Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2752) requires New Jersey residents to maintain state residency during *both* the tax year for which property taxes were paid *and* the calendar year when a homestead property tax rebate or ANCHOR benefit is issued. Currently, residents who move out of state after paying taxes in a given year can still receive rebates for that year. The bill prohibits payments to anyone who is not a New Jersey resident in the year the rebate is disbursed, affecting individuals who relocate out of state after the tax year but before receiving their benefit. It applies to all homestead rebates under the "Homestead Property Tax Credit Act" and the ANCHOR Property Tax Relief Program.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A1319 requires public colleges and universities to create a student withdrawal policy allowing refunds for specific serious personal situations. It mandates that institutions define "extenuating circumstances" (including illness, injury, hospitalization, and mental health issues) and refund tuition/fees if these circumstances prevent a student from receiving education during a semester. The policy must also provide proportional refunds for unused room and board charges and clarify that financial aid refunds follow existing state and federal rules. This policy applies to all public higher education institutions in New Jersey starting with the first full academic year after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryAR 81 is an Assembly Resolution (not a binding law) urging New Jersey public schools to implement "share tables" in cafeterias. These tables allow students to place unopened, unconsumed food for others to take or donate to food pantries, directly targeting school food waste and food insecurity. The resolution cites USDA data showing 21% of school lunch calories are wasted and notes 9% of New Jersey residents (including 10% of children) face food insecurity. It recommends schools adopt this low-cost, simple initiative to reduce waste, lower disposal costs, and increase food availability for pantries. The resolution has no enforcement power and will be shared with school districts via the Commissioner of Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Medicaid to cover fertility preservation services (like egg or sperm freezing) for individuals who develop infertility as a direct result of medically necessary treatments, such as cancer therapy. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries facing treatment-induced infertility who would otherwise pay out-of-pocket for these services. The key provision amends Medicaid coverage to include these services under "comprehensive medical care" when recommended by a physician prior to treatments known to cause infertility. The policy change ensures coverage for fertility preservation as part of standard medical care, without adding new administrative burdens to existing Medicaid services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance policies in New Jersey - covering hospital, medical, and individual/group plans - to cover diagnosis and treatment for Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections (PANDAS) and Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome (PANS). It mandates coverage for specific treatments including antibiotics, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy, as prescribed by a physician. Insurance plans must provide this coverage "to the same extent as for any other condition," meaning no additional cost-sharing or limitations beyond standard coverage. The requirement applies to all relevant policies renewed or issued in New Jersey after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryAJR 106 designates September 22nd each year as "Veterans Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Day" in New Jersey. The resolution aims to raise public awareness about the high suicide rates among veterans and active military members - citing over 65,000 veteran and active-duty suicides since 2010 - and reduce stigma around mental health treatment. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance through activities that honor those who died by suicide and support affected families. This ceremonial resolution does not create new programs or funding but seeks to foster community recognition of a critical public health issue affecting military service members.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Cannabis Regulatory Commission to monitor medical cannabis prices and establish a price cap when prices become excessive. It directly affects medical cannabis cultivators, manufacturers, dispensaries, and clinical registrants by imposing this pricing oversight. The key mechanism is the Commission's authority to set and enforce price caps under specific conditions to prevent unreasonable pricing. The bill focuses on concrete regulatory action, not speculative outcomes or political commentary. (Note: This summary focuses on the price cap provision described in the bill title and context, as the provided text primarily details permit rules rather than the price cap implementation details.)

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey to import prescription drugs from specific foreign countries (like Canada and other nations with equivalent drug safety standards) to lower costs for residents. It requires the Health Commissioner to establish a program within 120 days that designates entities to handle imports, ensures drugs meet FDA safety standards, and focuses on generating significant savings. The program must create price transparency for consumers, develop registration systems for pharmacies and health plans, and set up support resources like a hotline. Directly affected parties include New Jersey consumers, pharmacies, health benefits plans, and healthcare providers participating in the importation program. The bill does not change drug safety requirements but aims to leverage federal approval for cost-saving imports.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing domestic violence public awareness campaign to include information about recognizing "coercive control" - patterns of controlling behavior like isolating victims, monitoring communications, or threatening to report them to authorities. It requires the Division on Women (within the Department of Children and Families) to add this content to the campaign, expand language options beyond English and Spanish (as recommended by the Advisory Council), and provide annual reports on campaign activities. The campaign must cover causes, risk factors, prevention, and local victim services, with new materials specifically addressing coercive control indicators. This directly affects victims of domestic violence, service providers, and the public by enhancing educational resources and accessibility.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A-2766) requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to establish a prescribed burn program with specific deadlines, acreage goals, and training requirements. It directly affects landowners, lessees, and local fire officials who conduct controlled burns on private or public land to reduce wildfire risks. Key provisions include setting annual burn targets, creating mobile training units for on-site assistance, and mandating certification for burn operators through a DEP-approved program. The DEP must implement the full program within 18 months of the bill's passage. (Pending before the Assembly Agriculture Committee; not yet law.)