Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey optometrists' scope of practice to include administering vaccines for coronaviruses, influenza, and shingles (for patients 18+), prescribing certain medications (including controlled substances under specific conditions), and performing limited eye procedures like laser treatments and minor surgeries. It requires optometrists to follow CDC vaccine guidelines, report immunizations to the state system, and avoid invasive surgeries or general anesthesia. The changes clarify that optometrists must adhere to medical standards for pharmaceutical use and cannot perform procedures requiring full-thickness eye incisions or orbital surgery. This modernizes optometric care while maintaining safety boundaries for patient treatment.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 143) blocks public utilities regulated by New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) from filing requests for rate increases during specific periods. It prohibits filings when the BPU has ordered a base rate case to check if a utility exceeded its authorized return rate, or when the BPU is actively investigating such an overage. The restriction remains in place until the BPU concludes the case or investigation. This applies to all public utilities subject to BPU oversight in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $106.5 million from the Property Tax Relief Fund to provide Emergency Supplemental Aid to eligible New Jersey school districts. It targets districts that received less than $19,000 per resident student in 2024-2025 school aid, or those whose 2024-2025 aid was less than or only slightly higher ($200,000 max) than their 2023-2024 allocation. The aid amount for each qualifying district is calculated by multiplying $250 by its resident student count as of October 16, 2023. This funding directly aims to stabilize budgets for districts negatively impacted by P.L.2018, c.67 ("S2") school funding formulas.
Maddy summaryS 1459 would provide a property tax rebate to disabled veterans in New Jersey who own or occupy a primary residence as their main home. The bill defines eligibility to include veterans living in various housing types like condominiums, cooperatives, or manufactured homes, as long as they meet the state's "homestead" criteria for primary residence. This rebate would reduce the property tax burden for qualifying veterans on their eligible home. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill would automatically adjust New Jersey's income tax brackets for inflation each year, using the Consumer Price Index. It directly affects all New Jersey residents who pay state income tax, particularly middle-income earners who would otherwise face higher taxes due to inflation without these adjustments. The bill does not change current tax rates but ensures income thresholds (like $150,000) rise with inflation to prevent "bracket creep," where inflation alone pushes taxpayers into higher tax brackets. This mechanism maintains the tax structure's original intent over time without requiring annual legislative action.
Maddy summaryS 104 creates the New Jersey Internet Criminal Information Registry, requiring the Attorney General to maintain an online database of specific information about individuals convicted of certain serious crimes. The registry includes details like name, sentence, address (for parolees or community program participants), release dates, and criminal history for those convicted of offenses such as murder, kidnapping involving minors, robbery, carjacking, and violent drug-related crimes. Information remains public until the individual is released from parole or a community program, at which point it is immediately removed. The bill also protects real estate professionals from liability for not checking the registry.
Maddy summaryS 1554, "Breann's Law," requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), and NJ FamilyCare to cover out-of-network medical services for children diagnosed with catastrophic illnesses. It applies when an in-network provider refers the child for care, and coverage must match what's provided for in-network services under the same plan. The bill defines "catastrophic illness" as life-threatening or causing serious disability, and covers dependent children under specific insurance contracts. This policy change directly affects families with children facing severe medical conditions and the insurers managing their health coverage.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits local New Jersey governments from allowing noncitizens to vote in local elections. It declares that any local ordinance, resolution, or action permitting noncitizen voting would be invalid and against public policy. The bill also states that elected local officials who approve such measures would violate their oath of office. The law amends existing ethics rules for local officials but centers on establishing that noncitizens cannot participate in local elections under state law. It does not affect state or federal elections.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 79) requires New Jersey's Director of the Division of Taxation to include sales of properties in age-restricted developments (like senior living communities) sold by third parties - such as guardians or executors - in the state's equalized valuation tables used for property tax assessments. Currently, these sales are excluded because they aren't "arms-length transactions," but the bill mandates their inclusion to better reflect market value. This change directly affects residents of age-restricted communities, as it aims to adjust property tax assessments to account for how these properties are actually sold. The key mechanism updates the valuation process to ensure assessments more accurately represent true market conditions for these properties.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's definition of "veteran" to remove specific date and location requirements for qualifying for civil service jobs and pension benefits. Previously, veterans had to prove service during exact historical periods (like World War I: April 6, 1917-November 11, 1918) or in designated locations (such as Lebanon during specific missions). The bill amends N.J.S.11A:5-1 to eliminate these restrictions, allowing more veterans who served in approved conflicts to qualify. It directly affects veterans whose service dates or locations no longer align with the old criteria but still meet the broader definition of honorable military service.