Asm. Cody Miller

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A925 would allow voters to register and vote on election day at polling places or during early voting by completing an affirmation statement and providing identification. Currently, voters must register at least 21 days before an election, but this bill would enable those who missed the deadline to register and cast a provisional ballot. Voters registering on election day would have 48 hours after the election to verify their identity through the Motor Vehicle Commission database or by providing acceptable identification, ensuring their ballot is counted if valid. This change would directly affect voters who meet eligibility requirements but missed the standard registration deadline.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual income limit for New Jersey seniors (65+) and disabled residents to qualify for a $250 property tax deduction, raising it from $10,000 to $20,000 starting in 2014. Future income limits will automatically adjust each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation, rounded to the nearest $100. The $250 deduction amount itself remains unchanged. The bill requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before it can take effect, as it modifies an existing tax provision.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1143 establishes an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for mental health, substance use treatment, and developmental disability service programs. The COLA, based on the previous year's Consumer Price Index (CPI) from October 1 to September 30 (as published by the U.S. Department of Labor), must be included in state contracts for these programs starting on the bill's effective date. This applies to all state-funded programs - whether fully or partially Medicaid-funded - that are licensed or approved by New Jersey's Department of Human Services. The Department must announce the annual COLA rate each October 1, ensuring service providers receive regular inflation-based funding increases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a dedicated Human Trafficking Unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety. The unit must include assistant/deputy attorneys general (with one designated as Coordinator) and is responsible for prosecuting trafficking cases, assisting counties with investigations, connecting victims to support services, and collaborating with state agencies like Health, Human Services, and the Division of State Police. It also mandates ongoing training for law enforcement on handling trafficking cases and requires the Coordinator to annually report to the Governor and Legislature on the unit's work and suggest improvements. The bill directly affects state law enforcement, victim services, and county prosecutors by establishing a centralized, coordinated approach to combat human trafficking.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3005) adjusts New Jersey's $6,000 veterans' income tax exemption to keep pace with inflation. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans who file New Jersey taxes and claim this exemption. The bill requires the exemption amount to automatically increase each year based on the Chained Consumer Price Index (C-CPI-U) for the 12 months ending August 31 of the prior year. If inflation is zero, the exemption amount remains unchanged for that tax year. This change ensures the exemption's real value doesn't diminish over time due to rising costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates practice restrictions for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey, allowing them to practice to the full extent of their training without requiring physician supervision or joint protocols. APNs with more than 24 months or 2,400 hours of experience can practice independently, while those with less experience must maintain a joint protocol with a physician for prescribing medications. The bill updates requirements for prescribing medications (including pharmacology continuing education), authorizing medical cannabis, and practicing anesthesia, and repeals sections of law requiring physician collaboration. These changes aim to improve healthcare access, particularly in underserved areas, by expanding the scope of practice for APNs who are already trained to provide primary and specialty care. The bill also modifies documentation requirements so that APNs can use their own signatures instead of requiring physician endorsements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires organ procurement organizations to verify a person's organ and tissue donation status by relying on the most current information available from the state Motor Vehicle Commission, the Donate Life NJ Registry, or other authorized data sources. The legislation mandates that these organizations ensure their records reflect the donor's latest decision, whether it is an affirmative designation or a revocation, before taking any action regarding organ or tissue donation. By establishing this requirement, the bill directly affects federally designated organ procurement organizations serving New Jersey and aims to prevent situations where outdated registration data might be used during the donation process.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill 5374 mandates cost-saving reforms for the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, directly affecting state employees, school staff, and their health insurance providers. The bill requires plan design committees to create new options that meet specific affordability standards, including limits on out-of-pocket costs, while ensuring coverage for preventative and chronic care remains intact. It also caps third-party administrator contracts at four years and mandates competitive bidding for renewals to prevent long-term lock-in with specific vendors. Additionally, the legislation requires these administrators to adopt reference-based pricing tied to Medicare rates, provide detailed claims data analysis, and publish cost trends on a public internet dashboard. State commissions must establish annual cost growth benchmarks and implement corrective measures if spending targets are exceeded, with annual reports submitted to the Governor and Legislature for review.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A-5377 establishes a homestead exemption for individuals filing for bankruptcy, protecting their primary residence from forced sale up to specific dollar limits. The protection amount varies by age and marital status, ranging from $250,000 for an individual under 65 to $1,000,000 for a couple where both partners are over 65. These exemption amounts will be adjusted every three years based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for the Mid-Atlantic Region. The bill excludes properties subject to unpaid community association fees from this protection and does not apply to court judgments involving fraud or duress.