Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits health insurers, third-party administrators, pharmacy benefits managers, and state health benefit programs (like the State Health Benefits Program and School Employees’ Health Benefits Program) from requiring pre-approval or precertification for covered medical tests, procedures, or prescription drugs. It directly affects patients and healthcare providers by removing insurance company barriers that previously delayed care. The key provision states that payment for covered services must be made without pre-approval if the service is prescribed by a licensed provider and included in the plan. The bill applies to all health and prescription drug plans issued or purchased on or after its effective date. It aims to streamline access to medically necessary treatments by ensuring insurers pay for doctor-recommended care without bureaucratic delays.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to eligible retired members of New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It requires the PFRS board of trustees to restore these COLAs to their previous statutory level without requiring additional contributions from retirees, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't increase employer costs or jeopardize the system's long-term financial health. The policy directly affects retired police officers and firefighters who receive benefits under the PFRS. The change reverses a prior reduction to these automatic inflation adjustments for this specific retirement system.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 978 makes it a fourth-degree crime (carrying up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine) to secretly install or use electronic tracking devices or apps to monitor another person's location with intent to facilitate unlawful acts like stalking or harassment. The bill directly affects individuals who secretly track others without consent, such as in cases of relationship surveillance. Key exemptions include parents tracking minor children, caregivers monitoring vulnerable individuals, businesses disclosing location tracking in privacy policies, and employers tracking work vehicles under specific conditions. The law creates a legal presumption that secret location tracking is intended for unlawful purposes, while excluding government entities and certain business/employer uses.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1041) changes how theft sentencing is calculated in New Jersey by allowing prosecutors to combine the value of stolen property from multiple theft incidents that occurred within a two-year period. It directly affects individuals convicted of multiple thefts, as the combined value could elevate the offense to a higher criminal degree (e.g., turning several small thefts into a second-degree crime). The key provision specifies that amounts from separate episodes or transactions - whether against the same victim or multiple victims - may be added together if they form a "single scheme or course of conduct" within the two-year window. This change does not alter the definition of theft but impacts sentencing severity based on aggregated totals. The bill is pending in the Senate Judiciary Committee as of January 2026.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 989) authorizes New Jersey's Commissioner of Transportation to permit the painting of a blue line in the space between double yellow centerlines on public roads. It directly affects roads under the jurisdiction of the Department of Transportation, counties, or municipalities. The key provision grants the Commissioner discretion to allow this specific marking, without requiring prior approval for each instance. The bill does not change existing traffic control standards but adds this option to road marking practices.
Maddy summaryS 1017 allows New Jersey municipalities to place free advertisements on bridges and railway overpasses under the jurisdiction of state transportation authorities (like the NJ Turnpike Authority or NJ Transit), provided they follow specific safety and design rules. It requires municipalities to apply through the Department of Transportation for approval, prohibits ads that mimic traffic signs, interfere with driver visibility, or promote private companies, and bans advertisements near Interstates or protected areas. The bill updates existing outdoor advertising law to include this new municipal advertising option while maintaining strict safety standards for all displays. This directly affects local governments seeking low-cost public communication channels on public infrastructure.
Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of disposable bandages, dressings, gauze, and similar medical supplies from New Jersey's sales and use tax, regardless of whether they contain antiseptic or active ingredients. It directly affects consumers purchasing these common first-aid products and businesses selling them. The key change clarifies that all disposable medical supplies meeting the definition (not designed for repeated use) qualify for exemption, removing the current inconsistency where only medicated bandages were tax-exempt. The policy applies to all sales made four months after enactment.
Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 598 requires health insurance plans to cover diagnosis and treatment for two specific pediatric neurological conditions: PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). The bill mandates coverage for treatments including antibiotics, behavioral therapies, immunomodulating medicines, plasma exchange, and intravenous immunoglobulin therapy (IVIG), provided by a treating physician. Insurance plans must cover these expenses "to the same extent as for any other condition," applying to hospital service, medical service, health service, individual, group, and health benefits plans. This directly affects patients diagnosed with PANDAS or PANS and all health insurance providers operating in New Jersey.
Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1035) creates a rebuttable presumption that defendants charged with specific serious crimes must be held in pretrial detention unless they prove otherwise. It applies to defendants facing charges like murder, life felony offenses, certain violent crimes (including domestic violence involving minors), or crimes where the prosecutor establishes probable cause. The court must assume no bail or conditions would ensure court appearance or public safety unless the defendant successfully challenges the presumption at a hearing. Defendants can appeal detention orders, but remain detained during the appeal process. This changes the burden of proof in pretrial hearings for these cases, making detention the default unless rebutted.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a voluntary "Do Not Sell" registry managed by New Jersey's State Police. Residents can choose to register to be automatically blocked from purchasing firearms during background checks. The system verifies identities, protects privacy, notifies registered individuals' personal contacts about their status, and requires a 21-day waiting period before removing a name (with all records destroyed afterward). It does not change existing firearm prohibitions but adds a new voluntary option for residents to restrict their own access to firearms.