Sen. Holly Schepisi

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new rules for when an insurance company removes a hospital or clinic (health care facility network) from its provider network. It requires 15 business days of continued coverage for patients, mandatory negotiation between the insurer and facility during that period, and public notice to affected patients about potential disruptions. If negotiations fail, it creates a 30-day special enrollment period allowing patients in small employer or individual health plans (in the affected county) to switch plans without penalty. The policy directly affects patients enrolled in these specific plans who would otherwise lose access to their current facility network.

Maddy summaryS 1162 adds Bergen County to the list of pilot counties for New Jersey's "Common Sense Shared Services Pilot Program Act." This bill expands the existing program - which allows municipalities to share certain tenured local employee services (like clerks, CFOs, or assessors) across municipal boundaries - to include Bergen County. Under the program, participating municipalities may enter shared services agreements that permit dismissing tenured employees not selected for these shared roles, with protections for reappointment if the agreement ends within two years. The bill does not create new rules but extends the current pilot program to Bergen County, joining seven other counties (Atlantic, Camden, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Sussex, and Warren).

Maddy summaryS 2514 limits the Governor's authority to declare and extend states of emergency or public health emergencies in New Jersey. It requires the Legislature to approve any extension of an emergency declaration beyond 60 days through a majority vote in both chambers, after the Governor provides written notice at least seven business days in advance. The bill also mandates that emergency declarations automatically terminate after 60 days unless renewed by the Legislature, and prohibits the Governor from issuing duplicate declarations for the same emergency without new legislation. This directly affects how the Governor and Legislature manage emergency powers, ensuring legislative oversight of emergency declarations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 1917 requires the state’s Transportation Commissioner and Highway Traffic Safety Director to annually update public awareness campaigns and use variable message signs at least once yearly. The campaigns must inform motorists about their duty to change lanes or reduce speed when approaching pedestrians, bicycles, or personal conveyances (like scooters), as specified in existing law (C.39:4-92.4). The bill mandates that these materials cover the importance of compliance, risks of non-compliance, and associated penalties. It directly affects all drivers in New Jersey through updated public safety messaging. The bill amends prior statutes (P.L.2017, c.358 and P.L.2019, c.370) to expand awareness beyond emergency vehicles to include vulnerable road users.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public meetings of New Jersey's State Board of Education to be accessible both in person and virtually. It mandates that the Board provide a publicly available virtual meeting link on its website and allows members of the public to submit comments remotely during sessions that accept public input. The law directly affects the State Board of Education in how it conducts meetings and the public who attend or comment on education policy discussions. These changes ensure broader public participation by removing physical attendance barriers for meetings about education policy.

Maddy summaryS 2403 requires New Jersey's Adjutant General to establish a program providing veterans with evaluation and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury. This program would directly assist New Jersey veterans diagnosed with these conditions, which are commonly associated with military service. The bill amends N.J.S.38A:3-6 to add this duty to the Adjutant General's responsibilities under the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, ensuring state-administered access to these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Affordable Housing Obligation Study Commission" within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs to examine the state's affordable housing policies. The commission, composed of seven members including agency leaders and appointed public representatives, will study past housing practices, analyze current and future housing needs based on population growth, and gather public input over one year. It must produce a report with recommendations for municipalities and state agencies on meeting affordable housing obligations, including strategies for developing new housing units. The commission will dissolve immediately after publishing this report, which must be completed within 365 days of its organization.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1979) requires healthcare providers in New Jersey to give parents or guardians access to minor patients' medical records related to reproductive health services (such as pregnancy care, contraception, or abortion), unless the minor objects. It applies specifically to services legal under New Jersey law and protects healthcare facilities and professionals from liability when providing this access. The law clarifies that parental access does not require written consent from the minor for these services, while maintaining existing privacy rules for other medical information. It directly affects parents/guardians of minors seeking reproductive health care and healthcare providers who serve them.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1991 requires the Department of Health (DOH) to survey all antenatal and prenatal care clinics - including those that closed within the past two years - to evaluate maternity care access statewide. The survey collects data on clinic locations, service availability, patient demographics (especially low- and moderate-income pregnant women), and socioeconomic factors affecting care. DOH must analyze this data to identify disparities in care access, develop improvement strategies, and publish findings on its website within 18 months. The bill mandates a legislative report with recommendations but prohibits sharing personal health information. This data-gathering measure aims to inform future policy decisions on clinic services and funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires ticket issuers (like venues, promoters, or teams) to offer buyers a transferable ticket option at purchase if they use a system that restricts reselling or giving away tickets. It allows exceptions for targeted promotions (e.g., discounted group tickets for specific affiliations) but prohibits penalties or discrimination against buyers who resell tickets or use specific platforms. The bill also lets venues enforce conduct policies and ticket limits while banning restrictions based solely on resale activity. It exempts certain venues in cities with specific tax structures from these requirements.