Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's current Medicaid policy of providing coverage for eligible pregnant women for a 365-day period (one year) beginning on the last day of pregnancy, rather than the previous 60-day postpartum period. It applies to pregnant individuals whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under New Jersey's Medicaid plan. The bill formalizes a policy that has been implemented through budget language and the NJ FamilyCare 1115 Demonstration since fiscal year 2022. This aligns with a federal option established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was made permanent by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, allowing states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2423, now P.L.2025, c.35) formally renames New Jersey's "Juvenile Justice Commission" to "Youth Justice Commission" throughout state law. It updates all statutory references, definitions, and provisions (such as in Sections 1, 3, and 1 of related laws) to replace "Juvenile" with "Youth" while preserving all existing legal procedures and policies unchanged. The bill has no policy impact - it solely adjusts terminology to reflect the commission's focus on youth services rather than juvenile justice. The name change is now law, effective March 17, 2025.
Maddy summaryAJR 159 designates November 14 of each year as "Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging schools and communities to observe the day with educational activities. It commemorates Ruby Bridges' 1960 integration of William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, highlighting her courage during school desegregation. The bill has no binding requirements beyond the annual proclamation request.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1445 requires public colleges and universities to readmit undergraduate students who withdrew due to military service (including active duty, National Guard, or Reserve service). Schools must reinstate students with their exact academic standing from before their service interruption. Students must submit a written request for the next available semester, and institutions cannot charge application or processing fees for these requests. The law applies starting the first full academic year after its effective date.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires state-funded transportation projects (like roads or bridges) to use geotechnical engineers to determine necessary soil, groundwater, and structural monitoring. It mandates groundwater testing before construction begins and ongoing monitoring if site conditions require it (capped at three years), plus deformation monitoring during and after construction if needed. The Department of Transportation must follow all internal standards for subsurface data and cannot waive these requirements without approval. This directly affects state agencies and contractors managing transportation projects funded by New Jersey resources, including the Transportation Trust Fund.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 5116 revises primary election ballot design to address legal concerns about the previous "bracketing" system. The bill requires all primary ballots to arrange candidates by office in standardized "office blocks" (e.g., all Assembly candidates grouped together), with consistent formatting, left-aligned text, and clear candidate labeling - replacing the prior structure that caused voter confusion and legal challenges. It directly affects voters, election officials, and candidates in New Jersey primary elections by standardizing ballot appearance to improve clarity and reduce misinterpretation. The law also removes State committee members from the primary ballot design process, as mandated by the bill’s legislative findings. This change, enacted as P.L.2025, c.32, aims to align with First Amendment principles while ensuring ballots are user-friendly.
Maddy summaryThis bill would extend New Jersey's early voting period for primary elections to begin 11 days before the election (up from 4 days for non-presidential primaries and 6 days for presidential primaries), ending on the second day before the election. It would require county boards of elections to designate public locations for early voting based on population size, with specific requirements for accessibility and security of ballots. The bill specifies that early voting would occur Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM at designated locations. The bill appropriates $6 million to support these changes, which would affect all registered voters participating in primary elections in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to replace New Jersey's appointed State Comptroller with an elected official and abolish the separate Office of State Auditor. Currently, the State Comptroller (appointed by the Governor with Senate approval) oversees financial audits and performance reviews of state and local entities. Under the amendment, the State Comptroller would be elected by voters for four-year terms (with a two-term limit), head a new Executive Branch department, and assume all current audit and oversight duties previously handled by both the Comptroller and Auditor. The change aims to create an independent fiscal watchdog elected by the public rather than appointed by the Governor.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $10 million grant program to help New Jersey municipalities create free recreational sports and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs for children. Municipalities must apply with detailed plans for specific programs, matching funds, and how they’ll use the grant, with the state selecting recipients across urban, suburban, and rural areas to ensure broad access. The grant covers eligible costs like equipment, staff salaries, and program materials, but municipalities cannot charge children participation fees - only optional premium services like special lighting. Participating municipalities must report annually on program development, participation numbers, and spending, with all data shared publicly and summarized for state officials.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's state-funded colleges and universities to implement specific measures regarding sexual harassment and violence. It mandates annual training for designated staff (including faculty, security, administrators, and health personnel) on how to respond to and report incidents involving students. Institutions must investigate all reported incidents occurring on campus, at school-sponsored events (including study abroad programs), or via electronic communication during school activities. The law clarifies that staff must inform victims about confidentiality limits and report incidents to appropriate authorities, without restricting existing student rights under New Jersey's Campus Sexual Assault Victim's Bill of Rights.