Sen. Owen Henry

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 69) prohibits requiring or asking about COVID-19 vaccination status as a condition for accessing common services and activities. It directly affects all residents and visitors by making it unlawful for businesses, schools, employers, healthcare providers, and government entities to demand vaccine proof or discriminate against unvaccinated individuals. Key provisions ban such requirements for things like employment, education, healthcare access, business entry, public spaces, and professional licenses. Violators face $25,000 in civil damages plus attorney fees for affected individuals. The law takes immediate effect.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 517) prohibits pharmacies from charging extra fees for processing prescriptions sent by phone or electronically, unless the same fee applies to written prescriptions. It directly affects pharmacies (by restricting their ability to add processing fees for electronic/phone prescriptions) and patients (who would no longer face these additional costs). The key provision requires pharmacies to treat electronic/phone prescriptions the same as paper ones regarding fees, promoting consistency. The bill focuses solely on this fee structure change, without altering prescription requirements or other policy elements.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands school staff's ability to administer epinephrine auto-injectors to students experiencing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in New Jersey schools, colleges, and youth camps. It allows trained school nurses or designated staff to give epinephrine without prior parental consent if they believe a student is having an anaphylactic reaction, even if the student hasn't been identified as needing it or parental forms are incomplete. Schools must store epinephrine securely but accessibly, train staff, maintain backup supplies, and follow specific protocols for emergency use and hospital transport. The law requires parental written authorization for routine use, but streamlines emergency administration to save critical time during allergic emergencies. It directly affects all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools, colleges, and youth camps with students at risk of anaphylaxis.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for New Jersey taxpayers to file amended returns correcting overpayments related to military pensions or survivor benefits. It specifically ensures that taxpayers affected by errors in reporting these payments can file claims within 2 years of the required federal correction, instead of facing shorter time limits. The change directly helps military retirees and survivors who overpaid state income tax due to initial misreporting of pension income. The key mechanism clarifies that the 2-year window under existing law (N.J.S.54A:9-8(c)) applies to these specific military benefit corrections. This adjustment provides a practical administrative fix without altering tax rates or eligibility.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 839 requires health insurers and Medicaid to reimburse telemedicine and telehealth services at the same rate as in-person visits when the services would be covered in person. It ensures providers receive equal payment whether care is delivered remotely or in person, and prohibits insurers from charging higher deductibles, copays, or coinsurance for telehealth visits. The bill also prevents restrictions on where telehealth can occur (as long as care standards are met), allows audio-only calls without video, and mandates coverage for remote patient monitoring. This directly affects healthcare providers, insurers, and Medicaid programs by standardizing telehealth reimbursement across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryS 826 requires the president of each New Jersey public college or university to report all on-campus crimes, fires, and emergencies to the institution's governing board at every regular meeting. The report must include counts and types of recorded incidents (from campus security, police, or fire departments), a list of campus alerts or threats, and optional details about investigations or prevention programs. This applies directly to public higher education institutions and their governing boards, ensuring they receive regular updates on campus safety. The bill clarifies that confidential details (like ongoing investigations) can be shared in private sessions without becoming public records under New Jersey's open records law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1931) increases penalties for reckless vehicular homicide when the driver was intoxicated. It elevates the offense to a first-degree crime if the driver was under the influence of alcohol or drugs while operating a vehicle near schools or school zones, including: within 1,000 feet of school property, through designated school crossings, near school crossings with juveniles present (even if unmarked), or in highway construction zones. Convictions under these circumstances require a minimum prison term of one-third to one-half of the sentence or three years (whichever is greater), with no parole eligibility during that period, plus a license suspension of 5 years to life. The law applies directly to drivers convicted of causing death while driving intoxicated in these specific locations.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a $15 fee for special license plates for New Jersey firefighters and members of first aid or rescue squads. It directly affects volunteer, partially compensated, and compensated members of these emergency services who currently pay the $15 fee on top of standard vehicle registration costs. The key change removes this additional charge, meaning applicants will pay only standard registration fees for the plates. The bill maintains existing requirements, including annual renewal and proof of active membership.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to prevent New Jersey governments from using eminent domain to take land actively used for farming or gardening (agricultural/horticultural use) for non-farming purposes. It would apply to the state, counties, municipalities, school districts, and other public entities. The amendment includes one key exception: government could still take such land if the property is permanently restricted for farming use. Currently, governments can take private property for public purposes (like development) with fair compensation, but this would block that power for active farmland except under the perpetual restriction condition.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $500 tax credit against New Jersey's gross income tax for eligible volunteer firefighters. To qualify, a taxpayer must have been an active member of a volunteer fire company or part-paid fire department for three consecutive years (including the current tax year and the two prior years). The credit applies to New Jersey gross income tax liability but cannot reduce the tax below zero. It directly benefits volunteer firefighters who meet the service requirements, providing a financial incentive for their service.