Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey government entities - including municipalities, counties, school districts, and state departments - to review their cybersecurity infrastructure. Each entity must evaluate current systems for security and efficiency, identify high-risk issues, propose modernization strategies for networks and software, and suggest policy changes if needed. The head of each entity must submit findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 45 days of the bill’s effective date. This applies broadly to every local and state government body in New Jersey, focusing on proactive security assessments rather than creating new laws. The bill does not impose new restrictions but mandates structured reviews to strengthen cybersecurity across public agencies.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 2272 establishes a pilot program for a "Gambling Treatment Diversion Court" in New Jersey, targeting individuals convicted of crimes directly linked to disordered gambling (as defined by DSM criteria). The program diverts eligible defendants from standard sentencing to court-supervised treatment, requiring them to pay restitution to victims and complete gambling-specific counseling through qualified professionals (e.g., certified counselors, psychologists). Participants must agree to treatment, attend support groups (like 1-800-GAMBLER referrals), and submit progress reports, with costs covered by their financial means or available public funding. This pilot program, administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts, is currently pending before the Senate Judiciary Committee after introduction on January 9, 2024.
Maddy summaryS 776 requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to offer healthcare providers (like doctors, dentists, and hospitals) multiple payment options - such as electronic transfers, checks, or credit cards - for reimbursement, rather than mandating just one method. It prohibits carriers from restricting out-of-network providers to a single payment method and mandates that carriers disclose any fees for specific payment methods before the first payment or when changing methods. The bill also requires carriers to implement provider-requested payment method changes within 30 business days and bans using a provider’s preferred payment method as a factor in credentialing decisions. Violations could result in civil penalties and reimbursement for providers’ documented fees.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2254 repeals the state's no-fault automobile insurance law and replaces it with a mandatory liability insurance requirement for all motor vehicle owners. The bill increases minimum coverage limits to $100,000 per person and $200,000 per accident for bodily injury/death, and $5,000 for property damage. It directly affects all vehicle owners and operators registered or garaged in New Jersey by requiring higher standard liability insurance coverage. The bill deletes previous provisions allowing basic or special insurance policies, mandating all policies meet these new minimums under state approval.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2288) removes the requirement for local government officers (like mayors, council members, and county officials) to disclose the full address of their home or secondary residence on annual financial disclosure statements. Instead, they must provide only a brief description including the county and municipality where the residence is located. The change applies to all financial disclosures filed in 2023 and later, affecting how officers report property ownership and residency details. It specifically exempts judicial and law enforcement officers from disclosing home addresses under any circumstances.
Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies definitions related to firearms used while hunting in New Jersey. It amends several hunting statutes to explicitly define "long gun" as including rifles, shotguns, machine guns, and also air guns, spring guns, or similar devices firing projectiles under 3/8 inch in diameter. The bill specifically prohibits hunters from carrying both a long gun and a bow simultaneously while in the woods or fields. It directly affects hunters transporting firearms, ensuring they understand which weapons qualify under "long gun" restrictions for deer hunting and other game. This is a clarification of existing law, not a new restriction.
Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Senate resolution (SR 62) urges the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Medicare/Medicaid Services to reconsider a federal rule requiring organ procurement organizations (OPOs) to compete for service areas and face potential decertification based on performance metrics. The rule, set to fully implement in 2022, would replace current outcome measures and force OPOs to bid annually for their geographic service areas (DSAs), potentially reducing the number of OPOs. It directly affects the 57 OPOs nationwide, which manage organ donation and transplantation services across the U.S., and could disrupt access to transplants, particularly for minority patients who already face significant disparities in receiving organs. The resolution argues the rule risks reducing organ procurement by increasing uncertainty for OPOs and expanding service areas, without addressing systemic barriers that contribute to racial inequities in transplantation.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires monthly payments (stipends) to members of New Jersey state boards, commissions, committees, and similar public entities for attending meetings. It sets a minimum $300 and maximum $1,500 stipend per month, paid to members not already receiving equivalent compensation from the state. Funding comes primarily from entity fees, with state general funds covering shortfalls. The bill mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing stipend amounts for each entity, applying to all state colleges, universities, and bi-state agencies.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2276) prohibits New Jersey auto insurance policyholders from selecting health insurance as the primary coverage for medical expenses resulting from car accidents. It removes a previous option (under Section 13 of P.L.1983, c.362) that allowed drivers to designate health insurance as primary, requiring personal injury protection (PIP) coverage to be primary instead. The law affects all auto insurance policyholders in New Jersey who would have chosen this option, ensuring PIP covers medical costs first. If health insurance is primary, insurers would have paid only for uncovered expenses, but this choice is now eliminated. The bill does not change PIP coverage limits or deductibles.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2293) requires all standard auto insurance policies in New Jersey to include uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage with limits equal to the policyholder’s liability coverage for bodily injury and property damage. It sets specific minimum coverage amounts that increase over time (e.g., $15,000/$30,000 for bodily injury for policies before 2023, rising to $35,000/$70,000 by 2026) and mandates that property damage coverage must also match liability limits with a $500 deductible per accident. The bill directly affects auto insurance policyholders, insurers, and individuals injured by drivers without sufficient coverage, ensuring coverage limits align with liability protections. It prohibits stacking multiple policies for higher limits and clarifies definitions for "uninsured" and "underinsured" vehicles.