Sen. Britnee Timberlake

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4950, the "New Jersey Sovereignty Act," restricts the deployment of the state's National Guard for active combat unless Congress has officially declared war or taken specific constitutional actions under Article I, Section 8. It also requires state law enforcement and government employees to report all federal requests for assistance to assess whether they comply with state sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment. The bill aims to prevent federal overreach by limiting National Guard deployment without explicit congressional authorization and mandating transparency for federal coordination requests. These provisions directly affect New Jersey's National Guard, state law enforcement agencies, and local government officials.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey Medicaid and the Plan First program to cover fertility preservation services when medically necessary treatments (such as surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy) could cause iatrogenic infertility. It defines "iatrogenic infertility" as fertility impairment from medical treatments affecting reproductive organs, and specifies coverage for standard procedures like sperm, egg, embryo, and ovarian tissue storage. The bill prohibits denying coverage based on age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. It would provide low-income individuals with access to fertility preservation services that are often cost-prohibitive. The bill applies to Medicaid beneficiaries and Plan First participants facing potential iatrogenic infertility from medically necessary treatments.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two new state entities: the Health Care Cost Containment and Price Transparency Commission (an 18-member body) and the Office of Healthcare Affordability and Transparency (within the Department of Health). It requires all New Jersey hospitals to publicly report detailed pricing data for services like inpatient care and emergency visits, and sets annual cost growth targets for healthcare entities. Hospitals failing to comply with transparency rules face civil penalties of $10 per day per bed, and are prohibited from collecting medical debt from patients until they comply. The bill appropriates up to $5 million to fund these new offices and their operations, aiming to increase price transparency and reduce healthcare cost growth.

Maddy summaryS 4939 (Sponsored by Senators Timberlake & Mukherji) prevents evictions and foreclosures for specific tenants during federal government shutdowns. It defines "eligible residents" as federal employees furloughed or recipients of SNAP food assistance. The Governor may issue an executive order halting enforcement of eviction/foreclosure actions (like removals or warrants) for up to one month after a shutdown ends, but proceedings can still move forward. Exceptions allow enforcement if a court deems it "necessary in the interest of justice" or if an eviction isn't about unpaid rent. This bill directly affects New Jersey tenants who lose income due to federal shutdowns.

Maddy summaryS 4342 expands eligibility for compensation from New Jersey's Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to include victims of motor vehicle crashes resulting in death or requiring ambulance removal from the scene. It establishes a "Traffic Crash Victim's Bill of Rights," granting victims the right to access police reports and crash evidence (including photos and recordings), receive notifications about court proceedings, take reasonable time off work for related hearings, and be free from intimidation by the other driver. Victims will also be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, counseling, and other costs under the existing Criminal Injuries Compensation Act. The bill requires law enforcement and the VCCO to provide victims with clear information about their rights and the compensation process.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to create a program waiving E-ZPass toll fees for motor vehicles used by certified disabled veteran owned businesses. To qualify, businesses must be independently owned and controlled by disabled veterans (with at least a 10% VA disability rating), have at least $2,500 in revenue, operate in New Jersey, and be certified by the state. Vehicles must be registered in New Jersey, owned or leased by a disabled veteran, and have an active NJ E-ZPass account. The program directly affects disabled veteran business owners who meet these specific criteria.

Maddy summaryS 4488 requires school boards to replace informal appearances with formal hearings for nontenured staff (such as teachers or administrators) whose contracts are not renewed by the chief school administrator. The staff member must submit written materials and a witness list to the board attorney at least three days before the hearing, and the board attorney must attend all hearings. The school board must issue a written decision detailing the facts, their reasoning, and how they addressed the staff member's arguments. This change creates a more structured process to ensure transparency and due process for affected school staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $30 million from New Jersey's General Fund to the Department of Agriculture for Food and Hunger Programs in Fiscal Year 2026. The funds will be distributed to the state's six regional food banks, which collect surplus food and distribute it to food pantries and nonprofit organizations serving the needy. Directly, this supports low-income families, senior citizens, disabled individuals, and children across New Jersey through expanded food assistance. The appropriation supplements existing funding to maintain critical food distribution services, particularly following disruptions to federal SNAP benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to provide written notice at least 60 days before discontinuing any ongoing state financial aid (like grants or subsidies) or state services (such as programs or benefits) to individuals, organizations, or local governments receiving them. For services affecting public health, safety, or welfare (like healthcare or emergency services), agencies must provide 90 days' notice. The notice must clearly state the discontinued aid/service, effective date, reasons, available alternatives, and contact information for appeals. Agencies must also notify legislative leaders when discontinuing funded programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $125 million to the New Jersey Affordable Housing Trust Fund to restore funding previously diverted for affordable housing projects. It directly affects municipalities that have certified compliance with fair share housing plans and housing elements, providing them with grants and loans for new housing developments. The funds will support the creation of affordable housing units by enabling local governments to finance qualifying projects under existing state housing laws. The bill restores the exact amount diverted in the 2026 state budget, with no new policy changes beyond funding allocation.