Sen. Kristin Corrado

Maddy summaryS 351 requires drivers in New Jersey to either change lanes or slow down when approaching a disabled vehicle displaying hazard lights or road flares, as well as emergency vehicles, tow trucks, and maintenance vehicles with warning lights. Drivers must move to a non-adjacent lane if safe, or reduce speed below the posted limit and be prepared to stop if lane-changing is impossible. Violations carry fines of $100-$500, with two additional license penalty points for three or more offenses within a year. The bill also mandates a public awareness campaign to educate drivers about these safety rules.

Maddy summarySCR 13 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit most emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by New Jersey's Governor to a 14-day period during a state of emergency. After 14 days, such measures would automatically expire unless the Legislature passes a concurrent resolution extending them. The amendment does not apply to orders rescinding prior emergency actions, federal compliance measures, executive branch rules, National Guard actions, or orders issued under existing laws with longer timeframes. This change would shift authority from the Governor to require legislative approval for extended emergency powers, while maintaining current flexibility for specific exceptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 963) requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to provide onboard Wi-Fi service on all passenger trains it owns or operates within six months of the law's effective date. It directly affects NJT passengers traveling on rail services, who currently lack consistent Wi-Fi access during commutes. The key provision mandates that NJT implement this service on every rail passenger vehicle, building on existing station Wi-Fi hotspots and planned bus service expansion. The bill takes immediate effect upon enactment, with no specified funding mechanism or exemptions.

Maddy summaryS 962 (New Jersey) bars the state health commissioner and other government entities from requiring students to receive a COVID-19 vaccine to attend public K-12 schools. The bill directly affects all students enrolled in New Jersey's public primary and secondary schools by removing a potential vaccination mandate for school attendance. Key provisions state that no state entity may make SARS-CoV-2 vaccination a condition of enrollment, effective immediately upon enactment. This policy change shifts school immunization requirements away from including the COVID-19 vaccine as a standard prerequisite.

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $4.32 billion from New Jersey's Debt Defeasance and Prevention Fund to all municipalities and counties for two key purposes: retiring existing local debt or funding capital projects (like infrastructure) without issuing new debt. It directs $3 billion to municipalities on an equal per capita basis (same amount per resident) and $1.32 billion to counties similarly. The funds, partially drawn from $1.97 billion in unallocated balances already in the fund, must be distributed within 30 days of enactment. The bill aims to provide immediate, efficient financial relief to local governments facing debt burdens.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurers in New Jersey to use the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services' payment system (which sets rates based on provider costs) when reimbursing doctors for certain separate office visits. Specifically, it applies to "evaluation and management" medical codes (used for patient check-ups) when a separate, significant visit occurs on the same day as another procedure (denoted by "modifier 25"). The change ensures insurers base payments on a standardized federal method rather than their own calculations. This directly affects healthcare providers who bill for these specific types of visits and aims to create consistent reimbursement rates across the state.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 855) amends election law to clarify police presence near polling places. It specifically allows police officers to travel to, remain at, or work from a police station located within 100 feet of a polling place during election-related duties. The bill also permits Class Three special law enforcement officers (defined under existing law) to be assigned to polling places at public schools for security. These changes update prior restrictions that generally prohibited police from being within 100 feet of polling places, except for emergencies or specific election tasks. The bill directly affects election operations, police assignments, and polling place security protocols.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 272) ensures that if state funds dedicated to support the Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse (a network of community coalitions) fall short during fiscal years 2022-2023, the Governor must use federal pandemic relief funds (like CARES Act or American Rescue Plan funds) to cover the shortfall. It directly affects the Alliance’s ability to maintain its community-based programs, including school initiatives, treatment interventions, and public awareness campaigns. The bill does not create new funding but redirects existing federal pandemic assistance to stabilize the Alliance’s operations when state revenue declines unexpectedly. (S 272, introduced January 9, 2024)

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 926) requires all health insurance plans sold in New Jersey - including hospital service contracts, individual policies, group plans, and health maintenance organizations - to cover medically necessary Lyme disease treatment. It mandates coverage based on a physician's written evaluation of a patient's symptoms and response to treatment, prohibiting insurers from denying coverage solely because treatment is labeled "experimental." The law applies to all relevant insurance contracts issued or renewed in New Jersey after the bill's effective date. It directly affects health insurers and policyholders by ensuring consistent access to Lyme disease care without coverage barriers.

Maddy summaryS 952 requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey (including hospital, medical, and health service corporation plans) to cover annual mental health screenings at no extra cost to patients. The bill mandates that mental health coverage must be provided under the same terms as physical health care - meaning insurers cannot impose stricter copays, deductibles, or limits on mental health services compared to other medical treatments. This applies to all plans issued or renewed in New Jersey after the law takes effect, covering conditions defined by current medical standards (like those in the DSM). The law builds on federal mental health parity requirements but specifically adds the annual screening mandate as a new coverage obligation.