Asm. Cody Miller

Maddy summaryThis bill caps annual tuition increases for resident undergraduate students at New Jersey's public colleges and universities at no more than 2% above the previous year's rate. It directly affects public higher education institutions and in-state undergraduate students by limiting how much tuition can rise each academic year. The key provision prohibits any institution from raising resident undergraduate tuition rates beyond this 2% threshold, regardless of existing laws or regulations. The law takes effect immediately for the first full academic year after enactment, applying to all public institutions of higher education in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to expand the MyNJHelps online platform into a single centralized system for all state public assistance programs within 365 days. It mandates that the platform become the sole online hub where applicants can access information about, apply for, and check the status of all state programs - including SNAP, WFNJ, NJFamilyCare, healthcare, food assistance, housing aid, and more - using one unified application. The bill specifies that existing program administrators (like those for Medicaid or food stamps) will remain unchanged, but the platform must enable all agencies to share applicant data securely for eligibility decisions. This directly affects low-income New Jersey residents applying for state benefits by simplifying access to multiple programs through a single digital portal.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2529) amends New Jersey law to allow certain substitute teachers to enroll in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). Currently, TPAF eligibility typically applies to regular classroom teachers, but this bill expands it to include specific substitute educators who meet defined criteria. The key provision modifies eligibility rules under N.J.S.18A:66-2 to permit these substitute teachers to contribute to and eventually receive retirement benefits from the fund. It directly affects substitute teachers who qualify under the new enrollment rules, providing them access to a retirement savings system previously unavailable to them. The change focuses on concrete eligibility expansion without altering existing benefit calculations or funding mechanisms.

Maddy summaryThis bill restructures the governance of New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), which provides health coverage to state employees. It creates a new 11-member State Health Benefits Commission (replacing the previous structure) and a separate 12-member Plan Design Committee. The Commission includes the Treasurer, agency heads, and members appointed by labor unions representing state employees, while the Plan Design Committee focuses specifically on designing health plan benefits like medical, dental, and prescription coverage. These changes affect all state employees enrolled in the SHBP by altering who oversees their health plan offerings and administration. The bill does not change the actual benefits provided, only the decision-making bodies managing the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover medically necessary speech therapy for stuttering, including both habilitative (helping develop speech skills) and rehabilitative (helping regain lost skills) therapy. It applies to all health insurance policies sold in New Jersey, including individual, group, and hospital service contracts, and mandates coverage whether therapy is provided in-person or via telehealth. Insurers must cover these services at the same level as other medical treatments, without additional restrictions. The law directly affects residents with stuttering who rely on insurance for speech therapy, ensuring they receive consistent coverage for this specific treatment.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts volunteer first responders (like firefighters and EMTs who serve without pay) from coverage under New Jersey's unemployment compensation law. It also excludes payments they receive for volunteer emergency services from their taxable gross income. The legislation amends New Jersey Statutes §43:21-19 (defining unemployment benefits terms) and adds provisions to clarify these exemptions. These changes directly affect volunteer emergency service workers by removing them from unemployment benefit calculations and making their service payments non-taxable.

Maddy summaryACR 78 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) introduced by New Jersey Assembly members to condemn hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing Hinduism as one of the world's largest religions and highlighting Hindu Americans' contributions to U.S. society. The resolution requires copies to be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's congressional delegation, and the Hindu American Foundation in Washington, DC. It does not create new legal requirements or policies, but serves as a public statement of support.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds "Sikhism" to New Jersey's list of protected classes under the state's bias intimidation law (N.J.S.2C:16-1), explicitly including Sikhs in legal protections against hate crimes motivated by religious bias. It directly affects Sikh residents and community members who face discrimination or violence due to their religious identity, such as attacks targeting turbans, beards, or gurdwaras. The key mechanism amends the statute to cover offenses committed "because of their membership within a protected class," including Sikhism, and creates a legal presumption that bias was a motivating factor in such crimes. The bill also appropriates $100,000, likely for educational or support programs related to Sikh community awareness, though specific funding details aren't outlined in the text.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's law governing employment programs for people with disabilities, renaming it the "Extended Employment Act" and updating terminology (e.g., replacing "sheltered workshop" with "extended employment"). It directly affects individuals with significant disabilities who choose these programs, as well as nonprofit providers offering vocational services. Key provisions include defining "extended employment" as community-based work opportunities with flexible service models (like retail or restaurants), requiring nonprofit providers to be nationally accredited, and tying state funding to inflation (CPI-W) rather than fixed amounts. The law also expands program goals to include competitive integrated employment and requires providers to submit annual expense analyses for funding adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state officials and employees from accepting virtual currency (like Bitcoin) or non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as gifts. It amends existing ethics laws to explicitly define "gift" as including these digital assets, covering all state officers and employees as defined in the statute. The key change adds virtual currency and NFTs to the list of items banned from being accepted as gifts to prevent potential conflicts of interest. This applies to all state agencies, departments, and elected officials, excluding members of the Legislature.