Sen. Andrew Zwicker

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey, including Medicaid, to cover treatment for stuttering without cost-sharing. It mandates coverage for both habilitative speech therapy (to help maintain or improve speech skills) and rehabilitative speech therapy (to restore speech skills that have been lost), whether provided in-person or through telehealth. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any deductibles, copayments, or annual limits. This applies to all health insurance policies delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in New Jersey on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4111) creates an option for members of New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to request a recalculation of their retirement benefits. It allows retirees (or their beneficiaries) to submit a request within 60 days of receiving an initial notice, asking to use their highest three-year average compensation instead of the standard final compensation calculation. If approved, the recalculation applies only to future benefit payments after the bill's effective date, not retroactively. Retirees who began receiving benefits after January 1, 2025, have one year from the bill's effective date to initiate this process. The bill does not change current benefit calculations but provides a new pathway for potentially higher payments going forward.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $5 million matching grant program administered by New Jersey's Commission on Science, Innovation, and Technology for public research universities. It requires universities receiving certain federal research grants (those needing or prioritizing a financial match) to apply for state funds to cover their required matching share. The program prioritizes projects aligned with state economic development goals and university research capacity, with applications evaluated on economic impact, industry alignment, student opportunities, and equitable funding. The Commission must annually report to state leaders on recipient projects and the program's effectiveness in advancing economic development.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator within the Department of Human Services. The coordinator will develop a master plan to improve dementia care, coordinate existing state programs (like the Alzheimer's Advisory Commission), prevent service duplication, identify gaps in care, and increase access to quality dementia treatment. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to fund this position and its activities. It directly affects people with Alzheimer's and dementia, their families, and state agencies providing related services by mandating better coordination and communication across the system.

Maddy summaryS 4064 allows New Jersey public bodies to publish required legal notices in online newspapers and online news publications, expanding beyond traditional print-only requirements. It establishes new qualifications for online publications to be considered "qualified newspapers," including maintaining a physical address, providing English-language content with regular government coverage, and meeting subscriber minimums. The bill sets specific rates for publishing notices based on subscriber numbers, ranging from $0.30 per character for small publications to $1.00 per character for large publications. If no qualified newspaper is available, public bodies can publish notices on their official websites.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP) at the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to fund projects that reduce risks from natural disasters, such as floods and storms. The program provides loans and financial assistance to State agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for hazard mitigation and resilience projects that align with the STORM Act (Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act). It includes provisions allowing local governments to provide loans to private property owners for hazard mitigation, with a graduated loan forgiveness program based on household income levels. The bill also makes technical changes to the bank's authority, extending the date by which the bank may not incur additional indebtedness to June 30, 2053.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the requirement for parents to pay past-due child support owed to New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) for children in its care. It specifically voids all existing child support arrears (over $3 million in 2023), related court judgments, liens, and warrants for these cases, making them unenforceable. The change aligns with a 2022 federal policy allowing states to reduce child support collection efforts for children in foster care, addressing that 90% of involved parents are indigent and collection costs often exceed amounts recovered. This directly affects parents legally responsible for children in DCPP custody, removing financial barriers to family reunification.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax revenues to fund historic preservation projects through the New Jersey Historic Trust. The funds will support 43 capital preservation projects ($15.03 million total) including historic buildings and landmarks like fire stations and lighthouses, 34 historic site management projects ($1.47 million total) for preservation planning and heritage tourism, $100,000 for easement purchases, and $1.92 million for administrative costs. All projects must be listed or eligible for listing in the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places, and recipients must provide matching funds. The funding comes from revenues constitutionally dedicated to historic preservation under the Preserve New Jersey Act, with changes to projects requiring Joint Budget Oversight Committee approval.

Maddy summaryS 4118 establishes New Jersey's Inclusive Workplaces Program within the Economic Development Authority (EDA), appropriating $2.5 million to provide grants and tax credits for employers investing in workspaces accommodating neurodivergent employees. Small businesses (under 150 employees with at least one neurodivergent staff member) may receive grants up to $25,000 for sensory-friendly layouts, adaptive equipment, or neurodiversity training. Large businesses (150+ employees with at least three neurodivergent staff) qualify for tax credits equal to 50% of qualifying investments (capped at $25,000) for similar accommodations. The program limits annual grants and tax credits to $2.5 million each, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis by the EDA.

Maddy summaryThis bill grants New Jersey state employees, including those at Rutgers and other public universities, one additional administrative leave day per year for each of the two Muslim holidays - Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha - without reducing their regular leave allowance. It also requires public school districts to excuse student absences for these holidays, ensuring such absences do not appear on transcripts or affect eligibility for awards, tests, or opportunities. Students must provide a parent or guardian’s written excuse to qualify for these protections. The law explicitly adds Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha to the list of religious holidays recognized for excused absences under state education rules.