Asm. Chris Tully

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Inclusive Workplaces Program within New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide financial incentives for employers to create workspaces accommodating neurodivergent employees. Small businesses (under 150 employees) may receive grants up to $25,000 per applicant for investments like sensory-friendly layouts, adaptive equipment, or neurodiversity training, with a total annual grant limit of $2.5 million. Large businesses (150+ employees) may qualify for tax credits equal to up to $25,000 or 50% of their qualifying investments in similar accommodations, capped at $2.5 million annually. To qualify, employers must have at least one neurodivergent employee (small business) or three (large business), demonstrate commitment to inclusive workplaces, and operate within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryBill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacists in New Jersey to transfer Schedule II prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications between pharmacies, directly affecting patients who need these medications. Currently, patients must obtain a new prescription from their doctor if a pharmacy cannot fill an ADHD prescription; this bill enables direct pharmacy-to-pharmacy transfers instead. The transfer must comply with federal regulations and applies only to ADHD prescriptions for Schedule II drugs (stronger medications like Adderall), not all Schedule II substances. This change aims to improve access during medication shortages and reduce patient wait times.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Medicare supplement insurance policies to limit premium increases to once per calendar year and give policyholders the option to pay annual premiums in advance. It also mandates insurers to file annual rates with the state commissioner and ensures policies provide benefits that reasonably match premiums. The law applies to all Medicare supplement policies issued or renewed in New Jersey after its effective date. These changes directly affect New Jersey residents who purchase Medicare supplement insurance.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires all health insurance plans to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing (such as deductibles or copays). It applies to all insurance plans, including employer-sponsored coverage, health maintenance organizations, and state employee health programs. Diagnostic exams evaluate abnormalities found during screening or detected through other means, while supplemental exams are used for screening when no abnormality is present but risk factors like family history or dense breast tissue exist. The bill mandates coverage for these exams under the same terms as other medical conditions, following National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Artificial Intelligence Grant Program within New Jersey's Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to provide funding to nonprofit organizations offering artificial intelligence education and training. Nonprofits must apply and demonstrate comprehensive AI programs, with the Secretary selecting up to four annual grantees for grants of up to $25,000 each, prioritizing initiatives like AI startup challenges, ethical AI discussion events, and government partnerships. The program requires grantees to submit impact reports to state officials and creates an Artificial Intelligence Education Fund to be funded annually through state appropriations. This directly affects New Jersey nonprofits focused on AI workforce development and education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover treatment for stuttering, including habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy as determined medically necessary by a patient's doctor. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any cost-sharing such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It applies to all insurance types including individual and group health plans, health maintenance organizations, and Medicaid, and covers both in-person and telehealth services. The bill defines habilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve daily living skills, and rehabilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps restore or improve skills that have been lost or impaired. This legislation would directly affect individuals with stuttering who rely on insurance or Medicaid for speech therapy services.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3540 establishes criminal penalties for creating or sharing deceptive audio or visual media (commonly called "deepfakes") that falsely depict someone doing something they didn't actually do. It makes it a crime to produce such media for unlawful purposes (like harassment, theft, or privacy violations) or to share it without clearly labeling it as fake. Individuals harmed by these deepfakes can sue for $1,000 per violation plus damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law exempts news media from penalties unless they knowingly share unmarked fake content created in violation of the bill.

Maddy summaryAJR 181 designates May 15 of each year as "Tuberous Sclerosis Complex Awareness Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance to increase awareness of this rare genetic condition. It does not create new laws, funding, or programs - it solely recognizes an existing global awareness date. The resolution aims to highlight Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, which affects organ systems (including brain, heart, and kidneys), causes seizures and developmental delays in many cases, and impacts approximately 50,000 people in the U.S.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability retroactive to the date the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determined their total disability. It directly affects veterans who qualify under the law (e.g., those with paraplegia, blindness, or amputations) by requiring municipalities to refund property taxes paid since that determination date. The state must reimburse municipalities 102% of the refunded taxes to cover the cost of returning payments to veterans.