Sen. Vin Gopal

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3013 imposes a $0.40 monthly fee per mobile line on residents using commercial mobile or IP-enabled voice services (excluding Lifeline program participants). Telecom companies collect this fee from customers and remit it quarterly to a new "9-8-8 Suicide and Crisis Hotline Trust Fund Account" in the state Treasury. Funds in the account will finance specific crisis services including 9-8-8 call center operations, mobile crisis response teams, crisis stabilization centers, and public awareness campaigns. The bill mandates annual reporting on fund usage and requires the Legislature to review fee adjustments based on service needs.

Maddy summaryS 3381 prohibits pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies directly or indirectly in New Jersey. The law requires PBMs to divest existing pharmacy ownership by July 2027, aiming to prevent conflicts where PBMs set drug prices while also running pharmacies. This affects PBMs with pharmacy holdings and aims to increase competition for patients by reducing anticompetitive practices that limit pharmacy choices and may raise drug costs. The bill focuses on structural changes to the pharmacy market, not on specific drug pricing outcomes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all source plasma donation centers in New Jersey to obtain a state license from the Department of Health. Operators must apply for a license (paying a $25 fee for existing centers) and renew it annually by November 10, displaying the license prominently at their facility. The law mandates centers follow specific safety rules based on federal standards for plasma collection, staff training, and donor screening. It does not apply to centers conducting only basic donor tests, and license fees fund the Department's oversight activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey program that allows certified first-time home buyers to open special savings accounts at participating banks or credit unions. Account holders can contribute up to $15,000 per year (with a lifetime limit of $75,000) and earn tax-free growth on those funds, with the account balance capped at $150,000 annually. Funds can only be withdrawn to cover down payments and closing costs for a primary residence purchase, and withdrawals for other purposes require tax reporting. The program is administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to encourage home ownership through tax-advantaged savings.

Maddy summaryS 3284 creates the New Jersey Transportation Consolidation Task Force to study merging five state transportation agencies: New Jersey Transit, the Transportation Trust Fund Authority, the Turnpike Authority, the South Jersey Transportation Authority, and the Department of Transportation. The task force, composed of seven appointed members with transportation and finance expertise, must analyze potential cost savings, operational efficiencies, and legal/financial impacts of consolidation within 12 months. It will produce a detailed report including specific savings analysis, best practices from other states, and a proposed plan for a single new independent transportation agency. The report will guide future legislative action but does not implement consolidation itself.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1228) requires public schools to create emergency policies for students with seizure disorders. It mandates schools to train at least two non-nurse staff members (in addition to the school nurse) to administer nasal seizure rescue medication and use a manual vagus nerve stimulator during emergencies, with parental consent and written documentation. Schools must also develop individualized emergency plans in collaboration with parents and healthcare providers, and ensure students receive hospital evaluation after treatment. The bill protects school staff from liability for good-faith actions under these protocols, provided they follow training and consent requirements. The bill was introduced to the Senate Education Committee in January 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Bear Smart Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to finance the distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. The fund will be supported by civil penalties from existing bear-feeding violations, state/federal appropriations, and investment earnings. The DEP will prioritize distributing these cans in counties with high bear populations - Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Passaic - to reduce human-bear conflicts, potentially charging residents a small fee or partnering with local governments for cost efficiency. The bill also updates the state's bear-feeding law to clarify prohibited actions (like leaving food accessible to bears) and directs penalty collections into the new fund.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey residents with an expired standard basic driver's license to renew it without retaking the written test or road test if they have a mental or psychological condition preventing in-person renewal. To qualify, they must provide documentation from a licensed physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner (in New Jersey or bordering states) confirming the condition. The Motor Vehicle Commission's Chief Administrator must also verify the person can drive safely based on their driving history. It directly affects individuals with qualifying mental/psychological conditions who cannot visit license offices in person.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2578) requires New Jersey's four-year public colleges to waive all tuition and fees for the spouse or dependent child of a disabled veteran who meets specific conditions. To qualify, the student must be accepted and enrolled as an undergraduate, apply for all available state and federal grants/scholarships, and apply for VA tuition benefits under the Post-9/11 GI Bill. The state will reimburse institutions for the waived costs. It applies to disabled veterans certified by the VA as having a total, permanent service-connected disability.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2592) prohibits insurers from denying or charging more for Medicare supplement policies (Medigap) based on health status, medical history, or claims experience. It requires insurers to accept all applicants year-round for these policies, regardless of whether they enrolled in Medicare due to age or disability. The law applies to all Medicare supplement policies sold in New Jersey, ensuring continuous enrollment without health-based restrictions. It does not override federal rules allowing pre-existing condition limitations under specific circumstances.