Asm. Ellen Park

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care providers and insurance companies to obtain written consent before sharing a patient's medical information about reproductive health care services (including pregnancy, contraception, or abortion care). Patients must be informed of their right to withhold consent before receiving services or when disclosing previous reproductive health information. Exceptions allowing disclosure without consent include medical emergencies, legal requirements, court orders, and investigations into abuse or complaints. Violations could result in $1,000 per violation in damages plus legal fees, while explicitly maintaining existing federal HIPAA protections.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes legal protections for patients and healthcare providers accessing or providing reproductive and gender-affirming health care services in New Jersey. It creates a new crime for interfering with these services (including physical obstruction, intimidation, or damaging property), with penalties ranging from a disorderly persons offense to a fourth-degree crime. The bill also prevents New Jersey from extraditing people for legally protected health care activities, prohibits licensing boards from penalizing providers for services that are legal in New Jersey but illegal in other states, and protects patient privacy related to these services. It specifically ensures that a fertilized egg, embryo, or fetus has no independent legal rights under New Jersey law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans, Medicaid, and state employee health benefits programs in New Jersey to cover reproductive health care services, including abortion, with no cost-sharing (no deductibles, copays, or coinsurance). It allows religious employers to request coverage exclusions based on religious beliefs, while requiring insurers to provide written notice of such exclusions to covered persons. The bill also prohibits medical malpractice insurers from taking adverse actions against providers who offer reproductive health services, even if the patient is from a state where such services are restricted. These provisions aim to remove financial barriers to reproductive health care access while protecting health care providers.

Maddy summaryBill A4567 modifies New Jersey's juvenile parole process to better account for adolescent development. It requires juvenile defendants in parole proceedings to be represented by the Office of the Public Defender (or pro bono counsel with juvenile justice experience), and mandates that parole panel members complete training on adolescent brain development and the age-crime curve (which shows criminal behavior typically decreases with age). The bill also requires parole panels to specifically consider evidence of maturity and rehabilitation when determining eligibility for early release. This applies to juveniles who were waived to adult court and sentenced to incarceration.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $750,000 in supplemental funding to hire eight additional attorneys specializing in juvenile cases. The funds will support the Office of the Public Defender's Trial Services to Indigents program, specifically targeting juvenile defense in Essex and Atlantic counties where caseloads are rising. The funding addresses increased juvenile custody rates (up 22% from 2022 to 2024) and longer custodial sentences in some areas. It supplements existing FY2024 appropriations without creating new laws or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients from paying municipal parking meter fees when their vehicle displays a special license plate or placard issued by New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC). It applies directly to these veterans and recipients when they are driving or riding as a passenger in a vehicle displaying the MVC-issued plate or placard. The exemption covers standard parking meter fees but does not apply if a vehicle is parked for more than 24 hours at one location. The bill amends existing law to clarify this exemption and requires the MVC to issue the necessary placards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority to help emerging science and technology businesses cover advertising and marketing costs. It defines eligible businesses as those with fewer than 225 employees (75% based in New Jersey) operating in specific sectors like biotechnology, renewable energy, or information technology. Grants can only be used for advertising/marketing expenses, require annual financial reporting to verify proper use, and convert to loans if funds are misused. The program directly supports small tech businesses aiming to grow within New Jersey's economy.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to deduct union dues paid to labor organizations from their gross income when filing state taxes. It directly affects individuals who pay dues to labor organizations, including public employees represented by such groups. The key provision requires taxpayers to provide verification of dues paid to the Division of Taxation to claim the deduction. The bill defines "union dues" broadly to include all required membership fees, and "labor organization" as any group addressing work conditions like wages or grievances. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Office of Public Defender to provide legal representation to indigent defendants charged with contempt for violating specific domestic violence protection orders under New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act. It applies only to contempt violations involving orders related to safety restrictions (not parenting time, financial compensation, counseling, or housing payments), which could otherwise lead to jail time as a fourth-degree crime or disorderly persons offense. Currently, the Office represents indigent defendants in similar cases with potential imprisonment, but this bill explicitly expands that duty to cover these contempt violations for covered domestic violence orders. The change implements Recommendation 29 from the 2023 Joint Committee on Criminal Justice report.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Deep Fake Technology Unit within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety to address the growing threat of AI-generated deepfakes. The unit will provide technical training, evidence analysis, and expert support to state and local law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts for detecting and investigating deceptive audio or visual media. It requires annual reports on deepfake technology trends, legal developments, and collaboration efforts, and appropriates $2 million from the state general fund to cover operational costs. The unit directly affects law enforcement agencies, courts, and state prosecutors by enhancing their capacity to handle deepfake-related cases.