Asm. Dan Hutchison

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create special license plates for disabled veterans, allowing them to park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities without needing separate disability placards. The plates, which display "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol, will be issued at no cost by the Motor Vehicle Commission to veterans certified by the federal VA as having service-connected disabilities. These plates are non-transferable and must be displayed on the vehicle to qualify for reserved parking, replacing the current requirement for additional disability identification. Misuse of the plates may result in revocation and forfeiture.

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 bill requires businesses in New Jersey's financial, essential infrastructure, and healthcare sectors (called "sensitive businesses") to report cybersecurity incidents to the New Jersey Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell (NJCCIC) promptly after discovery. It mandates reporting for incidents compromising business systems (like billing or data) or industrial control systems that disrupt infrastructure. Within 30 days of a report, the NJCCIC must arrange for an independent cybersecurity audit of the business at the business's expense, identifying vulnerabilities and requiring corrective action plans. The law creates a new reporting and audit process to improve cybersecurity resilience in critical industries.

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.