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We are presenting this quarterly update of what has been a legislatively productive beginning to the year. It’s gratifying to report that our bi-partisan approach to addressing the needs of residents has helped advance many of our bills in the State Legislature.
Our legislation to require insurance companies to cover Biomarker Testing, an innovative way to match cancer patients with the most effective treatments, is now the law. Other bills that have become law this year include our legislation to allow pharmacists to transfer attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions to other pharmacies, speeding up the delivery of medications to residents with ADHD. A number of our other legislative initiatives to make healthcare and prescription drugs more accessible and affordable have also advanced, we have introduced legislation to establish an "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act."
We continue to work in bi-partisan fashion to address school funding, protect victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, and help small businesses thrive.
Budget talks on the FY2026 State Budget are underway. Our state faces new challenges as we deal with the chaotic messaging from Washington. D.C. Like state legislatures across the country, and governments around the world, we are trying to manage our state’s finances in an environment of constant change and uncertainty. The impact of the federal government’s on-again off-again policies, from tariffs to cuts in federal programs and employment, will likely be far reaching as New Jersey faces funding cuts to education, healthcare, veterans’ assistance, first responders and other critical areas.
We are working with New Jersey’s representatives in Congress to reverse federal funds clawbacks. Those aid reductions threaten to hurt every New Jersey resident, from kids in school to grandparents in long-term care facilities. We are committed to making sure your voice is heard in Trenton, and we ask every resident to get involved in speaking up for New Jersey and for our American democracy.
As always, it is a privilege to serve as your representatives in Trenton and Monmouth County. Please never hesitate to contact us at SenGopal@njleg.org, AswPeterpaul@njleg.org, AswDonlon@njleg.org and (732) 704-3808, for assistance, updates on legislation, or to share ideas.
Thank you for your support.
Highlights of our bills so far this year
For more information about the bills below click on the bill number, or visit njleg.state.nj.us and search by the bill number.
School Funding
S3917 - Makes various changes to school funding law and Educational Adequacy Report; establishes Special Education Funding Review Task Force.
Healthcare
S3098 - Requires health insurers to provide coverage for biomarker precision medical testing. SIGNED INTO LAW
S3388 - Allows pharmacists to transfer Schedule II attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder prescriptions. SIGNED INTO LAW
S3538 - Establishes "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act."
S2688 - Enters NJ in Social Work Licensure Compact. PASSED BOTH HOUSES
A5459 - Extends the time period in which to enroll a newborn infant in health benefits coverage. PASSED ASSEMBLY
A4982 - Prohibits health insurance carriers from using human body weight as a factor in determining coverage for treatment of eating disorders. PASSED ASSEMBLY
A4544 - Expands eligibility requirements of State's child care assistance program to include full-time graduate and post-graduate students. PASSED ASSEMBLY
Public Safety
A4978 - Requires the state Attorney General to report data regarding shootings that did not result in bodily injury. PASSED ASSEMBLY
A4981 - Permits a court, upon the request of the prosecutor, to take more time when making a pretrial detention determination if the offense charged involves a firearm. PASSED ASSEMBLY
A1802 - Requires law enforcement officers to conduct danger assessment of domestic violence victims and provide assistance to high-risk victims.
A908 - Requires the Attorney General to establish rape kit tracking system. SIGNED INTO LAW
A4475 - Establishes standards for court-ordered counseling for domestic violence offenders. PASSED ASSEMBLY
Supporting Towns and Businesses
A5120 - Appropriates $18,518,738 from constitutionally dedicated corporate business tax revenues to NJ Historic Trust for grants for certain historic preservation projects and associated administrative expenses. SIGNED INTO LAW
A5141 Establishes historic distillery license; allows consumption of licensee's products on and off licensed premises under certain circumstances.
A5446 - Prohibits BPU approval of electric and gas public utility rate increases resulting in total increase to average residential customer bill in excess of 2 percent annually.
Protecting the Environment
A5597 - Requires hospitals to adopt and develop environmental sustainability plans.
A2102 - Exempts community gardens operating on-site composting systems or other systems of managing organic waste from certain DEP permits under certain conditions.
A2104 - Requires DEP to prioritize funding for certain projects for acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes and certain environmental infrastructure projects that include, or allow for, flood mitigation projects.
Constituent Outreach
Our Constituent Services Team continues to assist residents in navigating various state agencies and finding resources for healthcare, accessing property tax rebates, paying rent or utility bills, accessing unemployment insurance benefits, avoiding eviction, locating food pantries and finding election information. The Team also helps residents trying to obtain a REAL ID, which can be used for domestic flights starting May 7. If you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact the Constituent Services Team at (732) 704-3808.
The Team continues to reach out to LD11 seniors to assist in finding property tax relief through the ANCHOR Property Tax Rebate Program, the Senior Freeze Property Tax Relief program, and Stay NJ, as well as through our LD11 Office’s Savings For Our Seniors (S.O.S.) program. As the weather warms we will be taking these visits on the road to towns to talk about services to residents in the towns where they live through our Mobile Office Hours. To find out when our next mobile office hours are, please visit our website at www.donlonpeterpaul.com/events.
We have traveled extensively throughout Monmouth County over the past several months. We listened to residents and small business owners, met with municipal officials and school representatives, and supported the initiatives of our nonprofit partners.
Your ideas drive our agenda in the legislature and we are grateful to all who took the time to talk to us. You can share your ideas with us at SenGopal@njleg.org, AswPeterpaul@njleg.org, AswDonlon@njleg.org and (732) 704-3808. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
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