Asm. Chris Tully

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's existing telemedicine pay parity law, requiring health insurance plans to pay providers the same rate for telehealth services as in-person visits for covered services. It applies to all health benefits plans in New Jersey (including Medicaid and private insurers) and affects providers delivering telehealth care. The extension, now ending December 31, 2025 (previously 2024), maintains the requirement that telehealth reimbursement equals in-person rates for covered services, excluding audio-only visits (which receive 50% of in-person rates) and behavioral health services (which receive full in-person rates). This is a procedural extension of an existing policy, not a new mandate.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A908) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a statewide Internet-based tracking system for rape kits (sexual assault forensic evidence kits). It directly affects victims of sexual assault, healthcare facilities that collect kits, law enforcement agencies, and laboratories that process them. The system must track kits through every step - from collection at a hospital to final disposition - allowing authorized users to monitor the chain of custody. The Attorney General must issue guidelines to implement the system, which takes effect seven months after enactment. The bill focuses on improving transparency and accountability in handling rape kits, not on changing legal standards for sexual assault cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telecom, cable, and internet providers in New Jersey to let customers cancel service contracts without early fees when moving to a long-term care facility for at least 90 days. It applies to individuals receiving a physician's referral or care plan for relocation to licensed facilities like nursing homes, assisted living, or dementia care homes. Customers must typically provide 45 days' notice (or 48 hours if a physician orders immediate relocation), and providers may request a physician's letter as proof. The bill does not relieve customers of equipment return fees or payments for equipment they already purchased.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution 156 requests that the U.S. Congress pass federal legislation providing legal remedies for individuals harmed by exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) and funding research into PFAS health effects. PFAS, persistent "forever chemicals" found in drinking water, consumer products, and workplaces, are linked to cancer, reproductive harm, and immune system damage. The resolution specifically supports the proposed federal "PFAS Accountability Act of 2024" and urges Congress to establish a legal pathway for victims to seek redress from manufacturers. This resolution does not create new laws but advocates for federal action to address widespread PFAS exposure risks across communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires NJ FamilyCare to reimburse for multiple medical visits with different specialty providers at a federally qualified health center (FQHC) on the same day. It directly affects NJ FamilyCare enrollees who need same-day specialist care at FQHCs, which serve medically underserved communities. The key provision mandates that the referring provider must document medical necessity for each visit, and each encounter must involve a different specialty provider. The bill explicitly states it cannot override federal Medicaid rules or existing state reimbursement policies. It aims to align NJ FamilyCare payment practices with current regulatory exceptions for multiple same-day visits under specific documented circumstances.

Maddy summary# Summary of the Bill This bill consolidates definitions used throughout Title 26 of the New Jersey Revised Statutes by moving them into a single definitions section (section 1 of P.L.1947, c.177, C.26:1A-1), while removing duplicate definitions that currently appear in individual sections of Title 26. The bill adds the following definitions to C.26:1A-1: - "adult" - "Alzheimer's disease and related disorders" - "birthing facility" - "contagious disease" - "covered person" - "hospital" - "infectious disease" - "local health agency" - "local registrar/registrar" - "long-term care facility" - "Medicaid" - "Medicare" - "person" - "state" - "State registrar" - "substance use disorder" - "vital records" - "vital statistics" The bill repeals R.S.26:1-1, which duplicates these definitions and is currently applicable to all of Title 26. Additionally, the bill makes various technical updates to the laws being amended, including: - Listing definitions alphabetically - Replacing gendered language - Updating citations to other laws and regulatory agencies - Improving punctuation, subdivisions, and syntax - Updating cross-citations outside Title 26 This bill is based on recommendations from the New Jersey Law Revision Commission's report titled "Final Report to Eliminate Duplicative Definitions Sections of the Health and Vital Statistics Statute in Title 26," issued April 21, 2022. The bill would take effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure within New Jersey's Executive Branch to develop and enforce state cybersecurity policies, secure technology systems for interactions between state agencies, nonprofits, and residents, and create guidelines for safe artificial intelligence (AI) integration in public and private institutions. The office, led by a Governor-appointed Chief Officer who reports directly to the Governor, will coordinate cybersecurity operations across state departments, establish service-level agreements with agencies, and enter agreements with external entities to strengthen infrastructure security. It must publish an annual report detailing its activities and maintain a public website with operational information. The office operates independently of the Department of the Treasury while being located within it, focusing on concrete policy implementation rather than speculative outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits distributing intentionally deceptive audio or visual media (such as deepfakes) within 90 days of an election if the intent is to deceive voters about a candidate or election. It criminalizes such distribution as a disorderly person offense, punishable by up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both. The prohibition does not apply if the media includes a clear, visible disclosure (e.g., "This advertisement contains manipulated images or sound") that remains readable throughout video or audible at the start of audio. Registered voters and candidates can seek court injunctions or sue for damages in violation cases. News organizations publishing such media for newsworthy purposes with the required disclosure are exempt from the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4977) requires New Jersey's Public Safety Risk Assessment (PSA) tool to explicitly include firearm-related charges as a factor when evaluating pretrial release risks. Specifically, it mandates that the PSA must consider any offense involving firearm use or possession - including "ghost guns" and modified firearms - as a risk factor for both community danger and failure to appear in court. The change responds to a September 2024 report by the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation (SCI), which found current PSA calculations fail to account for the heightened danger posed by firearms, especially in public discharge incidents or when firearms are modified to function like machine guns. The bill directly affects defendants charged with firearm-related offenses during pretrial hearings, altering how courts assess their risk level.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases tuition credits for volunteers in fire and rescue services in New Jersey. It raises the annual tuition credit from $600 to $1,250 per year of service, with a new total maximum of $5,000 over a four-year commitment (up from $2,400). The program covers active volunteer members, their spouses, and dependent children who agree to serve four years in a volunteer fire company or rescue squad. Eligible individuals can use these credits at county colleges, vocational schools, or technical institutes for tuition-free enrollment, subject to space availability.