Maddy summaryS 776 requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to offer healthcare providers (like doctors, dentists, and hospitals) multiple payment options - such as electronic transfers, checks, or credit cards - for reimbursement, rather than mandating just one method. It prohibits carriers from restricting out-of-network providers to a single payment method and mandates that carriers disclose any fees for specific payment methods before the first payment or when changing methods. The bill also requires carriers to implement provider-requested payment method changes within 30 business days and bans using a provider’s preferred payment method as a factor in credentialing decisions. Violations could result in civil penalties and reimbursement for providers’ documented fees.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill would allow courts in New Jersey to award attorney fees to the winning party in lawsuits where a municipality fails to provide services (or pay for them) to qualified private communities under existing law. It also permits courts to impose civil penalties of $2,500-$10,000 per violation against municipalities that breach these service requirements. The bill requires detailed fee applications with itemized costs and clarifies that settlements do not qualify a party as "prevailing" for fee purposes. Its goal is to encourage early resolution of disputes and reduce costly litigation between municipalities and qualified private communities.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 753 requires all basic life support ambulances and volunteer first aid/rescue ambulance squads to carry epinephrine auto-injector devices. The law mandates that each vehicle must have a supply of these devices and be staffed by at least one emergency medical technician certified to administer epinephrine. This directly affects ambulance services providing basic life support across the state, including volunteer squads. The bill defines "basic life support" as standard pre-hospital care involving stabilization, CPR, and wound care, but does not override existing staffing regulations. It takes effect 180 days after enactment.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 777 establishes a permanent New Jersey Commission on Health Equity within the Department of Health. The commission, composed of 27 members including state agency heads and legislative appointees, will develop strategies to address health disparities caused by institutional racism. It directly affects communities of color, working-class residents, and people with disabilities who experience worse health outcomes due to systemic inequities. The bill defines a "health equity framework" to guide collaborative efforts across state agencies, aiming to reduce disparities in areas like maternal health, chronic disease, and access to care. The commission will operate under the state's Department of Health, building on findings that racism is a public health crisis.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 775) changes how New Jersey law enforcement uses conducted energy devices (like tasers). It requires the Attorney General to revise use-of-force policies, reclassifying these devices from "enhanced mechanical force" to "mechanical force" - lowering the justification threshold for their use. The bill also establishes mandatory annual training for officers, including six hours of instruction, a 90% written exam, live cartridge deployment practice, and policy review. These changes directly affect all county and municipal law enforcement officers authorized to use such devices during official duties.
Maddy summaryS 1584 reforms New Jersey Transit (NJT) governance to increase transparency and accountability. It establishes an Office of Customer Advocate to represent riders, requires NJT's 13-member board to include specific public member qualifications (e.g., transit riders or transportation experts), and mandates detailed reporting on capital projects. The bill also ensures board independence from the Department of Transportation and adds non-voting labor representatives to the board. These changes directly affect NJT's operations, board composition, and how it engages with riders and employees.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's toll authorities (NJTA and SJTA) to let E-ZPass customers choose their automatic top-up amount when setting up or renewing accounts. Customers would be able to select from predefined options or set their own amount, and change it anytime. The authorities must publish this option on their websites. It directly affects E-ZPass users by giving them more control over their account funding without changing their current account setup.
Maddy summaryS 763 amends New Jersey law to make it aggravated sexual assault (a first-degree crime) for a ride-hailing or taxi driver to commit sexual penetration with a passenger using coercion or without the passenger's clear, voluntary consent. For unwanted sexual touching (sexual contact) under the same circumstances, it becomes aggravated criminal sexual contact (a third-degree crime). The law specifically targets transportation drivers, recognizing the power imbalance between a driver and passenger during rides. This change increases penalties compared to standard sexual assault charges, with aggravated sexual assault punishable by 25 years to life imprisonment.
Maddy summaryThis bill provides a tax break by excluding capital gains from gross income tax for small New Jersey businesses (fewer than 500 employees, not publicly traded) that sell employer securities to employee ownership structures. To qualify, businesses must sell to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP), a New Jersey S corporation owned by an ESOP, or an eligible worker cooperative, with the new owner holding at least 30% of the business. Before the sale, businesses must get certification from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) proving the transaction will retain full-time jobs in the state and generate a net economic benefit to New Jersey. The exclusion applies only to sales that meet these conditions, aiming to encourage employee ownership without requiring employees to invest their own money.
Maddy summaryS 233 establishes the New Jersey Wind Institute for Innovation and Training to support the state's offshore wind industry. The institute, governed by a 9-member board (including agency heads and three gubernatorial appointees with expertise in clean energy and workforce development), will coordinate education, research, and workforce training programs focused on offshore wind. It directly affects New Jersey's clean energy workforce, aiming to help meet the state's goal of 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2035. The institute will prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion in developing training pipelines for this emerging industry.