Asm. Andrea Katz

Maddy summaryThe "Cancer Patient Care and Compassion Act" (A4483) requires health insurance plans, Medicaid, and the State Health Benefits Program to cover cancer treatments administered through IV or other non-digestive system methods, along with survivorship care plans for patients with Stage III, IV, or terminal cancer, with no cost-sharing required. The bill prohibits mortgage lenders from initiating foreclosure actions and creditors from starting collection proceedings against cancer patients undergoing treatment, requiring dismissal of such actions upon physician certification. Additionally, it provides up to 45 days' eviction protection for tenants with cancer who submit physician certification, and extends employment protections for cancer patients taking disability leave. This legislation directly affects cancer patients in New Jersey who are receiving treatment for advanced stages of cancer, ensuring they face fewer financial barriers during their treatment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A4435 bill updates privacy and coercion laws to specifically address nonconsensual pornographic deepfakes. It makes it illegal to create or share deepfake images depicting someone's intimate parts without consent, treating these as equivalent to real nonconsensual recordings. The law defines "deepfake" as computer-generated media appearing authentic but depicting non-existent acts. This directly affects anyone who creates or distributes such deepfakes without permission. The bill adds these deepfakes to existing criminal offenses under N.J.S.2C:14-9 (privacy violations) and N.J.S.2C:13-5 (criminal coercion), with penalties including up to 5 years in prison for creation and 18 months for disclosure.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $54.6 million to restore 55% of state school aid reductions for eligible New Jersey school districts facing funding cuts in the 2024-2025 school year. It directly affects school districts that received state aid reductions after accounting for prior funding under P.L.2024, c.13 (which provided 45% restoration). The bill adds this 55% restoration to the existing Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program, ensuring districts receive the full amount of aid they were originally scheduled to lose. The funds will be distributed in the 2024-2025 school year, with $54.6 million drawn from the Property Tax Relief Fund.

Maddy summaryS 2082 creates a 12-member New Jersey Educator Evaluation Review Task Force to examine the state's current teacher and administrator evaluation system established under the 2012 TEACHNJ Act. The task force will specifically study the use of student growth objectives in evaluations, assess administrative burdens on educators, review current research on effective evaluation practices, and recommend potential updates to the law. It will hold public hearings and submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature by September 30, 2024. This bill does not change evaluation rules directly but sets up a process to review them; the current system affects all public school teachers, principals, and administrators in New Jersey. The task force includes representatives from teachers' unions, school administrators, and education associations.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates the use of automated hiring tools in New Jersey to prevent employment discrimination. It requires vendors to conduct annual bias audits of their tools and include the results at no extra cost when selling the tool. Employers must notify job applicants within 30 days if an automated tool was used to screen their application and that the tool assessed their qualifications. Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $1,500 per violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students receiving opportunity grants through New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) program to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their academic major. Students must notify the Secretary of Higher Education before the academic year begins, resulting in a proportional reduction of their grant funds during the regular academic year. The bill also requires annual reporting by institutions on summer grant usage and graduation rates, implementing a 2016 College Affordability Study Commission recommendation.

Maddy summaryThis is a non-binding assembly resolution (AR 139) expressing formal appreciation to the staff of the New Jersey General Assembly. It specifically thanks the Chief Clerk and all staff members - including Sergeants at Arms, committee services, administrative personnel, and others - for their dedication, expertise, and service during legislative sessions. The resolution does not create new laws or affect any policies; it is purely a symbolic gesture recognizing staff contributions to the legislature's operations. Copies will be distributed to all General Assembly staff members.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates automated hiring tools used by employers in New Jersey to prevent discrimination. It requires vendors selling such tools in the state to conduct annual bias audits and include the audit results with the sale. Employers using these tools must post the latest audit summary on their website and notify job candidates within 30 days if an automated tool was used to assess their application, including details about the criteria evaluated. Violations can result in civil penalties up to $1,500 per incident. The bill directly affects employers, hiring vendors, and job applicants in New Jersey's workforce.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $44.7 million Stabilized School Budget Aid Grant Program to help eligible New Jersey school districts affected by state aid cuts in the 2024-2025 school year. It provides grants covering two-thirds of each district's state aid reduction (capped at 9.9% of their prior year's tax levy) and allows eligible districts to temporarily exceed normal tax increase limits to offset these cuts. Districts receiving aid must maintain staff levels from the previous year unless enrollment declines, requiring commissioner approval for reductions. The program specifically excludes SDA districts (special needs districts) from the tax levy exception but does not affect their existing tax authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain New Jersey school districts that will lose state aid to submit their budgets after the state's FY2025 budget is finalized. It specifically applies to districts where the state aid reduction exceeds their unused tax authority (known as "banked cap" under current law). The Commissioner of Education must permit these districts to submit budgets within five days after the FY2025 appropriations act is enacted, and may adjust the budget calendar to create a compressed timeline for approval. The change applies only to the 2024-2025 school year.