Sen. Patrick Diegnan

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4073 authorizes special "U.S. Navy Retired" license plates for honorably discharged U.S. Navy veterans who provide a DD-214 or discharge certificate. Applicants pay a $50 one-time fee plus a $10 annual renewal fee, with all fees (minus administrative costs) deposited into a dedicated fund. The fund, managed by the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, must be used annually to support programs benefiting Navy veterans. The program requires 500 pre-submitted applications and $25,000 in private funding before implementation, and expires if these conditions aren't met within 12 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Human Services to launch a three-year advertising campaign aimed at attracting certified home health aides to health care careers, using $3 million in state funds. The campaign will promote health care professions as rewarding careers and highlight available scholarships, student loan assistance, and financial support for aides seeking these roles. It requires targeted advertising to recruit from underrepresented racial groups, aides with senior care expertise, and those entering high-demand health care fields. The Department must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within six months after the campaign ends, detailing its effectiveness and recommending whether to continue it.

Maddy summaryS 4058, the "Ruth Gilbert Alzheimer's Accessibility Act," expands eligibility for disability parking privileges in New Jersey to include individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia whose walking ability is limited, impaired, or creates a safety risk. It directly affects those with these conditions and their caregivers, who can now use standard disability parking spaces when transporting them. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1949, c.280) to add this group to the definition of "person with a disability," requiring certification from a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. This allows eligible individuals to obtain disability placards and license plates displaying the wheelchair symbol, matching the process for other disability-related parking access.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurance companies and other health benefit providers (called "carriers") from limiting coverage based on how long anesthesia services are used before, during, or after medical or surgical procedures. It directly affects patients needing anesthesia for surgeries or medical treatments by ensuring their coverage isn't cut off due to time limits. The key provision bans carriers from restricting coverage using time-based criteria, defining anesthesia services according to standard medical coding (AMA CPT codes). This creates a clear policy change requiring continuous coverage for anesthesia throughout the full procedure timeline.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4066) amends New Jersey's Prevention of Domestic Violence Act to clarify that final restraining orders protecting multiple people continue to be effective after the death of the original plaintiff. It also requires prosecutors to notify all individuals listed as protected persons on a restraining order, not just the victim, when a defendant is released from custody. These changes ensure ongoing protection for all individuals covered by the restraining order, regardless of the plaintiff's status. The bill directly affects domestic violence victims and their families who are protected by restraining orders, as well as prosecutors and law enforcement agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $49.5 million from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to fund land acquisition for recreation and conservation purposes across New Jersey. The funding supports specific projects including Blue Acres projects (which protect lands from flood and storm damage) and the Green Acres Program. The bill allocates $23.7 million for land acquisition in 14 designated project areas across multiple counties, with $23.7 million specifically for Blue Acres projects and $2.05 million for program administrative costs. This funding comes from a constitutional fund approved by voters in 2014 that's dedicated to open space and conservation initiatives.

Maddy summarySJR 76 designates the second Friday in December each year as "PSRPs in Our Schools Day" in New Jersey to recognize paraprofessionals and school-related personnel (PSRPs). This resolution honors PSRPs, including instructional aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and custodial staff, who support students through tutoring, classroom assistance, meal preparation, facility maintenance, and student transportation. The resolution does not create new programs or funding but calls for the Governor, Legislature, and citizens to observe and acknowledge these staff members' contributions. It takes effect immediately upon passage.

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 modifies the list of transportation infrastructure projects eligible to receive loans from New Jersey's Infrastructure Bank for Fiscal Year 2025. It adjusts which projects qualify, changes their priority order, and modifies the allowable loan amounts for specific projects. The bill authorizes the bank to expend up to $61.4 million (an increase from $53.8 million) for these projects, which include bridge repairs, road improvements, pedestrian bridges, and trail projects across various municipalities. Local government units, including cities, counties, and townships, would be directly affected as they apply for these loans to finance transportation infrastructure projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey telecom, cable, and internet providers to let customers pause or cancel service contracts without early termination fees when they move into a qualifying long-term care facility. It directly affects residents admitted to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, dementia care homes, or residential health care facilities for at least 90 days, as verified by a physician’s order or care plan. Providers must pause billing for a minimum 90 days upon admission, then cancel the contract if the resident remains in the facility beyond that period. The law mandates no fees for this pause/cancellation, though customers must provide physician documentation and typically give 45 days’ notice (or 48 hours in urgent cases).