Maddy summaryS 1165 (New Jersey) allows couples to obtain marriage or civil union licenses and have ceremonies conducted via live video technology, replacing the current requirement for in-person appearances. It directly affects couples seeking marriage/civil union licenses, licensing officials, officiants, and witnesses in New Jersey. Key provisions require live video interaction, valid photo ID verification, digital signing of documents (with transmission between parties), and confirmation that all participants are physically located within the state. The bill amends existing statutes (R.S. 37:1-8 and R.S. 37:1-17) to establish these remote procedures while maintaining legal safeguards like oath administration and document security. This changes current law, which mandates physical presence for both license issuance and solemnization.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to expand eligibility for accidental disability benefits. It allows state employees who worked at a psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately before joining PERS to apply for benefits if they sustained a work-related injury after January 2003 - even if the injury occurred before they became a PERS member. The key change deems such injuries as happening during membership, making the employee eligible for the benefit. This adjustment specifically applies to injuries from duties at these facilities, without altering the requirement that injuries must be work-related and reported within five years (with exceptions for delayed symptoms).
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey high school districts serving grades 9-12 to offer at least one computer science course starting in the 2022-2023 school year. The course must cover computing principles, hardware/software design, applications, and societal impacts of technology, and must be high-quality and accessible through various formats (classroom, online, etc.). It directly affects all public high school districts in New Jersey with grades 9-12. The law takes immediate effect upon enactment.
Maddy summaryThis bill revises eligibility rules for New Jersey's Aspire Program, which offers tax credits to incentivize redevelopment projects. It requires developers of commercial projects (100,000+ sq ft of office/retail/industrial space) to prove that sustainability and resiliency upgrades (like flood mitigation or green building features) won't reduce the project's overall financial benefit - a "net neutral benefits test." This affects developers seeking Aspire Program tax credits for large-scale redevelopments, particularly in designated "enhanced areas" or distressed municipalities. The bill aims to balance environmental goals with project financial viability under the existing incentive framework.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1180 requires the Department of Education (DOE) to create a standardized checklist for school districts to help students with disabilities plan transitions from high school to post-secondary life. The checklist covers areas like education, employment, healthcare, legal matters, and social services, and must be reviewed twice yearly by a student’s IEP team starting at age 16. The DOE must also maintain a website with current, accessible information about community resources and support services for these students. This bill directly affects students with individualized education plans (IEPs), their families, and school districts across New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurers, third-party administrators, and state health benefit programs (like the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees' Health Benefits Program) from requiring prior approval or precertification for covered prenatal ultrasounds. It directly affects patients seeking these screenings and the health plans that cover them. The key provision states that if a prenatal ultrasound is prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider and covered under a health benefits plan, the insurer cannot delay or deny payment based on pre-approval requirements. The law takes effect immediately for all health plans issued or purchased on or after that date.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1171) expands New Jersey Medicaid coverage to include hearing aids and other assistive devices for individuals with hearing impairments. It specifically amends existing Medicaid rules to explicitly cover these devices under the "prosthetic devices" category (currently listed in Section 6b(6)). The change directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who require hearing aids or similar assistive devices for daily functioning, without altering eligibility requirements. The policy change clarifies that such devices qualify for coverage as part of approved medical services under state Medicaid law.
Maddy summaryS 1179, the "New Jersey Public Water Supply Fluoridation Act," requires all public community water systems serving at least 25 year-round residents to add fluoride to drinking water. It directs the Environmental Protection and Health Commissioners to create rules for fluoride control, testing, and recordkeeping within 12 months of the bill's effective date. The law exempts systems where natural fluoride levels already meet the required standards. This applies to municipal water systems and water purveyors (including small companies serving under 1,000 connections), but not private wells or non-community systems. The bill mandates compliance without requiring fluoridation where natural fluoride levels are sufficient.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1167) grants the title "Acting Associate Justice of the Supreme Court" to Superior Court judges in the Appellate Division who are temporarily assigned to the Supreme Court by the Chief Justice. To qualify, a judge must serve continuously for at least 180 days, with brief absences (30 days or less) not breaking the continuity. The title applies to their current service and all historical records of that service. The bill takes effect immediately and applies retroactively to January 1, 2010, covering past assignments meeting the criteria.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires that any ultrasound performed on a pregnant woman at a "limited service pregnancy center" must be done by a licensed health care professional qualified to perform ultrasounds. It directly affects pregnancy counseling organizations (like crisis pregnancy centers) that provide free or paid counseling but do not perform abortions, make abortion referrals, or hold medical licenses. The law defines "limited service pregnancy center" to exclude hospitals, abortion clinics, or family planning centers that provide medical services, and specifies that the health care professional must be licensed under New Jersey’s Title 45 or Title 52. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.