Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded program to help new nurses transition into practice through support for healthcare facilities. It requires the New Jersey Collaborating Center for Nursing (NJCCN) to create a 12-month transition program for licensed practical nurses and registered nurses at facilities like hospitals, nursing homes, and home care providers, with mandatory mentorship and data collection on program completers. Facilities must apply for NJCCN approval to receive financial, material, and technical support, with $2 million annually allocated for this purpose - prioritizing veterans' homes, long-term care, and home care providers. The bill also updates the NJCCN's governance structure to include more nurse representatives on its 17-member board.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-year pilot program to provide pet food assistance for cat and dog owners facing financial hardship. The New Jersey Department of Health (DOH) must partner with selected non-profits and volunteer groups to operate food banks for pets, using a $1 million state appropriation. The program includes liability protections for good-faith donors and distributors of pet food, and requires the DOH to submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within one year with recommendations on making the program permanent or ending it. The initiative directly affects pet owners in financial need and the non-profits managing the food distribution.
Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Senior Citizen Tenant Protection Act," would allow New Jersey residents aged 55 or older who have lived in the same rental unit (not public housing) for at least 10 years and earn $80,000 or less annually to apply for "protected senior citizen tenant" status. Approved tenants would limit rent increases to 75% of the annual Consumer Price Index change in their region, adjusted each year. Landlords violating this limit could face penalties of $500 or three times the excess rent, plus legal fees. Landlords may request hardship waivers if the limit causes financial strain, but waivers do not override local rent control laws.
Maddy summaryS 3047 requires hospitals, birthing centers, and healthcare providers in New Jersey to screen pregnant people and those who have given birth within six weeks for preeclampsia (a serious pregnancy-related high blood pressure condition) when symptoms are present. It mandates using evidence-based screening tools, providing patient education about warning signs, and offering a standardized written refusal process for screening. Providers must discuss results and develop treatment plans if preeclampsia is suspected, while encouraging home blood pressure monitoring. This bill directly affects individuals experiencing pregnancy-related symptoms and aims to improve early detection through standardized healthcare protocols.
Maddy summaryThis constitutional amendment (SCR 11) would prohibit the construction or reconstruction of new fossil fuel power plants in New Jersey that burn coal, natural gas, oil, or petroleum products for electricity generation. It directly affects developers, utilities, and state agencies planning new power infrastructure. The ban includes key exceptions: it does not apply to repairs/maintenance of existing plants or to limited "peaking power plants" (used only during peak demand with strict capacity limits) that support grid stability. This is a proposed constitutional change requiring voter approval, not an enacted law.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey, including Medicaid, to cover treatment for stuttering without cost-sharing. It mandates coverage for both habilitative speech therapy (to help maintain or improve speech skills) and rehabilitative speech therapy (to restore speech skills that have been lost), whether provided in-person or through telehealth. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any deductibles, copayments, or annual limits. This applies to all health insurance policies delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in New Jersey on or after the effective date.
Maddy summaryS 3438 requires New Jersey's Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs to cover motorized wheelchairs for nursing facility residents under specific conditions. It applies to Medicaid enrollees in nursing homes who receive a prescription from their doctor and prior approval from their managed care organization. The bill grants residents a temporary right to keep the wheelchair as long as they need it, after which they must return it to the state. Nursing facilities must notify the managed care organization in writing when equipment is no longer needed. This bill directly affects nursing home residents enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare who require motorized wheelchairs.
Maddy summaryS 4089 allows New Jersey veterans to qualify for the property tax deduction on a new home even if they purchased it after October 1 but before December 31 of the pretax year, provided they were previously eligible for the deduction on another property before that October 1. The bill amends existing law (P.L.1963, c.171) to remove the requirement that veterans must own property by October 1 to claim the deduction for the following tax year. This specifically helps veterans who move into a new home after October 1 but before year-end, preventing them from losing eligibility due to timing. The change applies only to veterans who were already qualified for the deduction on a prior property.
Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades the offense of purchasing sexual activity (often called "prostitution as a patron" or "being a john") from a disorderly persons offense to a crime of the fourth degree, with higher penalties for repeat offenses. It directs all fines and a $500 fee collected from convicted patrons to the "Human Trafficking Survivor's Assistance Fund," which provides services to trafficking victims and supports educational programs. The bill also requires convicted patrons to participate in an educational program about human trafficking and the consequences of purchasing sexual activity. This affects individuals who purchase sexual services by increasing penalties for this conduct while directing funds to support victims of human trafficking.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator within the Department of Human Services. The coordinator will develop a master plan to improve dementia care, coordinate existing state programs (like the Alzheimer's Advisory Commission), prevent service duplication, identify gaps in care, and increase access to quality dementia treatment. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to fund this position and its activities. It directly affects people with Alzheimer's and dementia, their families, and state agencies providing related services by mandating better coordination and communication across the system.