Sen. Nick Scutari

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's minimum required auto insurance coverage limits for bodily injury and property damage. It raises the minimum bodily injury limit from $15,000 to $100,000 per person and $30,000 to $200,000 per accident, while increasing property damage coverage from $5,000 to $35,000 per accident. The law applies to all drivers in New Jersey who register or garage vehicles there, requiring standard liability policies to include these higher minimums. It also clarifies that uninsured motorist coverage must match the liability limits and prohibits stacking coverage across multiple vehicles or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill defines "electric motorized bicycle" as a two-wheeled vehicle with operable pedals, an electric motor over 750 watts, and a speed capability exceeding 28 mph. It would have regulated these vehicles under New Jersey's transportation laws by establishing clear technical specifications. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, but was withdrawn the same day because the regulations were already enacted in prior legislation (P.L.2025, c.285). It directly affected owners and operators of electric bicycles meeting the defined specifications. The bill's content was procedural, as it merely codified existing regulatory language rather than creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies and Medicaid programs in New Jersey to cover screening, prevention, and treatment services for children's behavioral health issues without needing a formal mental health diagnosis. It allows providers to use "at-risk diagnosis" billing codes (like Social Determinants of Health Z-codes) for services such as early screenings and therapy for children under 18. The coverage must be provided at the same level as other medical services, including for children showing potential issues before a diagnosis is made. This applies to all private health plans, state employee health benefits, school employee health plans, and NJ FamilyCare Medicaid programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of the Treasury to create a low-cost financial advisory program for state employees enrolled in the Deferred Compensation Plan. It mandates contracting with a qualified vendor to provide personalized retirement planning advice, including strategies for replacement income after retirement and alternatives to the plan's investment options. The vendor must act as a fiduciary with no commissions, and fees for participants will be capped based on their account value. The program aims to help employees make informed financial decisions without imposing excessive costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates supplemental funding for New Jersey's fiscal year 2026 budget, adding specific amounts to existing appropriations. It provides $5 million for the Office of the Food Security Advocate to fund research, pilot programs, and public-private partnerships focused on food security. Additional funds include $750,000 for community resource grants (like Family Food Relief of New Jersey) and $44 million for local government projects, such as facility upgrades in Bergen County, homelessness stabilization in Burlington, and infrastructure in Camden, Gloucester, Mercer, Middlesex, Salem, and Union counties. The bill directly affects state departments, community organizations, and local governments by authorizing these specific funding allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $5 million for Food Security Research and Innovation (under the Department of Agriculture) to fund projects, pilot programs, and partnerships addressing food access needs. It also provides $750,000 for Social Services Programs, including $500,000 to "Family Food Relief of New Jersey" and $250,000 for "Bridges NJ." Additionally, it allocates $44 million in state aid for local governments, targeting specific county projects like homelessness stabilization in Burlington, medical center upgrades in Bergen, and emergency communications in Gloucester. The funds are supplemental to the existing 2025-2026 budget and direct state services, with no new policy changes beyond funding allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of the Treasury to create a low-cost financial advisory program for state employees enrolled in the state's deferred compensation plan (a retirement savings program). The program would provide individualized advice on investments, retirement income planning, and alternatives to the plan's offerings. The Treasury must contract with a vendor that acts in participants' best interests (with no commissions), charges fees based on participants' account balances (capped to keep costs reasonable), and avoids conflicts of interest. The program would initially serve current plan participants, with potential future expansion to all eligible state employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the per adjusted admission charge for hospitals from $10 to $12.50, effective July 1, 2025. The revenue funds health planning and creates a "Safety Net Graduate Medical Education" pool. Hospitals with a high Medicaid patient percentage (top third among acute care hospitals with residency programs) qualify for payments based on 2016 Medicaid cost reports. Payments split into Direct Medical Education (DME) and Indirect Medical Education (IME) allocations using specific 2016 data from hospital cost reports. The bill directly affects qualifying hospitals, not ambulatory care facilities as the title incorrectly states.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement from New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2026 state budget that mandated the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) achieve $100 million in cost savings during the first six months of Plan Year 2026. It eliminates specific deadlines, committee processes, and fallback procedures tied to this savings target, including the need for the State Health Benefits Plan Design Committee (SHBPDC) to submit and verify cost-saving proposals. The change directly affects the SHBP and its governing committee, removing an obligation to meet this specific savings goal. The bill does not alter the program's funding or structure, only removes the mandated savings requirement. This is a procedural adjustment to the appropriations act.

Maddy summaryBill A6201 removes a requirement from New Jersey's Fiscal Year 2026 state budget that mandated the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) to achieve $100 million in cost savings during the first six months of 2026. The removed language previously required the State and public employees' representatives on the SHBP Design Committee (SHBPDC) to submit cost-saving proposals by July 31, 2025, for actuarial review, with voting deadlines by September 30, 2025, and fallback steps like mediation if targets weren't met. By eliminating this requirement, the bill removes the $100 million savings target and associated deadlines for the SHBP budget process. This directly affects the SHBP's administration, removing obligations tied to cost-saving negotiations and verifications.