Asm. Brian Rumpf

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a 2025 law (P.L.2025, c.283) that required health insurers, Medicaid, and other health plans to cover recommended immunizations without cost-sharing. The repealed law mandated that New Jersey’s Department of Health consider the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations when setting vaccine coverage rules. By repealing this law, the bill removes the requirement for insurers to cover ACIP-recommended vaccines without patient cost-sharing and eliminates the need for the Department of Health to reference ACIP in its recommendations. The repeal directly affects health insurers, Medicaid, and patients seeking covered immunizations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to remove conservation restrictions from property when the owner needs the land for expanding a special needs school, provided they also establish a new conservation restriction on a parcel at least twice as large within 20 miles. It applies specifically to properties with restrictions tied to Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA) permits. The new restriction must protect land similarly to the original. This creates a trade-off between development for education and expanded conservation coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. It provides a proportional exemption based on disability percentage (up to 100%), covering veterans with conditions like paralysis, amputations, or total blindness, and caps partial exemptions at $10,000. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans or those who died in service also qualify for similar exemptions. Crucially, the state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the lost tax revenue from these exemptions to offset costs. The law amends existing veteran property tax protections under P.L.1948, c.259.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2836) increases the asset limits for certain New Jersey Medicaid applicants who qualify as "medically needy." It directly affects low-income residents in specific groups, including pregnant women, children under 21, seniors 65+, and blind or disabled adults, who have higher asset thresholds than standard Medicaid applicants. The key change raises the resource standard for households: for households of three or more people, the limit increases by $20,000 per additional person (from $100 previously), setting new caps at $40,000 for one-person households and $60,000 for two-person households. This adjustment aims to align New Jersey's Medicaid eligibility with federal guidelines and expand access for qualifying residents with modest assets. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Aging and Human Services Committee.

Maddy summaryAJR 99 is a ceremonial resolution designating February 12th each year as "Carly Day" in New Jersey. It honors Carly Fetzer, a Bayville resident born with a congenital heart defect who lived 18 years after multiple surgeries. The resolution asks the Governor to issue an annual proclamation to raise public awareness about congenital heart defects, which affect about 9 in 1,000 newborns in the U.S. This is a commemorative measure with no new policies or funding, aligning with existing Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2790) proposes mandatory life imprisonment without parole for individuals convicted of murder committed during a sexual assault on a minor under 16 years old. It specifically amends New Jersey's murder statute (N.J.S.2C:11-3) to require this sentence when the murder occurs in the course of committing a sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2 or N.J.S.2C:14-3) against a victim under 16. The law directly affects offenders convicted of such murders, eliminating parole eligibility for these cases. It does not change the definition of sexual assault but links the harshest murder sentencing to sexual assault crimes involving minors under 16. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 946), now law as P.L.2025, c.177, requires mental health services to be provided in the communication method preferred by each deaf or hard of hearing individual - such as sign language or oral communication - based on their assessment. It mandates that mental health professionals be fluent in that method, trained in cultural needs, and able to collaborate with interpreters. The law also requires a state resource guide listing specialized mental health services and ensures individuals can help shape their own care plans. It directly affects all deaf or hard of hearing residents seeking mental health support in New Jersey, addressing long-standing barriers in access and care quality.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A 1464 creates a state database for storing digital copies of veterans' separation documents (like DD-214 forms), directly affecting veterans and their families seeking benefits. Veterans or family members can voluntarily submit documents digitally, with originals returned promptly - no fee for submission (only a small shipping fee for returns). The database is accessible only to public agencies (e.g., state departments) to verify eligibility for veteran benefits, strictly prohibits public access under open records laws, and imposes fines for misuse (up to $2,000 or 100 days in jail). The bill ensures privacy, streamlines benefit verification, and defines "veteran" broadly to include National Guard service.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the income eligibility limit for New Jersey's homestead property tax reimbursement program. It increases the annual income threshold from $80,000 to $160,000 for tax year 2017 (and subsequent years), allowing more seniors (65+) and disabled residents to qualify. The program reimburses eligible homeowners and renters for property tax differences between their base year and current year, based on income and residency requirements. It directly affects low-to-moderate-income residents who own or rent qualifying homes as their primary residence.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates salt water taffy as New Jersey's official state candy. It formally recognizes the treat as a symbolic representation of the state's coastal heritage, with no direct policy impact on residents, businesses, or laws. The designation takes effect immediately upon passage.