Asm. Shavonda Sumter

Maddy summaryThis bill makes permanent New Jersey's current rules for involuntary psychiatric commitments, extending beyond a temporary 24-month sunset period. It requires general hospitals and emergency departments to release patients within 72 hours of a screening certificate, unless they obtain a court order allowing up to 72 additional hours - based on proof that the hospital tried to place the patient in a less restrictive facility and two psychiatrists certified the patient's danger due to mental illness. Hospitals must also submit quarterly public reports with de-identified data on detentions beyond 72 hours, including reasons for extensions and placement outcomes. These provisions directly affect hospitals, patients in crisis, and court processes handling involuntary commitment requests.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers and contractors working on projects for New Jersey public bodies (such as state agencies, local governments, schools, or publicly funded projects) to register with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and submit certified payroll records. It expands current requirements by applying to all work for public bodies - not just projects subject to prevailing wage laws - covering construction, maintenance, repairs, and other work paid for with public funds or financial assistance. Employers must provide these records within 10 days of a request; failure to comply allows DOLWD to direct public bodies to withhold up to 25% of payment (capped at $100,000) until records are submitted. The bill directly affects contractors and employers performing work for public entities, ensuring transparency in wage reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Out-of-School Time Advisory Commission to review before-school, after-school, and summer programs statewide. The 20-member commission includes state agency leaders, legislative appointees, and representatives from child care organizations, educators, and researchers. Its key duties are to assess current programs, develop statewide standards, examine funding sources, and evaluate program quality across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The commission must submit an interim report within one year and a final report within two years, after which it will expire. The bill directly affects all organizations providing out-of-school time programs in New Jersey by setting a framework for their review and improvement.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million annually from cannabis-related Social Equity Excise Fee revenues to fund Freedom Schools in New Jersey. The funds, collected through New Jersey's regulated cannabis sales program, will be allocated to the Department of State to support these programs. Freedom Schools provide year-round academic support, including summer programs and tutoring, for K-12 students and their families. The funding directly affects students in New Jersey public schools participating in these community-based educational initiatives.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows small New Jersey employers with fewer than 20 employees to claim a tax credit for paying health insurance premiums for their workers. Employers who cover 100% of premiums for single coverage get a $250 credit per employee, and $500 for family coverage; partial coverage (50-100%) earns a proportional credit. The credit is reduced if premiums aren’t paid for the full year, and no credit is available if less than 50% of premiums are paid. It applies to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, capping the credit at the actual amount paid and limiting total credit use to 50% of tax liability.

Maddy summaryThe Graduate Physician Licensing Act establishes a new license category for medical school graduates who have not completed residency programs. These "graduate physicians" would be permitted to provide primary care services in medically underserved areas under the supervision of a collaborating physician through formal collaborative practice arrangements. The bill sets specific licensure requirements (including passing Step 2 of the medical licensing exam and having no criminal history) and outlines detailed oversight requirements for collaborative practice arrangements, including documentation, chart review, and patient disclosure. Health insurance plans, Medicaid, and state health benefit programs would be required to reimburse graduate physicians at the same rate as physician assistants for their services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4857 extends the state's anti-SLAPP law to protect individuals who report sexual assault, harassment, or discrimination in good faith. This bill specifically covers people who make such reports under the Law Against Discrimination (N.J.S.10:5-1 et seq.) or sexual offense laws (N.J.S.2C:24-4), even if no criminal case follows. Complainants can use anti-SLAPP procedures to quickly dismiss retaliatory lawsuits filed against them, and if successful, recover legal costs, attorney fees, and potentially damages. The law aims to reduce fear of retaliation that may prevent victims from reporting misconduct.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prohibit electric and gas utilities from charging residential customers lump-sum payments when actual energy usage exceeds forecasted amounts under equal payment plans. It also bans utilities from underbilling (charging customers for the difference between estimated and actual usage) and from adding such balances to future bills. Under the bill, utilities must adjust equal payment plan bills annually based on actual usage data, rather than making monthly adjustments. These provisions directly affect all residential customers of electric and gas utilities in New Jersey by ensuring more predictable billing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's electric and gas utilities to reset their rates to the lowest level they charged during 2020 for a five-year period. Utilities must file new rate schedules with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) reflecting these 2020 rates, and the BPU must approve them within 30 days. The policy directly affects all residential and commercial customers of these utilities by preventing rate increases above 2020 levels for five years. It aims to stabilize costs for essential energy services without specifying future rate adjustments beyond the 2020 baseline.

Maddy summaryThis bill ensures New Jersey State Police officers assigned to temporary "detachment" roles (like reassignment to different units for specific duties) or "confidential" roles (such as protective services for government branches) cannot be excluded from promotion opportunities. It mandates that time spent in these positions counts toward the officer's total service time for promotion eligibility. The law applies directly to state law enforcement officers and requires that such assignments not be penalized in promotion considerations. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.