Asm. John Azzariti

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance companies, pharmacy benefit managers, and state health programs from requiring pre-approval or precertification for medical tests, procedures, or prescription drugs that are already covered under a health plan and prescribed by a licensed doctor. It directly affects patients and healthcare providers by eliminating bureaucratic delays that currently delay care - such as cancer patients waiting for medication due to slow insurance reviews. The law requires insurers to pay for covered services as prescribed, without additional approval steps. It applies immediately to all health plans issued or purchased on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals New Jersey's 2021 law (P.L.2021, c.32) that required public school districts to incorporate diversity and inclusion instruction into the curriculum for all students in kindergarten through 12th grade. It directly affects public school students and districts across New Jersey by removing this specific instructional requirement. The bill's key mechanism is the repeal of the existing statute, which mandated that diversity and inclusion content be integrated into the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. The repeal takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to create written policies allowing students to use sunscreen and wear sun-protective clothing (like hats and sunglasses) outdoors during school and school events. It prohibits schools from demanding doctor’s notes for students to use these items and allows districts to require only parental permission for students to carry sunscreen. The policy must not mandate school staff to help students apply sunscreen. The law took effect in the first full school year after its passage in March 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to create written policies allowing students to use sunscreen and sun-protective clothing (like hats and sunglasses) during outdoor school activities and school events. It specifically prohibits schools from demanding medical documentation from students or parents to authorize sunscreen or protective clothing use. The policy must apply to all students equally without requiring physician notes. The law takes effect in the first full school year after it is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A5486) makes it a crime to knowingly harbor or help hide someone who is unlawfully present in the U.S. and has an outstanding arrest or immigration warrant. It specifically targets individuals who provide shelter, transportation, or other assistance to such people, imposing a fourth-degree crime penalty (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine). The law includes an exception: if the person being harbored was a victim of human trafficking during the time they were hiding, it cannot be prosecuted. This applies only to those with known warrants, not all undocumented immigrants, and does not affect individuals who aid their own apprehension.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits segregation in new housing developments that include both market-rate and affordable units. It specifically bans developers from creating separate entrances, amenities, or physical features that divide residents based on income or protected characteristics like race. Municipalities and zoning officers must reject development plans violating this rule, and segregated units won’t count toward a town’s affordable housing requirement. Residents can file complaints with the Department of Community Affairs if segregation occurs, triggering investigations and required corrections. The law takes effect 10 months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey hospitals and clinical laboratories to stop collecting minors' sexual orientation and gender identity data unless a parent or guardian voluntarily provides it for medical treatment. For minors under 18, systems must be configured so these fields aren't mandatory when saving demographic information, while adult data collection remains unchanged. The law specifies that any voluntarily provided minor data must solely support diagnosis/treatment and can't be used elsewhere. It applies to all electronic medical records and lab systems used by covered facilities, with penalties for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurers, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), and the State Health Benefits Program in New Jersey to cover medically necessary ovarian cancer screening for women with symptoms or at higher risk. Specifically, it mandates coverage for annual pelvic exams, ultrasounds, and blood tests (like CA-125 markers) as part of routine screening. The law applies to all individual, group, small employer, and state-purchased health plans issued or renewed after its effective date. This ensures consistent access to these diagnostic services without additional cost to patients who qualify under the specified criteria.

Maddy summaryS 3466 extends the special appraisal process for Green Acres and farmland preservation programs in the Highlands Region through 2029, requiring landowners to be provided with two appraisal values when selling property for preservation. The bill allocates $7.5 million annually from constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax revenue to the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council for land preservation, with $5 million for recreation and conservation and $2.5 million for farmland preservation. It creates a new "Preserve New Jersey Highlands Preservation Fund" to support land acquisition and conservation efforts in the Highlands Region, including matching federal funding for watershed protection. The bill also requires distributing state aid to municipalities hosting watershed lands that don't receive existing watershed moratorium offset aid.