Maddy summaryS 712 requires New Jersey's Department of State to create a public "Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to help residents traveling while pregnant make informed decisions. The advisory will categorize all U.S. states using a color-coded system: "Blue" (full access without legal risk), "Yellow" (restricted access with potential legal consequences), and "Red" (extreme restrictions risking denial of emergency care). It will detail each state's laws on abortion bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage, and legal protections for patients and providers. The advisory must be posted on the state website and updated whenever another state changes its reproductive healthcare laws. This directly affects New Jersey residents who may need to travel during pregnancy for medical emergencies.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to explicitly include Sikhs as a protected class, allowing law enforcement to prosecute hate crimes targeting individuals based on their Sikh identity. The legislation also appropriates $100,000 in funding, likely to support enforcement and community outreach efforts. By adding Sikhs to the state's existing bias intimidation protections, the bill aims to address incidents of discrimination and violence against Sikhs, who are often mistaken for Muslims and have faced increased hate crimes following the September 11 attacks. The measure reflects concerns about rising anti-Sikh prejudice and the need for legal safeguards for this community within New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill changes how out-of-state colleges and universities must apply to operate in New Jersey by requiring them to submit detailed petitions to the Secretary of Higher Education for licensure. The application process demands extensive documentation, including proof of accreditation, financial records, faculty qualifications, and an analysis showing how the proposed program meets state needs without displacing local institutions. Once a petition is filed, the Secretary must share it with all New Jersey colleges and allow a 30-day public comment period before making a final licensing decision. The law aims to ensure transparency and protect existing in-state educational programs while allowing qualified out-of-state institutions to offer degrees and courses within the state.
Maddy summaryS 680 requires new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities in New Jersey to use electricity exclusively from new renewable energy sources or newly constructed nuclear power. Applicants must submit an energy usage plan to the Board of Public Utilities detailing how they will minimize energy use for cooling, optimize water sourcing, and improve building efficiency. The bill aims to prevent these facilities from increasing strain on the state's power grid and raising electricity costs for ratepayers. All electricity must be derived from new clean sources as measured hourly, with no net decrease in verifiable clean energy on the grid.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Architectural Paint Stewardship Act," requires paint producers (manufacturers selling interior or exterior paint in 5-gallon containers or smaller) to create or join a statewide program for managing leftover paint after consumer use. The program must establish convenient collection sites (ensuring 90% of residents have access within 15 miles), prioritize reuse and recycling over disposal, and cover costs for collection, transportation, and processing. It shifts responsibility for paint waste management from local governments and taxpayers to paint producers, aiming to reduce disposal costs and environmental impact. The law applies specifically to architectural paint, excluding industrial or specialty coatings.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all licensed general and special hospitals in New Jersey to create and implement evidence-based protocols for early sepsis recognition and treatment. The protocols must cover screening, treatment guidelines (with separate adult and pediatric components), infection source identification, antibiotic timing, and exclusion criteria for inappropriate cases. Hospitals must submit protocols to the Department of Health within 120 days of enactment, train staff regularly, and annually report data to track adherence and mortality rates for quality improvement. The law focuses on standardizing care for a life-threatening condition that can cause organ damage or death if untreated.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Liberty State Park Advisory Committee to review proposed changes to Liberty State Park and prohibits the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) from commercializing or transferring property rights in two specific protected areas: a 215-acre interior natural/recreation zone and a 21.5-acre Caven Point Peninsula wildlife habitat. It directly affects the DEP, future concessionaires, and the public by ensuring no privatization or development occurs in these designated zones without committee review. The law requires the DEP to consult the committee before approving any concessions or property transfers within the park, reinforcing the park’s status as a free public space. The bill aims to protect the park’s 1,200-acre natural and cultural resource, visited by over six million people annually.
Maddy summaryS 1796 requires New Jersey health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screening without cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays) for men aged 40-75 with specific risk factors, including family history of prostate cancer. The bill mandates that group health insurance policies (for groups over 49 people) cover annual screenings - such as digital rectal exams and PSA tests - as well as follow-up tests like imaging or lab work. This applies to all health service, hospital service, and medical service corporation contracts in New Jersey. The law affects insurance carriers by expanding existing coverage requirements and directly benefits men in the specified age group with risk factors.
Maddy summaryS 3692 prohibits prediction markets in New Jersey that allow betting on death, elections, or disasters (like "death markets" or "political markets"), while authorizing sports and horse racing prediction markets that follow existing sports wagering rules. It requires all prediction market platforms to publicly list and display their settlement sources (the information used to determine outcomes) for participants. The bill also establishes a public awareness campaign to inform residents about the risks of these markets. These changes apply directly to prediction market operators and participants within New Jersey.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 687 creates a 17-member task force to study how climate change impacts property insurance availability and affordability. The task force, including state agency leaders, legislators, insurance industry representatives, and environmental advocates, will examine issues like whether federal programs or industry practices subsidize risky development, where insurance costs don't match actual flood/fire risks, and which communities may become uninsurable within 50 years. It will specifically analyze how rising insurance costs affect coastal areas (noting a 69.54% jump in policy drops from 2018-2022), affordable housing, and low-income communities. The task force must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its formation.