant names, test dates, locations, exceedance levels, and suggested remedies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.
Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates tiered retirement benefits in New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), moving all current non-retired members to the "Tier 1" benefit level previously available to members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) into PERS within 60 days, and automatically transfers service credit from the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) to PERS for DCRP participants - without transferring their contributions - unless they opt out within six months. Disability recipients under long-term insurance become eligible for disability retirement benefits if they apply within two years. Changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill's effective date.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a process for certain long-incarcerated individuals to seek rehabilitative release. It requires the Department of Corrections to issue a Certificate of Eligibility to people who have served at least 20 years (and are age 60+) or 30 years for murder (and are age 62+). Eligible individuals may then petition a court for sentence modification, which the court may grant if it finds they are not a danger, demonstrate reentry readiness (e.g., through education/vocational programs), and the interests of justice warrant release. If granted, the person receives a five-year parole term and must have victim input considered during the court hearing.
Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes municipalities and school districts to install school bus monitoring systems with cameras to capture vehicles illegally passing school buses. If a violation is recorded by such a system, the violator would face a $250 civil penalty instead of criminal penalties, with collected funds going to the municipality or school district for safety programs. The monitoring systems must capture specific evidence including the bus's flashing lights, the violating vehicle's license plate, and the date/time/location of the violation. Recorded images are not public records and must be purged within 95 days of recording. The registered owner of the vehicle would be liable for the penalty unless they can prove the vehicle was used without consent or was stolen.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey cosmetology, barbering, and hair braiding schools to include training on textured hair (defined as coiled, curly, or wavy hair) in their existing curricula. The training must cover working with various coil, curl, and wave patterns, hair strand thickness, and hair volume. It also mandates that textured hair be included in both written and practical portions of licensure examinations for these professions. The requirement is to be integrated into current training without adding additional hours of instruction.