Sen. Jon Bramnick

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) for retirement benefits in New Jersey's state-administered retirement systems. It directly affects current and future retirees, including state employees and teachers, by requiring their benefits to increase each year to match inflation without needing separate legislative action. The key mechanism establishes a permanent automatic adjustment process tied to inflation data, eliminating the need for annual budget amendments. This change ensures retirees' purchasing power remains aligned with rising living costs over time.

Maddy summaryS 967 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) to compensate employers in self-funded health benefit groups (MEWAs) for 60% of costs they pay when the group becomes insolvent and a court determines the insolvency wasn't due to the group's mismanagement. The court must consider factors beyond the MEWA's control, such as pandemics or natural disasters, when making this determination. The bill also mandates that MEWAs provide clear notices to employers and employees explaining they are not covered by state insurance guarantee funds and must verify coverage for state-mandated benefits. This law applies retroactively from May 1, 2021.

Maddy summaryS 968 requires New Jersey insurers selling commercial general liability insurance to clearly notify businesses - before purchase or renewal - whether their policy excludes coverage for communicable disease outbreaks like COVID-19. If exclusions exist, insurers must state either the cost to remove them or where businesses can obtain coverage from another insurer. If insurers fail to provide this notice, the exclusion becomes invalid, and coverage automatically includes communicable disease transmission. This directly affects commercial insurers and businesses relying on this insurance for liability protection.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes where juvenile delinquency cases are heard. Currently, if a juvenile lives in a different county than where the alleged act occurred, the case may sometimes be filed in the juvenile's home county. The bill requires all such cases to be filed in the county where the incident happened, removing that exception. It directly affects juveniles charged with delinquent acts in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for New Jersey auto insurance. It raises the basic PIP coverage from $15,000 to $20,000 per person per accident for standard auto insurance policies. Additionally, it sets a new minimum $50,000 PIP coverage requirement for standard automobile liability insurance policies. These changes directly affect all drivers in New Jersey who purchase auto insurance, ensuring higher coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and essential services after car accidents without requiring fault determination.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurers, pharmacy benefits managers, and state health programs from requiring pre-approval or precertification for cancer-related treatments, tests, procedures, or prescription drugs covered under health or prescription drug plans. It directly affects cancer patients and their licensed healthcare providers by ensuring these covered services are paid for without insurance company delays when prescribed for a diagnosed cancer patient. Key provisions ban pre-approval requirements for any covered cancer treatment, test, procedure, or drug under state health plans, state employee health programs, and private insurance. The law applies immediately to all health plans issued or purchased after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 1038 makes it a disorderly persons offense in New Jersey to wear a mask with the purpose of hiding your identity while committing another crime or offense, specifically when doing so in public with others who are also masked. It only applies if the person is already charged with the underlying crime and was wearing the mask during its commission. The bill includes key exceptions for Halloween, parades, weather protection, religious head coverings, and medical masks. Violating this law carries a penalty of up to six months in jail, a $1,000 fine, or both, and cannot be merged with the underlying crime for sentencing purposes.

Maddy summaryS 2396 upgrades burglary of a residence to a second-degree crime and elevates it to a first-degree crime if committed while armed with a weapon or explosives. This directly affects individuals convicted of burglarizing homes (dwellings or structures adapted for overnight stays), changing their sentencing level based on whether they were armed during the offense. Under the bill, second-degree burglary (unarmed residence burglary) carries a 5-10 year prison term, while first-degree burglary (armed residence burglary) would now carry a higher penalty. The bill amends New Jersey’s burglary statute (N.J.S.2C:18-2) and aligns sentencing with existing parole requirements for serious crimes. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2919 allows eligible voters who missed the standard 21-day registration deadline to register and vote on election day or during early voting. It permits voters to register in person at their assigned polling place on election day or at an early voting site in their county, provided they show ID or utility bill proof and complete a registration affirmation. The bill amends existing law to ensure provisional ballots cast under these conditions are counted if valid, without requiring prior registration. This change directly affects voters who register late but meets the in-person verification requirements at voting locations.

Maddy summaryS 3529 criminalizes the use of signal jammers in New Jersey - devices that block cell phone calls, texts, GPS signals, Wi-Fi, or emergency communications. The bill amends state law to make interfering with FCC-licensed radio communications or U.S. government communications a fourth-degree crime, aligning with existing federal prohibitions. It directly affects individuals and businesses using these devices, such as those blocking cellular service in vehicles or workplaces. The law does not create new federal rules but enforces current federal restrictions at the state level.