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.
Sponsored bills
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.
Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's property tax lien foreclosure process to comply with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limits how much equity a tax lienholder can keep. It allows property owners to request a judicial sale (similar to mortgage foreclosure) or online auction through the county sheriff within 45 days of being served with foreclosure papers. If requested, the sale must be conducted as a mortgage foreclosure would be, potentially allowing the owner to recover any remaining equity after the tax lien is satisfied. Property owners who don't make this request will lose all equity in the property to the lienholder, while those who do can protect their remaining value. The bill applies to foreclosure actions filed on or after May 25, 2023.
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 specifies funding for 156 clean water projects totaling $1.9 billion and 72 drinking water projects totaling $714.9 million, with additional supplemental loans for previously funded projects. Loan terms require repayment within 30-45 years at interest rates tied to the bank's bond rates, with specific mechanisms to adjust loan amounts based on actual project costs. The funding supports water treatment, wastewater systems, and drinking water infrastructure improvements across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new burglary offenses: home invasion burglary (a second-degree crime subject to the No Early Release Act) and residential burglary (a third-degree crime). Home invasion burglary occurs when someone enters a residence without permission and either causes bodily injury or is armed with a weapon, requiring offenders to serve 85% of their sentence without parole. Residential burglary occurs when someone enters a residence without permission without the additional elements of injury or weapon. The bill also permits waiver of juvenile cases to adult court when juveniles commit burglary of a residence while in possession of a firearm.
Maddy summaryS 3491 establishes legal protections for patients and healthcare providers accessing or providing reproductive health care (including abortion) and gender-affirming health care services in New Jersey. The bill defines "legally protected health care activity" as services lawful in New Jersey, regardless of where the patient resides, and creates criminal penalties for interfering with access to these services (such as obstructing facilities, intimidating patients, or recording individuals without consent). It also prohibits New Jersey from extraditing people for providing or seeking these services, protects patient privacy regarding these services, and specifies that fertilized eggs, embryos, or fetuses cannot have independent legal rights under New Jersey law. The bill applies to all individuals seeking or providing these services within New Jersey, including those traveling from states with restrictions on reproductive or gender-affirming care.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to screen all kindergarten through grade 3 students three times yearly for reading deficiencies using approved assessments. It also mandates annual screening for newly enrolled students in grades 4-12 and allows screenings at parent request for any student. Districts must notify parents within 15 days of identifying a deficiency, provide evidence-based interventions, and report screening data to the state. The assessments must measure core reading skills like decoding and comprehension, and the Department of Education will approve and distribute valid screening tools.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism by adopting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition, including its "contemporary examples," for use by state institutions. It requires state entities to consider this definition when reviewing or investigating potential anti-Semitic discrimination or bias crimes. The bill appropriates $100,000 to fund a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office, promoting the state's bias crimes reporting hotline and resources for identifying and reporting anti-Semitic incidents. The campaign aims to increase public understanding and reporting of bias crimes, particularly affecting Jewish communities and other vulnerable groups in New Jersey. The bill explicitly states it does not diminish First Amendment rights or conflict with existing anti-discrimination laws.
Maddy summarySCR 81 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. The deduction would rise to $1,000 in 2025, $1,500 in 2026, $2,000 in 2027, and $2,500 starting in 2028, remaining at that level annually thereafter. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses (who qualify after the veteran's death). The amendment would adjust the existing tax benefit without altering other eligibility rules or requiring new administrative processes.