Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey (including hospital, medical, and individual/group plans) to cover the cost of continuous glucose monitoring systems prescribed by doctors for treating glycogen storage disease. It applies to all new or renewed policies on or after the effective date, mandating coverage "to the same extent as for any other medical condition." The law directly affects patients with glycogen storage disease who rely on these monitoring systems for treatment, as well as insurers offering covered health plans in the state. It does not change existing coverage for other conditions but ensures these specific devices are included for this rare metabolic disorder.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 19-member Task Force to study issues affecting New Jersey's approved private schools for students with disabilities, which serve approximately 11,000 students with complex disabilities. The task force will examine ways to improve the tuition-setting process, funding mechanisms, and fiscal accountability of these schools, including comparing actual taxpayer costs and post-graduation outcomes between private placements and comparable public school programs. It will review areas like hiring practices, salary guidelines, business operations, and allowable costs. The task force, appointed by the Governor and including school officials, parents, advocates, and auditors, must issue a final report with recommendations within one year. This study aims to address concerns about proposed state rules that could impact these schools and the students they serve.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "restricted distillery license" that allows distilleries to operate in conjunction with restaurants in designated Garden State Growth Zones. The license can only be issued to entities with identical ownership to those holding a plenary retail consumption license for a restaurant located in a Garden State Growth Zone (which includes cities like Camden, Trenton, Atlantic City, Passaic, and Paterson, or municipalities with Tourism Districts). The restaurant must be immediately adjoining the distillery premises, regularly used for meal service with adequate kitchen and dining facilities. Distillery license holders can sell products to the restaurant and to wholesalers, but cannot operate restaurants themselves or share premises with other manufacturing licenses. The bill limits the number of such licenses to 10 per entity and allows municipalities to file objections with a hearing process.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2758 requires construction industry employers to inform workers about their legal rights. Specifically, employers must post clear notices in accessible locations and provide written copies at hiring or upon request. The notices must detail rights to minimum wage, overtime, unemployment benefits, and protections against retaliation, including how to file complaints with the Labor Commissioner. Employers failing to comply face civil penalties of up to $1,500 for a first violation and $5,000 for repeat offenses within five years. The notices must be available in English, Spanish, and other languages required by the Commissioner based on workforce needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state departments, agencies, authorities, and instrumentalities to place a prominent link on their public websites, allowing anyone to submit complaints about the entity's performance or customer service. It directly affects the public (who can file complaints) and all state agencies (which must implement the link and process complaints). The key mechanism mandates that agency heads periodically review all submitted complaints and assess how to address issues causing them. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a housing purchase matching grant program for New Jersey National Guard members and U.S. Armed Forces personnel who served at least 90 days in Operation Noble Eagle, Operation Enduring Freedom, or Operation Iraqi Freedom. The program provides up to $10,000 in matching funds (dollar for dollar) to eligible applicants for home purchases in New Jersey, covering closing costs, equity payments, or other home-buying expenses. To qualify, applicants must provide proof of military service in specified operations, legal New Jersey residency, and intent to purchase a principal residence in the state. The program, administered by the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency with coordination from the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, is funded by a $2 million appropriation from the General Fund.

Maddy summaryS 2759 requires health insurers, the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), and the School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP) to cover the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of lymphedema when a physician deems it medically necessary. This applies to all individual, group, and employer-sponsored health insurance plans sold in New Jersey, mandating that coverage for lymphedema be provided at the same level as for other medical services (including identical deductibles and cost-sharing). The bill ensures patients with lymphedema - often resulting from cancer treatment or injury - can access necessary care without additional financial barriers. It directly affects health insurance providers and their policyholders who require lymphedema treatment.

Maddy summarySCR 92 proposes a constitutional amendment to extend New Jersey's enhanced homestead property tax rebate - currently available to senior citizens (65+) and disabled residents - to honorably discharged veterans and their unmarried surviving spouses. This would allow veterans (including those who served in war or emergency periods) and surviving spouses (including those who lost a spouse during active duty) to receive the same larger rebate (up to $500 annually, averaging $410) instead of the current $50 property tax deduction. Approximately 330,000 veterans and surviving spouses would become eligible for this benefit, which has remained unchanged since the $50 deduction was established in 1953. The amendment requires voter approval at the next general election to take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "Inpatient Drug Rehabilitation Assistance Fund" by redirecting 5% of proceeds from drug-related forfeitures that result from informant information. It also establishes a 10% payment to individuals who provide information leading to drug-related prosecutions. The fund will provide inpatient treatment at licensed residential facilities for New Jersey residents who cannot afford treatment, with eligibility determined by the Commissioner of Human Services. This reallocation changes how forfeiture funds from drug cases are distributed, moving away from sole law enforcement use toward supporting both informants and treatment services.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act creates a program to convert foreclosed residential properties into affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency will purchase eligible properties (including those owned by institutional lenders or municipalities due to tax foreclosure) and dedicate them for affordable housing with 30-year deed restrictions. Municipalities with at least 10 foreclosed homes listed for 60+ days can commit funds from their affordable housing trust funds to the program and receive bonus credits toward their affordable housing obligations. The program will be funded in part by an additional $350 fee per foreclosure sale collected by sheriffs, with funds deposited into a dedicated "Foreclosure to Affordable Housing Transformation Fund."