Sen. Nellie Pou

Maddy summaryS 164 requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover medically necessary hearing aids (for each ear) and cochlear implants for insured individuals under age 21. It applies to hospital service, medical service, health service corporation contracts, and individual health insurance policies. Insurers must cover the full cost of cochlear implant procedures and devices, while limiting hearing aid coverage to $1,000 per hearing aid per ear every 24 months - allowing patients to pay the difference for more expensive devices without penalty. This bill directly affects families of children and young adults needing hearing devices, ensuring insurance coverage for essential hearing healthcare under 21.

Maddy summaryS 429 establishes a state certification program for businesses owned and controlled by people with disabilities in New Jersey. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by individuals with disabilities, with management responsibilities held by them (not just ownership documents). The Division of Revenue will process applications online, requiring documentation of ownership, organizational structure, and business registration. Certified businesses gain access to state contracting opportunities through the SAVI database, helping them compete for government contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state government entities (like departments and agencies serving the public) to provide vital documents and translation services in the 15 most common non-English languages spoken by residents with limited English proficiency, based on Census data. It mandates phased implementation: translations for the top 5 languages within one year, next 5 within two years, and remaining 5 within three years of the law's effective date, with immediate translation for applications and forms. State agencies must also create language access plans detailing how they’ll provide interpretation services (in-person, phone, or video), track language needs, train staff, and post multilingual information posters. The bill specifically excludes automatic translation tools and defines "vital documents" as those affecting access to benefits, legal rights, or program eligibility.

Maddy summaryS 1296 requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA), working with Corrections, to create new standards for publicly funded transitional housing programs helping formerly incarcerated people rejoin communities. These standards mandate safety measures, emergency and long-term housing options, counseling services (including substance abuse treatment and job training), personalized care plans for those with long sentences, and assistance securing permanent housing. The bill directly affects former prisoners using state-supported transitional housing and the agencies managing these programs. It sets concrete requirements for housing providers but does not create new funding or programs.

Maddy summaryS 1303 allows New Jersey businesses to deduct charitable donations of food from their business inventory on their state income tax return. It mirrors the federal tax deduction for "apparently wholesome food" (food meeting safety standards but not selling well due to appearance or other factors) and applies regardless of whether the business claims federal itemized deductions. The deduction covers food donated to IRS-qualified charitable organizations. This directly affects businesses like grocers or restaurants that donate surplus food, providing a tax incentive for such contributions. The bill takes effect for tax years starting after its enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires most New Jersey residents to register body armor they already own within 90 days of the law taking effect. It also mandates that anyone purchasing new body armor must obtain a permit from the Attorney General, which is valid for 30 days. Exemptions apply to law enforcement officers, active military personnel, government employees using armor for work, and licensed body armor dealers. Violations - such as possessing unregistered body armor or selling without a permit - carry fines up to $1,000 or third-degree criminal charges. The law does not restrict government entities or exempt groups from these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to remove handwritten signatures from any document they publish on their official websites, starting from the bill's effective date. It also mandates that agencies archive existing documents displaying handwritten signatures published before the bill takes effect and allows them to republish those documents after redacting the signatures. The law ensures public access to archived documents through the Open Public Records Act, preserving transparency while protecting personal information. The bill takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 913 requires nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and other licensed long-term care facilities to report disability-related data about their residents. Facilities must submit initial reports within 60 days of the law taking effect, detailing the total number of residents with disabilities, types of disabilities (determined by health and human services departments), and age ranges for each type. They must also update this data whenever changes occur. The Department of Health will compile and publish these reports quarterly on its website to provide public transparency about disability demographics in these facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires psychiatric facilities and outpatient mental health providers in New Jersey to implement specific suicide prevention protocols. It mandates daily suicide risk assessments and individualized counseling for at-risk patients (those with suicidal ideation or attempts), with providers ensuring 24/7 availability of certified suicide prevention counselors. Key mechanisms include "rapid referrals" for immediate outpatient appointments within 48 hours of discharge, "warm hand-offs" connecting patients directly to new providers, and "supportive contacts" (like texts or calls) when patients miss appointments or disengage from care. The bill directly affects mental health facilities, outpatient providers, and patients experiencing suicidal crises, aiming to improve continuity of care during critical transitions. (Note: The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and is pending committee review.)

Maddy summaryS 710 requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to conduct surveys with tenants who have recently been evicted (if they agree to participate) and report the collected data. The survey collects demographic details, immediate housing needs (like access to shelters or permanent housing), geographic relocation information, and financial circumstances of evicted households. This data must be reported to the agency coordinating New Jersey's HUD-mandated homelessness counts. The bill does not change the Rental Assistance Navigation Program's eviction prevention services but adds a data collection requirement to better understand homelessness outcomes for those who were evicted.