Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Jersey Fresh Program to include marketing and promotion for locally produced liquor, beer, and wine. It requires the Department of Agriculture to develop a quality grading system for these alcoholic products (similar to the system used for fruits and vegetables) and appropriates $100,000 annually from the General Fund to fund this advertising. The funding will specifically support the promotion of alcohol products made from New Jersey-grown agricultural commodities. This policy change directly affects New Jersey alcohol producers and the Department of Agriculture, integrating them into an existing state agricultural marketing program.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5088) exempts the sale of farm vehicles from New Jersey's sales and use tax when purchased by farmers and registered as farm vehicles with the Motor Vehicle Commission. It removes the current weight requirement (over 18,000 pounds) that previously limited the exemption, making all qualifying farm vehicles eligible regardless of size. To claim the exemption, farmers must provide documentation proving farming is their primary income source to the Division of Taxation. The change applies immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5426) amends New Jersey's domestic violence public awareness campaign to require inclusion of information about coercive control - a pattern of controlling behavior often used in abusive relationships - and expands the languages available for campaign materials. The campaign, managed by the Division on Women in the Department of Children and Families, must now cover coercive control (defined in existing law) alongside other topics like prevention and victim services. It also mandates annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature on campaign activities and requires materials to be available in English, Spanish, and additional languages recommended by the Advisory Council on Domestic Violence. The bill directly affects state agencies administering the campaign and aims to improve public and professional awareness of domestic violence dynamics.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Parole to create statewide rules preventing certain high-risk sex offenders from living within 500 feet of schools, child care centers, or playgrounds. It specifically targets offenders sentenced to life parole supervision for crimes involving victims under 18 who are deemed high-risk of reoffending. Exceptions allow residency near these locations if the offender already lived there before the law took effect, is in a treatment facility, or if the parole board grants a housing exception. Parole officers must enforce these rules when approving where these offenders can live.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Legislature to annually appropriate $1.3 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to the Evesham Township School District and $2.7 million to the Lenape Regional High School District in Burlington County. These funds are designated as supplemental operational aid, separate from existing state school aid under P.L.2007, c.260. The funding is intended to support general district operations, not specific programs. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5578) exempts small-scale renewable energy projects (under 20 megawatts) from most New Jersey state land-use permit requirements, directly affecting owners and operators of such projects. Instead of seeking approval from state agencies, applicants may apply solely to their local government for project approval, provided the project passes local inspection and receives utility approval for grid connection. The bill requires all projects to follow the State Uniform Construction Code and states that applying to a state agency waives the option for local-only approval. It aims to streamline permitting for smaller renewable projects while maintaining environmental and safety standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to install continuous high-definition video surveillance at all locations where license plates are returned. Cameras must provide full coverage of each drop box, record footage for 30 days, and be accessible only to the MVC and law enforcement for security or criminal investigations related to the drop boxes. The MVC must also place clear signage informing the public that surveillance is in use, and footage cannot be used for any purpose beyond these specific security needs. The policy directly affects MVC operations and individuals returning unused license plates at these locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows pharmacists in New Jersey to transfer Schedule II prescriptions for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications between pharmacies, directly affecting patients who need these medications. Currently, patients must obtain a new prescription from their doctor if a pharmacy cannot fill an ADHD prescription; this bill enables direct pharmacy-to-pharmacy transfers instead. The transfer must comply with federal regulations and applies only to ADHD prescriptions for Schedule II drugs (stronger medications like Adderall), not all Schedule II substances. This change aims to improve access during medication shortages and reduce patient wait times.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $22,431,294 from the 2003 Dam, Lake and Stream Project Revolving Loan Fund and $6,239,630 from the 1992 Dam Restoration and Clean Water Trust Fund - totaling $28,670,924 - to provide loans for dam restoration and inland waters projects. The funds, drawn from unused monies due to project cancellations and repayments, directly support 17 specific projects, including repairs for private dams (like High Crest Lake Dam and Mountain Creek Lake Dam) and lake associations, as well as local government-owned dams. These loans finance restoration costs for dam owners, private lake associations, or local governments working together. The bill specifies that unexpended funds will return to the respective bond funds for future projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover treatment for stuttering, including habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy as determined medically necessary by a patient's doctor. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any cost-sharing such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It applies to all insurance types including individual and group health plans, health maintenance organizations, and Medicaid, and covers both in-person and telehealth services. The bill defines habilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve daily living skills, and rehabilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps restore or improve skills that have been lost or impaired. This legislation would directly affect individuals with stuttering who rely on insurance or Medicaid for speech therapy services.