Asm. Chris Tully

Maddy summaryThis bill would expand automatic voter registration to people applying for Medicaid in New Jersey. Currently, automatic voter registration is available when applying for a driver's license or other motor vehicle services at the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. Under this bill, the Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services would automatically transmit voter registration information for eligible Medicaid applicants to the Secretary of State. After the application process, applicants would receive a mail notification (in English and Spanish) within 21 days, allowing them to opt out of voter registration if they choose. This extends the automatic voter registration program to Medicaid applicants while maintaining the existing opt-out mechanism.

Maddy summaryThis bill would create a tax credit program allowing New Jersey taxpayers to receive a 75% credit against their state income tax for donations to approved scholarship organizations. It directly affects nonpublic school students who meet income criteria (household income ≤2.6x the federal reduced-price lunch threshold) attending schools complying with anti-discrimination and anti-bullying laws. The key mechanism requires scholarship organizations to spend 95% of donations on student aid, limit administrative costs to 5%, and adhere to strict eligibility rules. The program would have been capped at $37.5 million annually (adjusted for inflation), but the bill was withdrawn from consideration on June 13, 2024, and never became law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to review and improve the Medicaid Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) Program, which coordinates long-term care for Medicaid members. It mandates the state to identify barriers to transitioning nursing home residents to community settings when clinically appropriate, and to require managed care organizations (MCOs) to reduce care management caseloads, conduct regular in-person visits with nursing home residents, and annually review transition options. The bill also directs the state to create annual public report cards on the web showing MCO performance metrics - including member enrollment, disenrollment rates, service quality, and member feedback - to help Medicaid members compare MCOs. These report cards and improvements must be implemented within 18 months of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to specifically include Sikhism as a protected class, making it illegal to commit hate crimes against Sikhs based on their religious identity. It appropriates $100,000 annually for three years to fund Sikh awareness educational initiatives, including law enforcement training on Sikh identity features like turbans and religious symbols to prevent misclassification of hate incidents. The bill requires the Office of Attorney General to develop public awareness campaigns and educational programs about Sikhism for public schools, and mandates that all public entities incorporate anti-Sikh hate into their bias intimidation policies and diversity programs. These changes directly affect Sikhs in New Jersey (who are the second-most targeted religious group for hate crimes) and all public institutions across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics, authorizing state funding for six annual fellowships. It targets scientists, engineers, and healthcare professionals with doctoral degrees (PhD or equivalent) in natural sciences, engineering, or healthcare, placing three fellows with New Jersey's Legislature and three with the Executive Branch for one-year, full-time terms. Each fellow receives a $60,000 stipend plus health benefits, administered by Rutgers' Eagleton Institute. The bill appropriates $338,000 annually for stipends and program administration, codifying an existing program that has operated for several years.

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 establishes a property right for individuals to control the commercial use of their name, image, likeness, or voice, allowing them to sue when these elements are used without permission. It creates civil remedies for unauthorized commercial use, including through AI technology, and a disorderly person offense for violations punishable by up to 6 months in jail or a $1,000 fine. The right applies to living individuals and can be inherited by heirs for 10 years after death, with options to extend if commercially exploited or terminate after two years of non-use. The bill includes fair use exceptions for news reporting, criticism, and other protected activities under federal law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a pilot program (NJ Gross Income Tax EasyFile) allowing New Jersey's Division of Taxation to pre-fill income tax return forms for eligible taxpayers using data from their W-2s. It directly affects New Jersey residents earning under $75,000 annually who are wage-only earners (not self-employed), have no dependents, and filed simple returns in prior years. The program provides a pre-filled return via mail or secure website by March 15, including wage information and calculated tax liability, but taxpayers may choose to file a traditional return instead. Participation is entirely optional, and taxpayers must verify all information before submitting. The Division must evaluate the pilot's impact on filing burden and processing efficiency within two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3532) creates a New Jersey gross income tax credit for active, unpaid members of volunteer fire departments, ambulance squads, or rescue organizations. It allows eligible members to claim a credit based on miles driven using their personal vehicle during emergency duty, calculated at the IRS business mileage rate, capped at $500 per individual or $1,000 for joint filers. To qualify, members must meet specific service requirements (e.g., 60% attendance at calls/meetings for non-duty-hour volunteers, or 400+ duty hours for those with duty-hour responsibilities) and be in good standing with their organization. The credit is refundable, meaning it can be paid even if the member owes no income tax, and organizations must certify qualifying members annually to the tax division.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey health insurers, including commercial plans, health maintenance organizations, and state programs, to cover mammograms starting at age 35 rather than 40 for routine screening. It mandates annual mammograms for women 35 and older, while also requiring coverage for women under 35 with family history of breast cancer or other risk factors. The bill also requires coverage for additional breast imaging tests like ultrasounds or MRIs when mammograms show dense breast tissue or abnormalities. This applies to all health insurance plans in New Jersey, including the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program. The policy change lowers the age threshold for routine screening to improve early breast cancer detection.