Asm. Chris Tully

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey death certificates to list the specific drug responsible for a drug overdose death when that information is available. It amends existing death certificate requirements to mandate this detail for overdose cases, ensuring public health officials can track drug-related fatalities more accurately. The change applies only to deaths classified as drug overdoses and does not affect other information on death certificates. This policy update aims to improve data collection for public health responses without altering standard death certification procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey nursing homes to include their most recent federal cost report (submitted to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) in their annual financial report to the state Department of Health. Nursing homes must also file separate cost reports for central or home offices if those costs are reported on the nursing home's cost report. The Department of Health will then compile this data into an annual public report showing aggregated spending trends by region and county (without naming individual facilities) and publish it online for transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide free admission to New Jersey State parks and forests and free parking in designated spaces for veterans who are New Jersey residents. It requires the state to reserve at least two percent of parking spaces (minimum three per park) for veterans at no charge. The bill defines a "veteran" as a resident honorably discharged from U.S. military service, including National Guard, or a disabled veteran as defined by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. This extends existing free admission benefits, which currently cover seniors, disabled residents, and National Guard members, to include all qualifying veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey colleges and universities to let final-year graduate students in mental health care programs (like psychiatry, psychology, or social work) graduate early or start clinical residencies early during the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 academic years. To qualify, students must have completed all required coursework, and institutions must assign a staff mentor to guide them during clinical placements. It aims to address mental health workforce shortages amplified by the pandemic by accelerating the entry of trained professionals into the field. The measure applies only to institutions that choose to implement it, with no requirement for mandatory participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Drinking Water Quality Institute to study how to regulate and treat perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The study must assess whether a single standard for all PFAS chemicals (or groups of them) would be feasible instead of individual standards for each substance, and evaluate treatment technologies to remove PFAS from water. The DEP must submit a report to the Legislature and publish it online within 24 months of the bill's enactment. This study aims to inform future regulatory decisions affecting public water systems and drinking water safety in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2350 would impose strict criminal liability on adults who improperly store loaded firearms, making them automatically responsible if a minor (under age 18) accesses the gun and causes injury or death. Currently, improper storage without injury is a minor violation, but this bill escalates penalties to criminal charges (third degree for bodily injury, second for serious injury, first degree for death) if a minor gains access to a loaded firearm stored unsafely. The bill raises the definition of "minor" from under 16 to under 18 and removes the need to prove negligence in cases resulting in harm. It applies to gun owners controlling premises where a minor accesses an improperly stored firearm, excluding lawful minor firearm use under existing exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3187) requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to create visitation guidance during public health emergencies, mandating that community-based residential providers allow in-person visits between residents with developmental disabilities and their immediate family members or legal guardians. It directly affects residents in licensed settings like group homes, developmental centers, and community care residences, as well as the providers operating these facilities. The key mechanism is DDD developing the guidance in consultation with the Department of Health, then requiring providers to implement it. The bill applies only during declared public health emergencies and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's research tax credit for corporations. It raises the credit rate for qualified research expenses from 10% to 15% for companies primarily operating in targeted industries like clean energy, life sciences, advanced transportation, and information technology. It also increases the basic research payments credit from 10% to 15% for all corporations. Most significantly, it makes the research tax credit refundable - allowing corporations to receive cash refunds for unused credit amounts instead of only carrying them forward for future tax years. The bill applies to privilege periods beginning on or after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires an automatic machine recount within 48 hours for any New Jersey general election race (excluding primaries or school elections) that results in a tie between candidates. If the machine recount still produces a tie, an automatic hand recount occurs within another 48 hours. If the hand recount also results in a tie, a special election must be held within 60 days for the tied candidates only. The state reimburses all costs for these recounts and special elections, which are conducted by the local board of elections.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2360 bill allocates $10 million in federal funds (from the American Rescue Plan Act) to establish two transportation grant programs. The permanent "Workforce Shuttle Grant Program" provides grants to local governments and nonprofits for purchasing or leasing shuttles, operating services on busy routes, and partnering with employers to reduce traffic congestion in rapidly growing areas. A temporary program offers grants to small businesses (under 50 employees), nonprofits, and temporary help firms to cover employee transportation costs until the permanent program launches. The state will annually appropriate $10 million for the permanent program after the temporary phase ends, with applications requiring employer partnerships and funding plans.