Sen. John Burzichelli

Maddy summaryThis bill, "Max's Law," requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction about fentanyl and xylazine dangers in health classes for students in grades 6 through 12. The curriculum must cover prevention, symptoms of poisoning, emergency response, and relevant laws protecting those seeking help. School districts must use resources from federal agencies like the CDC and NIH, and the state education department will provide materials and post online resources for staff, students, and parents. The law takes effect immediately, applying to the first full school year after enactment, with annual reports evaluating its impact on youth drug use and poisoning.

Maddy summaryS 4864 allows municipalities, counties, school districts, and fire districts to use project labor agreements for public works projects costing less than $5 million, which is currently the minimum threshold for such agreements under New Jersey law. This bill removes the $5 million cost barrier specifically for these local units, enabling them to voluntarily negotiate project labor agreements on smaller projects without requiring the project to meet the existing threshold. The change does not affect the $5 million requirement for state-level projects or other public entities. Local governments will now have the option to use project labor agreements on projects under $5 million to promote labor stability, cost efficiency, and project completion goals.

Maddy summaryS 4845 extends New Jersey's Municipal Stabilization and Recovery Act (P.L.2016, c.4) for five years, affecting financially struggling municipalities designated under the law. It updates key deadlines, changing the recovery plan timeframe from nine to fourteen years and extending oversight until the 169th month (from 109th) after a municipality is deemed in need of stabilization. The bill maintains the existing framework where municipalities must submit recovery plans to the state commissioner for approval, with continued oversight if plans fail to achieve financial stability. This extension preserves the current process for managing municipal fiscal distress without creating new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A5785) requires all health insurance plans to cover specific preventive services without cost sharing or waiting periods, with coverage required at least once per calendar year (January 1 to December 31). It affects all health insurance plans in New Jersey, including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and individual and group health insurance plans. The bill covers evidence-based services rated "A" or "B" by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, CDC-recommended immunizations, and preventive care for children and women as outlined in federal guidelines. Insurers must cover these services through out-of-network providers if they don't have in-network providers available for the service. This ensures people with health insurance in New Jersey can access recommended preventive care annually without financial barriers.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 4913) requires health insurance plans sold in the state to cover specific preventive services without copays or deductibles. It affects all hospital and medical service corporation contracts issued in New Jersey, mandating coverage for evidence-based services rated "A" or "B" by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, CDC-recommended immunizations, pediatric care guidelines, and women's preventive screenings. The key provision ensures coverage for these services occurs on a calendar year basis (January 1-December 31), not tied to an insurance plan’s annual cycle. This means patients must receive annual coverage for these services without waiting periods or cost-sharing, regardless of when their insurance plan year begins.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Menopause Coverage Act requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover medically necessary treatments for perimenopause and menopause to the same extent as coverage for other medical conditions. Covered treatments include hormonal therapies, non-hormonal medications, behavioral health services, pelvic floor physical therapy, bone health screenings and treatments, preventative services for related conditions like cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis, and counseling. The law applies to all health insurance carriers in the state, including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health service corporations, and health maintenance organizations. Insurers must also provide clear information about covered treatments to policyholders. The law takes effect 90 days after enactment and applies to policies delivered, issued, executed, or renewed on or after that date.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1067) requires the state's Department of Human Services to conduct a landscape analysis of mental health services accessible to deaf and hard of hearing residents. It mandates that mental health services be provided in a client's primary communication method (like sign language or speech), delivered by professionals certified in that method and trained in culturally appropriate care for the deaf community. The bill also requires the creation of a resource guide listing providers meeting these standards and defines key terms like "culturally affirmative mental health services." It directly affects deaf and hard of hearing individuals seeking mental health care across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3041 prohibits cooperatives from receiving public works contracts if any member contractor or subcontractor within the cooperative has failed to pay prevailing wages. The bill extends a three-year ban (currently applied to individual contractors) to cover entire cooperatives, meaning a cooperative cannot win contracts if one of its members violates wage laws. It defines a "cooperative" as a business with collective ownership and long-term member control, and includes a process for affected cooperatives to request a hearing if they believe the ban is wrongly applied. The prohibition applies to all cooperative entities with a member on the prevailing wage violation list, lasting three years from the date of listing.

Maddy summaryS 4796 amends the lists of environmental infrastructure projects approved for long-term funding under New Jersey's FY2026 environmental infrastructure funding program. The bill specifies 151 clean water projects and 51 drinking water projects across numerous municipalities that will receive funding for construction and infrastructure improvements. It details specific funding amounts for each project, with total clean water project funding at approximately $1.28 billion and total drinking water project funding at approximately $1.16 billion. This bill authorizes funding for specific, pre-approved projects rather than creating new programs or policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows business partnerships and joint ventures to bid on New Jersey public construction projects requiring prevailing wages, provided each member business is separately registered with the state. Currently, only individual contractors can bid on such contracts, but this change permits registered partnerships to compete as a single entity. The key requirement is that every business in the partnership or joint venture must maintain its own valid registration under existing law. This affects contractors seeking public works contracts who operate as partnerships rather than sole entities.