Sen. Joe Vitale

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public and nonpublic secondary schools (grades 9-12) to conduct annual substance use screenings for every student using the SBIRT program. Screenings must be administered by certified school staff (like counselors or nurses) or licensed health professionals in nonpublic schools, with parents receiving written notice and the option to opt their child out. All student disclosures during screenings are treated as confidential, with strict privacy protections barring disclosure without consent, except in medical emergencies. Schools may opt out if they have equivalent substance abuse prevention programs approved by the Department of Education.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1982 requires social media platforms with at least five million global users to verify the age of New Jersey residents under 18 and obtain parental or guardian consent before allowing them to create or maintain an account. This affects minors in New Jersey, their parents/guardians (who must provide ID and pay a $0.35 fee for consent), and major social media companies operating in the state. Platforms must verify age at account creation or within 14 days if unverified, and block access if verification isn't completed. The bill also prohibits direct messaging between minors and adults who aren't connected through the platform's "adding" feature (e.g., friends/followers). Violations can result in civil penalties up to $2,500 per offense, enforced by the Division of Consumer Affairs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to create a pilot program providing free menstrual hygiene products (tampons, menstrual cups, and sanitary napkins) to Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare enrollees. Eligible individuals would receive products at no cost by presenting their Medicaid card at participating pharmacies, with quantities and frequency determined by health experts. The program's implementation depends on federal approval of a waiver under the Social Security Act, as current federal rules prohibit using Medicaid benefits for these products.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's family leave law to explicitly include children born through gestational carrier agreements. It updates definitions to clarify that "child" and "parent" encompass arrangements where a parent becomes a legal parent via a written agreement with a gestational carrier. The change ensures employees who use gestational carriers qualify for family leave benefits (such as care for the child during pregnancy and recovery) under existing protections. It directly affects employees in New Jersey working for employers with 30+ employees (or state/local government), expanding their eligibility for leave related to gestational carrier arrangements. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Labor Committee after introduction on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all major New Jersey state agencies (principal departments in the Executive Branch) to review their own responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Each agency head must analyze how the pandemic impacted their work, evaluate their preparedness and actions taken, examine relevant laws and procedures, identify lessons learned, and incorporate recommendations from other governments. Agencies must then develop a new preparedness plan for future emergencies and submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within two years. The bill focuses on documenting past efforts to improve future emergency responses, without specifying new funding or restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires restaurants in New Jersey to automatically include a healthy beverage as the default option with any meal specifically marketed for children (e.g., kids' meals at restaurants). The default beverage must be water, unsweetened sparkling water, low-fat milk (nonfat or 1% with ≤130 calories), or 100% fruit juice (≤8 ounces with no added sweeteners). Restaurants may still offer sugary drinks upon specific customer request but cannot make them the automatic choice. The law applies to all restaurants defined under New Jersey law and takes effect six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts with grades 9-12 to add bleed control instruction to their existing health education curriculum, aligning with state learning standards. It directly affects high school students and school districts, mandating they incorporate this practical life-saving skill into health classes. Districts may choose free, non-certification training programs to meet this requirement. The law takes effect immediately for the next full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1955 protects insurers and insurance producers who provide coverage to cannabis-related businesses operating legally under state law. The bill prohibits state or local agencies from penalizing, canceling policies, or discouraging insurers for working with these businesses, and prevents adverse actions against policyholders solely due to their cannabis business involvement. It also shields insurers, their staff, and their investments from state liability claims arising from this insurance activity. The law does not require insurers to offer such coverage and explicitly states it does not override existing insurance regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1885) simplifies New Jersey's definition of "veteran" for benefits eligibility by removing specific historical conflict date and location requirements. It eliminates the need for veterans to have served during exact periods like "World War II, between September 1, 1939 and September 2, 1945" or "Vietnam conflict, on or after December 31, 1960," instead requiring only 90 days of active military service (excluding basic training) with an honorable discharge. This change directly affects veterans whose service dates or locations no longer match current definitions but still meet the general service duration criteria. The bill focuses on streamlining access to benefits, maintaining exceptions for those with service-connected injuries regardless of service duration.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Interagency Council on Homelessness" within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to replace the existing "Homelessness Prevention Task Force." The 24-member council - including government officials, service providers, advocacy representatives, and at least two people with lived experience of homelessness - will advise the Office of Homelessness Prevention, coordinate state/local homelessness services, identify funding sources, and develop permanent housing solutions. It requires the council to submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations. The bill also mandates transferring the previous task force's records and personnel to the new council. (Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 9, 2024.)