Maddy summaryS 2421, the "Freedom to Read Act," requires New Jersey public school and public libraries to adopt policies protecting access to diverse library materials. The bill mandates that school boards establish collection guidelines based on professional librarian judgment, prohibiting removal of materials solely due to disagreement with their content or viewpoint. It defines "censorship" as blocking materials over disagreement with ideas (excluding developmentally inappropriate content) and requires policies to ensure school library staff can curate collections reflecting diverse perspectives. The law aims to shield librarians and school library staff from harassment while maintaining their role in providing equitable access to resources.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense specifically targeting financial exploitation of elderly individuals in New Jersey. It directly affects vulnerable seniors who may be victimized by family members, caregivers, or financial professionals (like trustees or agents) who misuse their trust. The law defines key terms such as "deprive" and "fiduciary" to clarify what constitutes exploitation, including unauthorized use of an elderly person's assets or property. This amendment adds a specific criminal penalty for such acts to New Jersey’s existing statutes, strengthening legal protections for seniors against financial abuse.
Maddy summarySJR 94 is a commemorative resolution designating October 27th each year as "Tree of Life Remembrance Day" in New Jersey. It honors the victims of the October 27, 2018, mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where 11 people were killed and six injured. The resolution requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the day with appropriate remembrance activities. This is a purely symbolic measure with no new legal requirements or funding, focusing solely on annual commemoration.
Maddy summarySJR 12 designates October of each year as "Hindu Heritage Month" in New Jersey through a ceremonial resolution. It requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the month with activities honoring Hindu cultural contributions. The resolution recognizes New Jersey's large Hindu community and their influences on the state's culture, economy, and society. This is a symbolic designation with no new laws, funding, or regulatory changes.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Patient and Provider Protection Act," regulates pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) in New Jersey. It requires PBMs to act in the long-term health interests of patients (a fiduciary duty), prohibits misleading marketing to steer patients to network pharmacies, and bans contracts with drug manufacturers that exclude generic drugs to secure rebates. PBMs must reimburse contracted pharmacies at cost or higher, and independent pharmacies at rates no more than 5% lower (but never below cost), while prohibiting restrictions on independent pharmacies offering drugs at the same price as network pharmacies. Additionally, it mandates that formulary decisions prioritize lower-cost generic or biosimilar drugs over more expensive brand-name options. The bill directly affects PBMs, pharmacies, and patients covered by health plans using PBM services.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a voluntary contribution option on New Jersey's state income tax returns to fund reproductive health care services. Taxpayers can choose to add a contribution to their refund or send an extra payment to a new "Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" in the Treasury. The fund would receive these voluntary contributions, and the state would annually distribute all collected money equally to the three largest Medicaid reproductive health care providers in the state. These funds must be used to provide reproductive health services - including pregnancy care and pregnancy termination - to individuals who cannot afford them.
Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey health insurers to continue providing dependent health coverage for adult children with disabilities who are 26 or older, if they are unable to work due to intellectual or physical disability and remain chiefly dependent on their parent for support. It amends existing law to extend coverage beyond the standard age limit for this specific group, applying to various health insurance plans including hospital service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and group health plans. The bill specifies that coverage must continue unless the child is enrolled in a comparable health benefits plan or the court order requiring coverage has ended. This change directly affects adult children with disabilities who would otherwise lose health coverage at age 26.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care providers and insurance companies to obtain explicit written consent from patients before sharing their medical information related to reproductive health care services (such as pregnancy, contraception, or abortion care), unless disclosure is necessary for treatment or falls under specific exceptions. The written consent must be a standalone form that clearly explains how the information might be used and to whom it could be disclosed, allowing patients to refuse specific disclosures. Exceptions include medical emergencies, court orders, child abuse investigations, and disclosures required by law. The bill does not override existing federal HIPAA privacy protections. Violations could result in $1,000 in damages per violation plus legal fees for the provider or insurer.
Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades burglary of a residence (such as a home or dwelling) from a third-degree to a second-degree crime in New Jersey, increasing potential penalties to 5-10 years in prison. If the burglary occurs while the perpetrator is armed with a weapon or explosives, or is connected to another serious crime, it becomes a first-degree crime with a potential 10-20 year sentence. The bill also requires that offenders convicted of these upgraded residential burglaries serve at least 85% of their sentence without parole, as mandated by New Jersey's No Early Release Act. This change directly affects individuals convicted of residential burglary, making penalties more severe for crimes targeting homes.
Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $750,000 in supplemental funding for New Jersey's FY2024 budget to add eight attorneys dedicated to juvenile cases. The funds will directly support the Office of the Public Defender's Trial Services to Indigents program, specifically targeting juvenile post-disposition work and caseload reduction in high-volume counties like Essex and Atlantic. The funding supplements existing appropriations to address rising juvenile custody rates (up 22% from 2022 to 2024) and increased caseloads following expanded juvenile defense mandates. The bill creates no new legal requirements but provides targeted staffing resources for juvenile defense.