Sen. Vin Gopal

Maddy summaryThe "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act" (S 3538) sets a minimum reimbursement rate for pharmacies dispensing drugs to Medicaid patients, requiring payments to cover the national average drug cost plus a $10.92 dispensing fee. It mandates Medicaid managed care plans to allow patients to choose any participating pharmacy and to reimburse out-of-network pharmacies at the same rate as in-network ones. The bill also requires the State Auditor to audit pharmacy pricing practices within Medicaid to identify potential state savings from these changes. These provisions directly affect pharmacies, Medicaid managed care organizations, and New Jersey's Medicaid program.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to purchase retirement credit for prior service as a class two special law enforcement officer with a public employer in the state. To qualify, the member must have worked in that role and then started a PFRS-covered position within 120 days of ending that service. Members can purchase up to 10 years of credit by paying the cost, calculated based on their salary and an actuarial factor, with current members having one year from the bill's effective date to apply. This change aligns the process for purchasing such credit with existing rules for federal or military service.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to provide reading intervention programs for kindergarten through third-grade students who show reading deficiencies, as identified by approved assessments. The programs must use a data-driven, multi-tiered system of supports to deliver explicit instruction in phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension while monitoring student progress throughout the year. School districts must adopt scientifically based instructional materials, and the Department of Education must provide age-appropriate resources and develop an evaluation process for the program. The law takes effect immediately for the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill revises property tax lien foreclosure procedures to align with a recent Supreme Court ruling requiring property owners to retain equity beyond unpaid taxes. It allows property owners to protect remaining property equity by requesting a judicial sale (like mortgage foreclosures) or online auction through the county sheriff within 45 days of receiving foreclosure notice. If owners don't make this request, lien holders (municipalities or private investors) can take full property title without conducting a sale. Lien holders must clearly inform property owners about this option in bold text with foreclosure notices. The bill ensures any surplus funds from a sale would go to the property owner after lien holders are paid.

Maddy summaryS 2825 removes the time limit that required municipalities to issue or transfer special licenses for bars and restaurants within areas formerly occupied by federal military installations. Under current law, municipalities had three years to issue these licenses and two additional years to transfer unissued licenses to other municipalities in the project area. This bill eliminates those deadlines, giving municipalities more time to act without penalty. The change applies to the three host municipalities in a "project area" (a redevelopment zone of a former military base, like Fort Monmouth) that are entitled to issue these licenses. The bill does not alter the number of licenses, fee structure, or other rules governing their issuance.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to provide up to $2.73 billion in loans to local governments and public water utilities for environmental infrastructure projects during fiscal year 2025. It specifically funds 156 clean water projects (totaling $1.9 billion) and 72 drinking water projects (totaling $715 million) through designated eligibility lists. Loans can cover a portion of construction costs with repayment terms up to 30 years, and interest rates tied to the bank's bond rates. The bill also authorizes an additional $1.5 billion for short-term loans through the Interim Environmental Financing Program for priority projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program to include wages and salaries paid to workers not subject to New Jersey's gross income tax due to reciprocity agreements with other states. It expands the definitions of "qualified film production expenses" and "qualified digital media content production expenses" to cover these payments, including compensation paid to workers from states like Pennsylvania with which New Jersey has reciprocal tax agreements. The bill also updates the definition of "full-time or full-time equivalent employee" to include workers whose wages aren't subject to New Jersey tax due to reciprocity agreements. The changes apply retroactively to January 1, 2024, allowing taxpayers who haven't used their tax credit certificates to receive revised certificates under the new rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover abortion services without cost-sharing (such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance) for all individuals in the state. It applies to all health insurance carriers, state health benefit programs, and Medicaid, with limited exceptions for religious employers who request exclusions based on religious beliefs. The bill also prohibits medical malpractice insurers from taking adverse actions against providers who offer legally protected reproductive health care services, even if the patient is from a state where those services are illegal. It defines "abortion" as medical treatment to terminate a pregnancy (including medication and aspiration methods) and aims to remove financial barriers to access, particularly benefiting low-income individuals and other groups facing disproportionate access challenges.

Maddy summaryS 3203 extends New Jersey’s annual $20 million funding for horse racing purse subsidies through the state’s fiscal year 2029. The bill directly affects the state’s thoroughbred and standardbred racing industries by requiring the New Jersey Racing Commission to allocate these funds equally between the two sectors. For thoroughbreds, all funds go to Monmouth Park overnight races; for standardbreds, allocations include 60% to Meadowlands, 16% to Freehold, and specific shares for New Jersey Sire Stakes, local horse bonuses, and breeders. Recipients must submit annual reports detailing how funds were used, including impacts on race attendance, betting, and New Jersey-bred horses, to justify continued funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) to purchase retirement credit for prior service as a "class two special law enforcement officer" with a public employer. It directly affects current or future PFRS members who previously worked in this limited-authority police role (requiring specific training but having restricted powers compared to full officers). The key provision lets them buy up to 10 years of credit for that service, provided the gap between that job and their PFRS appointment was under 120 days, with payment covering both member and employer shares over up to 10 years. The process mirrors existing rules for purchasing credit for federal/military service.