Asm. Lisa Swain

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Parole to create statewide rules preventing certain high-risk sex offenders from living within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, or playgrounds. It specifically targets offenders sentenced to life parole supervision for crimes involving victims under 18 who are deemed high-risk of reoffending. Exceptions allow residency near these locations if the offender already lived there before the law took effect, is in a treatment facility, or if the parole board grants a housing exception. Parole officers must enforce these rules when approving where these offenders can live.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1825) establishes guidelines for health insurance plans regarding "step therapy" protocols, which require patients to try lower-cost medications before coverage is provided for a preferred medication selected by their doctor. It requires insurers to base these protocols on clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards, and creates a clear process for patients to request exceptions when step therapy would be harmful or ineffective. Insurers must grant or deny exception requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies), and must report on exception requests and outcomes to the state insurance commissioner. This affects all health insurance carriers in New Jersey, including those offering SHBP, SEHBP, and Medicaid plans, as well as the patients and healthcare providers who use these plans.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for compensation from New Jersey's Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to include victims of motor vehicle crashes resulting in death or requiring ambulance removal from the scene. It directly affects crash victims and their families who currently may not qualify under existing law. The bill establishes a "Traffic Crash Victim's Bill of Rights," guaranteeing victims the right to receive free copies of police reports and crash evidence, notification about court proceedings, reasonable leave from work for related hearings, protection from intimidation by the other driver, and access to VCCO assistance. These provisions aim to provide crash victims with information, support, and procedural protections similar to those available to victims of certain crimes. The bill modifies existing law to add these specific crash scenarios to the list of qualifying incidents for VCCO compensation.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 187) urges New Jersey’s State Supreme Court to amend court rules to increase transparency in consumer debt collection lawsuits. It specifically recommends requiring creditors to provide itemized debt details - including the original creditor, debt assignment history, and breakdown of principal, interest, fees, and costs - to help low-income debtors understand and challenge claims. The resolution references a 2024 National Center for Access to Justice report that found New Jersey ranks 12th nationally in procedural fairness for debt cases, highlighting gaps in creditor transparency. The proposed rule changes would apply to all consumer debt litigation filings and procedures under the court’s authority.

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 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 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.