Sen. Nick Scutari

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing employer reporting requirements to include ride-sharing and delivery platforms that hire or contract with workers for financial compensation. It requires these companies to report specific worker details (name, address, date of birth, Social Security number) and their own business information (name, address, federal tax ID) to the state within 20 days of hiring or contracting, or every 15 days for electronic reports. Failure to report incurs a civil penalty of up to $25 per violation, or $500 for conspiracy to provide false information. The reported data will be shared with state employment and workers' compensation agencies to support their programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public transportation employees in New Jersey to complete a one-time training course on recognizing and responding to suspected human trafficking. The New Jersey Transit Corporation must develop or approve the training, which must include specific content about known signs and signals trafficked victims might display or observers might notice in public spaces. Current employees must complete the training within two years of the law's effective date, while new hires must complete it within six months of starting their position. Verifiable completion becomes a condition for maintaining employment for required staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill would establish a legal framework for supervised psilocybin therapy in New Jersey for adults 21+ with behavioral health conditions. It creates licensed psilocybin service centers where trained facilitators provide guided sessions, requiring prior medical referrals and mandatory preparation/integration therapy sessions with mental health providers. The bill defines key terms like "administration session" and "adverse event," and mandates a regulatory system including a Psilocybin Advisory Board to oversee safety, prevent diversion, and ensure accessibility. It specifically targets conditions like depression, anxiety, and treatment-resistant depression, with provisions to develop a statewide strategic plan for long-term service delivery. The bill does not legalize recreational use but focuses on regulated medical access under strict supervision.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public transportation employees in New Jersey (specifically those working for NJ Transit) to complete a one-time training course on recognizing and responding to suspected human trafficking. The training must include information about known signs and signals used by trafficking victims seeking help or observed in public spaces. Current employees must complete the training within two years of the bill's effective date, while new employees must complete it within six months of starting their position. The New Jersey Transit Corporation will develop the training, establish which staff must complete it, and ensure materials are provided to employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies New Jersey's child custody procedures by requiring courts to prioritize a child's expressed preference (when age-appropriate) and consider recommendations from the child's mental health professional in custody decisions. It restricts courts from ordering family therapy to reunite a parent and child without scientific evidence of its safety, effectiveness, and the child's willingness to participate. Courts must document reasons if they override a child's preference, and the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners must develop professional standards for such therapy within 12 months. The bill directly affects courts, parents, children, and mental health professionals in custody cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study whether small modular reactors (SMRs) - nuclear reactors under 300 megawatts - can be feasibly deployed statewide. The BPU must complete this 18-month study, using $5 million in state funds, and consult with environmental and economic agencies. The study will examine suitable locations (like retired power sites), regulatory requirements, economic costs, safety, environmental impacts, and public input through three hearings. It will also assess how SMRs could integrate with existing energy infrastructure and recommend a potential pilot program for future deployment.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently allows retired employees of the New Jersey Legislature who are members of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to return to part-time work without losing retirement benefits. It extends the existing rule permitting such returns (limited to 20 hours weekly, requiring a bona fide retirement, and starting 30+ days after retirement) to be permanent, rather than temporary. Specifically, it allows those already returning under the current law to extend their employment indefinitely, rather than being capped at four years. The policy directly affects retired Legislative staff who meet the age, part-time, and non-prearranged retirement conditions. It does not apply to former legislators themselves.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes several key changes to New Jersey's cannabis regulatory framework. It modifies the Cannabis Regulatory Commission by changing how the chair is selected (from the Governor to a commission member), increasing salaries for commission members and the executive director, and allowing commission members who hold local elected office to campaign and fundraise for their positions. The bill also streamlines licensing for medical cannabis dispensaries seeking adult-use retail licenses, permitting them to operate adult-use retail spaces on the same premises as medical dispensaries without needing municipal approval, provided they've operated lawfully for at least 180 days. Additionally, it requires the New Jersey State Police to develop an enforcement program targeting unlicensed cannabis businesses, which can be deemed public nuisances subject to closure.

Maddy summaryThis bill redefines "motorized bicycle" to include all pedal bicycles with electric motors that can provide assistance while pedaling or be used with a throttle for propulsion, removing the previous "low-speed electric bicycle" classification. As a result, owners must now obtain a valid driver's license (17+ with basic license or 15+ with specific motorized bicycle license), register their bicycles, and carry insurance. The bill provides a six-month grace period after enactment for owners to comply with these new requirements. It also requires law enforcement to report motorized bicycle accidents to the Motor Vehicle Commission and Department of Transportation, and mandates an annual report on motorized bicycle usage and safety.

Maddy summaryS 4018 requires health insurance plans and Medicaid to cover screening, prevention, and treatment services for behavioral health issues in children under 18. It mandates that providers can bill for these services using an "at-risk diagnosis" (which considers factors like family circumstances without requiring a formal mental health diagnosis) and alternative codes like Social Determinants of Health Z-codes. The coverage must be provided at the same level as other medical services for all covered children. This applies to all health insurance carriers, the State Health Benefits Program, the School Employees' Health Benefits Program, and New Jersey's Medicaid program (NJ FamilyCare).