Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" within the Department of Transportation to develop strategies for eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2040. The 13-member commission - including agency heads from transportation, public safety, health, and environmental departments - will create a statewide action plan, promote data transparency through a public safety portal, and advise state and local governments on equitable road safety improvements. It requires annual reporting to the Governor and Legislature on progress, including traffic crash data and demographic information. The commission focuses on "safe system approach" strategies like roadway design, speed management, and expanding accessible transportation options for all users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's telemedicine pay parity requirement through December 31, 2025. It requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to pay telemedicine providers the same rate as in-person visits for covered services, ensuring equal reimbursement. The extension applies to all health benefits plans, including Medicaid and private insurers, covering services delivered via video or audio telehealth. Exceptions remain for audio-only visits (at 50% of in-person rates) and services not offered in-person by the provider.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Bear Smart Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to fund the distribution of bear-proof garbage cans to residents. The fund will be financed by civil penalties from bear-feeding violations (e.g., $100-$500 fines) and state or federal grants. The DEP will prioritize distributing these cans in counties with large bear populations - Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Passaic - to reduce human-bear conflicts, with residents possibly paying a small fee. The program may partner with municipalities or waste companies to lower costs, while existing bear-feeding prohibitions remain in place except for specific exceptions like bird feeders under strict conditions.
Maddy summaryS 1630 requires New Jersey mortgage lenders to provide veterans applying for GI Bill-backed home loans with a disclosure form confirming they've been offered free counseling. It directly affects veterans seeking housing loans under Chapter 37 of the U.S. Code (GI Bill) in New Jersey. Lenders must include this disclosure with loan applications, and veterans can request the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to refer them to the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) for counseling. The counseling must review loan terms, provide GI Bill-specific guidance, and include any required federal information. This bill aims to ensure veterans receive tailored financial assistance before finalizing their home loans.
Maddy summaryThe "Welcome Home Veterans Act" (S 3595) requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide veterans with information about federal and state benefits when issuing or renewing a driver's license or ID card that includes a veteran designation. The MVC must offer this information in both physical copies at all agency locations and online, including the state veterans' benefits guide and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' "Federal Benefits for Veterans, Dependents, Survivors, and Caregivers" booklet. The packet will also include resources for accessing additional benefit information and any supplementary details the MVC determines necessary. This applies to all veterans receiving a veteran-designated license or ID card under existing New Jersey law.
Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Substance Use Disorder and Addiction Treatment Best Practices Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Health. The task force, composed of 12 members including legislative leaders, health officials, and public representatives (like treatment center managers and peer recovery specialists), will study the state's fragmented addiction treatment system. Its key duties include determining whether a single oversight body should replace current fragmented agencies, developing best practices for treatment centers and sober homes, and recommending regulations for dual ownership of such facilities. The task force must report its findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within two years of forming, after which it will expire. This directly affects state agencies, addiction treatment providers, and individuals seeking substance use disorder services.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1637 creates a $4.5 million Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program. It requires the Agriculture Secretary to reimburse eligible school districts for costs incurred when they expand local food sourcing beyond existing baseline levels - such as adding new local produce to meals or serving it during more meal periods. The program excludes fluid dairy milk and costs for ordinary procurement at current baseline levels, focusing only on new initiatives. This directly affects school districts serving subsidized meals that implement expanded local food policies through submitted plans, with reimbursement limited to documented new expenses.
Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey optometrists' scope of practice to include prescribing pharmaceutical agents (including controlled substances for eye conditions), administering immunizations for coronavirus, flu, and shingles (for patients 18+), and performing minor procedures like removing superficial foreign bodies, treating chalazions, and simple ophthalmologic treatments (e.g., trabeculoplasty) using topical anesthesia. It explicitly prohibits invasive eye surgery, orbital procedures, or general anesthesia. The law requires optometrists to report administered immunizations to the state's immunization registry and mandates they follow CDC guidelines for vaccine administration. This directly affects optometrists by broadening their clinical capabilities and patients by increasing access to certain eye care services within defined limits.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover community violence prevention services for eligible residents. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries who would gain access to evidence-based violence prevention programs, such as counseling and neighborhood safety initiatives. The bill establishes a state training and certification program to ensure violence prevention professionals meet specific standards. These services would be added to Medicaid's covered benefits under existing state law, expanding access without altering current Medicaid eligibility rules. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create and issue special license plates for disabled veterans, allowing them to park in spaces reserved for people with disabilities without needing additional permits. To qualify, veterans must be New Jersey residents certified by the federal VA as having a service-connected disability, and the plates - displaying "Disabled Veteran" and a wheelchair symbol - will be free of charge. The plates are non-transferable and must be visibly displayed on the vehicle to use reserved parking, replacing the need for separate disability placards. Misuse of the plates can result in revocation and forfeiture of the license plate.