Sen. Bob Singer

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey from providing state aid to public colleges and universities that: (1) support antisemitic events or organizations, (2) fail to enforce anti-harassment policies, or (3) do not adequately punish antisemitic acts (including expulsion or criminal referrals). It defines "antisemitism" using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's 2016 standard. The law directly affects all New Jersey public institutions of higher education receiving state funding, requiring them to address antisemitism or risk losing financial support. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summarySCR 27 proposes a constitutional amendment to guarantee all New Jersey residents a fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, including clean air, pure water, safe climate, and healthy habitats. It designates the State as the trustee of all natural resources (waters, air, lands, wildlife, and climate) for both current and future generations, requiring the state to conserve and maintain these resources for public benefit. The amendment would be self-executing, meaning courts could enforce it directly without new laws, and it explicitly states these rights are in addition to existing environmental protections. This change would apply to all New Jersey residents and require the state government to uphold these environmental rights through its actions and policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2454) increases penalties for businesses, public facilities, NJ Transit, and ride-sharing companies that deny access to service dogs and their handlers. Currently, first-time violators face civil fines ($250), but this bill makes the first violation a criminal "petty disorderly persons offense" (up to 30 days jail or $500 fine), with repeat offenses becoming more severe (up to 1 year jail for second+ violations). Penalties collected fund law enforcement training on service dog access rights. The bill applies to violations of existing laws covering public accommodations (P.L.1971, c.130), NJ Transit (P.L.2016, c.25), and transportation network companies (P.L.2017, c.26).

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts drug manufacturers and distributors from needing a pharmacist license when distributing FDA-approved dialysis drugs and devices for home use by patients with end-stage renal disease. It requires these products to be delivered only with a physician's order, in original sealed packaging, directly to patients, their designees, or healthcare providers. Manufacturers must contract with a licensed pharmacist for weekly quality assurance checks on storage and distribution. The exemption applies solely to dialysis-specific products under strict conditions, not to general pharmaceutical distribution.

Maddy summaryS 786 requires all New Jersey public school districts to include water safety instruction in K-12 health education starting with the 2023-2024 school year. The curriculum must cover flotation device use, recognizing water hazards, responding to rip currents, and swimming near lifeguard-monitored areas. This applies to every district implementing the state's Comprehensive Health and Physical Education standards. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public meetings of New Jersey's State Board of Education to be accessible both in person and virtually. It mandates that the Board provide a publicly available virtual meeting link on its website and allows members of the public to submit comments remotely during sessions that accept public input. The law directly affects the State Board of Education in how it conducts meetings and the public who attend or comment on education policy discussions. These changes ensure broader public participation by removing physical attendance barriers for meetings about education policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1386) allows multiple independent health care providers in New Jersey to jointly negotiate with insurance carriers (health/dental plans) about non-fee-related policies affecting patient care. It directly affects licensed health care providers (like doctors and dentists) who practice in the same service area as a carrier, enabling them to form groups to discuss clinical policies rather than just payment rates. Key provisions cover topics such as medical necessity rules, referral standards, drug formularies, and utilization management (how insurers review care decisions). The goal is to give providers more negotiating power to improve care quality and access, countering carriers' current ability to unilaterally set terms. The bill aims to restore market balance while qualifying these joint negotiations for legal protection under antitrust laws.

Maddy summaryS 2990 requires New Jersey long-term care facilities to establish specific pharmacy staffing and oversight structures. Each facility must have a consultant pharmacist (who cannot also serve as the pharmacy director or provider and must attest to avoiding conflicts of interest) and either a provider pharmacist or a pharmacy director if the facility has an in-house pharmacy. Facilities must also form a pharmacy committee including the administrator, nursing staff, and consultant pharmacist, which meets at least quarterly and maintains detailed records. Additionally, facilities storing controlled substances must maintain current federal and state drug registration records. The bill codifies existing rules while adding new conflict-of-interest safeguards for pharmacy oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance and certain professional licensing boards to retain fees they collect instead of sending them to the state treasury. It specifically allows these entities to keep all license, renewal, and assessment fees for their own operational costs - such as examinations, enforcement, and staff expenses - rather than transferring them to the state fund. The law amends existing statutes to clarify that boards may retain all remaining funds in their treasuries as of June 30 each year for these purposes. This directly affects regulated professionals (e.g., insurance agents, real estate licensees) whose fees support the boards overseeing their licensing. The policy change shifts financial responsibility from the state to the regulatory bodies themselves.

Maddy summaryS 812 requires New Jersey public colleges to award academic credit to undergraduate students who volunteer as emergency responders. To qualify, students must have served within five years of enrollment (or concurrently), provided proof of hours, volunteered with approved organizations (like fire companies or emergency management), and held required certifications. Credit is calculated based on volunteer hours and applied toward relevant coursework. The state’s Higher Education Secretary must develop credit guidelines for institutions, though the bill does not affect admission standards. This takes effect immediately for the first full academic year after enactment.