Asm. Herb Conaway

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all students, staff, and other individuals participating in-person at New Jersey's public and private colleges and universities to be vaccinated against COVID-19 starting with the 2022-2023 school year. Institutions must offer the vaccine through campus health services or community providers and cannot enroll or employ unvaccinated individuals without valid exemptions. Exemptions are permitted only for documented medical reasons (via physician statement) or genuine religious conflicts (not general objections), and apply only to those with in-person presence. The requirement takes immediate effect, with institutions responsible for verifying vaccination status and managing exemptions.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A921) requires licensed healthcare professionals and homemaker-home health aides who provide in-home care to complete annual bias training. Specifically, they must take one credit of cultural competency and implicit bias training within one year of the law’s effective date, then every two years thereafter. The training curriculum, developed by the Department of Health, covers identifying biases related to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, communication techniques, and health disparities. The Department of Health will maintain an electronic database to track compliance with this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Drinking Water Quality Institute to study how to regulate and treat perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The study must assess whether a single standard for all PFAS chemicals (or groups of them) would be feasible instead of individual standards for each substance, and evaluate treatment technologies to remove PFAS from water. The DEP must submit a report to the Legislature and publish it online within 24 months of the bill's enactment. This study aims to inform future regulatory decisions affecting public water systems and drinking water safety in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1823) would require all students in New Jersey public and private K-12 schools, preschools, child care centers, and colleges to receive an annual influenza vaccination as a condition of enrollment and continued attendance. Schools and institutions must verify vaccination status by December 31 each year, with exemptions available for medical contraindications (via physician documentation) or genuine religious objections (not philosophical objections). The bill builds on existing requirements for other vaccines (like measles and polio) but adds annual flu shots to help distinguish flu symptoms from COVID-19 and reduce strain on healthcare resources. It does not apply to students already exempt under current law for specific age groups.

Maddy summaryAJR 65 designates the date of the second new moon following the winter solstice (or the third if a leap month is needed) as "Lunar New Year" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation recognizing this date and encourages schools and cultural institutions to observe it with appropriate activities. It directly acknowledges the cultural significance of Lunar New Year for New Jersey's Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, which make up approximately 10% of the state's population. This symbolic gesture does not create a legal holiday but formally recognizes traditions celebrated by many residents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to hire a Transportation Planning Coordinator to oversee transportation services for DHS clients, including individuals receiving human services. The coordinator must have relevant transportation experience and will manage contracted providers, monitor safety issues, handle client complaints, maintain service records, and analyze costs to improve efficiency. Annual reports on activities and complaint resolution must be submitted to the DHS commissioner. The position aims to enhance oversight and reliability of transportation services provided to vulnerable populations served by DHS. The bill takes effect 10 months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1481) requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish standardized testing methods and reporting requirements for microplastics in drinking water by public water systems within one year. It mandates a two-year study by the DEP and Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to evaluate microplastics removal technologies, including costs, effectiveness, and stakeholder input from scientists, industry, and the public. The study must result in a strategic plan and public report within three months of completion, recommending how to promote these technologies. The bill directly affects public water systems, which must test and disclose microplastic levels, and aims to inform future policy through evidence-based recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's state and county hazard mitigation plans (used to qualify for federal disaster aid) to include climate change impacts. Any new or revised plan must analyze climate-related threats to infrastructure (like roads and utilities), assess risks to vulnerable communities, and detail prevention strategies based on current science. It directly affects state and county emergency management offices responsible for creating these plans. The law also mandates that other related plans (like floodplain or recovery plans) align with the updated hazard mitigation strategies.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A1877) requires health insurance carriers to offer healthcare providers - such as doctors, dentists, and hospitals - more than one payment method (e.g., check, electronic transfer, or credit card) for reimbursement, rather than forcing them to accept only one option. It mandates that carriers disclose any fees tied to specific payment methods before the first payment and provide clear instructions for selecting methods, while requiring a 30-day turnaround for changing payment methods upon provider request. The bill also prohibits carriers from using a provider’s preferred payment method to decide whether to grant credentials for network participation. These changes apply to all health and dental insurance plans in the state, with enforcement handled by the Department of Banking and Insurance.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program to improve sickle cell disease care in New Jersey, appropriating $10.2 million from the General Fund. The Department of Health will competitively select federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), prioritizing those in Jersey City, Newark, Paterson, Plainfield, Trenton, Camden, and other high-need areas, to develop comprehensive treatment programs. The program requires participating centers to provide coordinated care (including telehealth where permitted), build specialized medical workforce capacity, conduct outreach, promote awareness, and collect state-wide data on sickle cell disease incidence and healthcare use. Funds must be used for these purposes during the three-year pilot, with unspent funds reverting to the General Fund after expiration.