Maddy summaryS 1575 establishes a three-year pilot program called the MOM Project within New Jersey's Department of Health, targeting low-income pregnant women and new mothers who are not enrolled in Medicaid and live in medically underserved areas. The program requires maternal health consortia to provide at least three hours of culturally tailored oral health education (covering hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention) followed by assessments, then partners with community dental centers to deliver one year of dental care including cleanings, cavity assessments, and necessary treatments. It appropriates $4,150,000 for implementation and data collection to evaluate impacts on maternal and child oral health outcomes. The initiative directly affects eligible mothers in underserved communities by addressing barriers like lack of insurance and language access.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryS 1983 would eliminate the requirement for advanced practice nurses (APNs) in New Jersey to practice under physician collaboration or supervision, allowing them to provide care independently. This directly affects APNs - over 75% of whom specialize in primary care - and aims to improve healthcare access in underserved communities, including areas with physician shortages and among racial/ethnic minorities, low-income populations, and those facing transportation barriers. The bill cites that 24 states and the District of Columbia already permit full practice authority for APNs, and during pandemic waivers (Executive Order 112), no adverse incidents occurred while APNs practiced without restrictions. It states removing these barriers could reduce healthcare access disparities by over 38 percent, aligning New Jersey with other states to address chronic shortages in primary care services.
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's school bus safety laws to authorize using school bus monitoring systems for enforcement. It changes penalties for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses: violations captured by these systems will result in only a $250 civil penalty (instead of potential fines or jail time), with funds directed to municipalities and school districts for safety programs. The law applies to buses transporting children or individuals with developmental disabilities when stopped to load/unload. It does not create new monitoring systems but specifies how existing systems can be used to enforce stop laws through civil penalties.