It’s a new year, New Jersey. And that means we’re getting some new laws.

Beginning this year, state-regulated health insurance companies will have to decide more quickly — within 24 hours and 72 hours — whether they will cover a test or treatment recommended by a patient’s doctor.

Anyone under 21 learning to drive will have to put in 50 hours of practice behind the wheel before they get a license in the state.

And real estate appraisers here will undergo anti-bias training and be prohibited from considering race, religion and other personal factors when establishing the value of a home.

These are some of the laws scheduled to take effect in early 2025 that likely will affect millions of New Jerseyans in big ways and small. The state Legislature passed them and Gov. Phil Murphy or Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way signed them into law over the last two years. But some didn’t take effect right away because state government needs time to implement them.

Here’s the rundown:

Reining in the pre-authorization process for health insurance companies

Insurance carriers will have tighter deadline in the state to decide whether to approve a prescribed test, medication or treatment — 24 hours for “urgent” requests and 72 hours for non-urgent requests. A prior authorization for treatment of a long-term or chronic condition shall remain valid for 180 days.

If an insurance carrier denies or limits a physician’s request, the law requires the physician who denied the treatment must belong to the same medical speciality as the doctor who would typically manage this condition under the law.

People who switch health plans will receivie care under the old plan’s prior authorization for 60 days, according to the legislation (A1255).

“For years patients have had to endure the hardship of being left in the breach when they seek vital care only to have their access to that care interrupted by what all too often seems to be an onerous and draconian process,” Assemblyman Sterley Stanley, D-Middlesex, one of the legislation’s sponsors, said after it passed the 80-member lower house.

“This bill addresses that reality and will not only provide patients with more efficient access to care, but does so in a way that does not jeopardize the ability of insurance carriers and pharmacy benefit managers fulfill their responsibility to be good financial stewards of the care they are entrusted with managing.”

The law affects state-regulated insurance plans only, which are held by about one-third of the state’s population. The State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees’ Health Benefits Program are examples of covered plans. Companies that are self-insured are regulated by the federal government are not bound by the law.

Effective date: Jan. 1.

Rookie drivers must log 50 hours of time behind the wheel

Nearly two years ago, Murphy signed a law (S2789) to require young drivers in New Jersey who hold special learner’s permits to spend at least 50 hours behind the wheel before they get their probationary license.

Parents or guardians would have to keep track of the hours and attest to the State Division of Motor Vehicles the driver has fulfilled the requirements, which include 10 hours of night driving.

State Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez, D-Camden, one of the prime sponsors, said most states already require a minimum number of hours behind the wheel. New Jersey has been putting “our roads and our children at needless risk,” she said.

State Sen. Gordon Johnson, D-Bergen, also a sponsor, noted that in 2019, there were 30,000 drivers under age 21 who were involved in auto accidents in 2019, with 7,000 resulting in death or injuries, he said.

“This bill will reduce that, and save the lives of motorists across the state,” Johnson said.

Effective date: Feb. 2

Sexual assault victims must receive timely updates from investigators

Responding to victims’ rights groups and survivors of sexual assault who say they have felt out of the loop on the criminal investigations, this new law requires specific updates involving DNA collection in the state.

The law (S1017) will now require investigators to notify survivors if the DNA profile of an assailant was obtained from the processing of evidence, whether that evidence has been entered into any data bank, whether there is a DNA match, and whether the DNA is shared with a forensic lab in search of a match.

“This crucial legislation guarantees that survivors of sexual assault are updated with necessary information throughout the legal process of their case,” said state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon, R-Monmouth, one of the prime sponsors. “With this law in place, we are empowering survivors and ensuring that our criminal justice system is more responsive to their needs.”

The new law expands the Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights, which included a requirement that any forensic medical evidence be retained for a minimum of five years, and for survivors to receive information about the status of the evidence upon request.

“Victims of sexual violence deserve to be kept up-to-date and aware of all major developments in the investigation of their case, both for their peace of mind and for their safety,” said Sen. Linda Greenstein, D-Middlesex, chairwoman of the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee and a prime sponsor.

Effective date: Jan. 1

Real estate appraisers must complete anti-bias training

Taking aim at systemic racism in the real estate marketplace, licensed appraisers in New Jersey must complete an anti-bias training program to renew their licenses.

The law (A2280) declares it illegal for appraisers to use personal factors including race, religion, sexual orientation and the nation origin of the sellers or buyers to diminish the value of a home.

This discriminatory practice has gone on for far too long, hurting the ability to amass wealth and pass it on to future generations, said Laura Sullivan, director of the Economic Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.

“With homeownership being one of the most important ways that families build wealth, proactive steps towards reducing racial disparities in homeownership are crucial for closing the racial wealth gap and moving us toward equity,” Sullivan said when Acting Gov. Tahesha Way signed the law in September.

“For far too long, systems were in place that would perpetuate racial bias,” Way said. “With this bill, we will ensure that personal biases don’t influence appraisers.”

Effective date: March 8.

New moms must be presented with a postpartum plan

With one out of five mothers developing a mood disorder during or after pregnancy, health care professionals must now develop an individualized postpartum treatment plan for their patients in the state.

The law (S912), which Murphy signed last month, says the plan would include notes about any of the patient’s pregnancy complications and recommended follow-ups, guidance outlining symptoms of postpartum depression or anxiety and advice regarding breastfeeding.

The plan would be given to all patients being discharged at the end of a pregnancy, including those who have experienced a stillbirth or miscarriage.

“By requiring health care professionals to provide information about personalized postpartum care plans, we are empowering mothers to prioritize their health and well-being during and after pregnancy,” said state Sen. Kristin Corrado, R-Bergen, one of the bill’s sponsors. “This new law will directly help reduce preventable pregnancy-related mortality and enhance women’s healthcare overall.”

Effective date: May 17.

The minimum wage will rise again

Minimum wage workers in New Jersey will get another raise in the new year. They will be paid $15.49 per hour, a 36-cent increase.

Employees who work on a farm for an hourly or piece-rate wage will be paid $13.40 an hour up from $12.81.

Long-term care facility direct care staff will see their minimum hourly wage rise by 36 cents, to $18.49 an hour.

The minimum hourly wage for seasonal and small business workers.these employees will increase to $14.53 on, up from $13.73.

The raises are part of a 2019 law that raised the wage to $15, then baked in additional raises based on the consumer price index.

Effective: Jan. 1.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Jackie Roman contributed to this report.

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Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X @SusanKLivio.

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The Mega Millions $1.269 billion jackpot was won in Northern California on Friday and now the New Jersey Lottery is running “The Jackpot Was Hit!” promotion where Jersey players can get a free lottery ticket.

Every time the Mega Millions jackpot is won, the New Jersey Lottery offers players a free Mega Millions ticket when they buy three. The promotion runs for seven days.

How can you get a free Mega Millions?

The New Jersey Lottery rules state that a lottery player must buy “EXACTLY three Mega Millions plays on a single ticket” and then will receive a free $2 Mega Millions Quick Pick ticket.

The promotion began on Saturday and will run until Friday, Jan. 3.

The Mega Millions jackpot is an estimated $20 million for Tuesday night’s drawing.

Players can still purchase the Megaplier on their three tickets, but “it does not count towards the qualifying purchase.” So, you still need to purchase three tickets total.

The free ticket does not include the Megaplier.

“The Jackpot Was Hit!” promotion also is run after the Powerball or NJ Lottery’s Pick-6 jackpots are hit.

Looking for an edge? These Mega Millions numbers are drawn the most

When is next Mega Millions drawing?

Mega Millions drawings are held every Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m.

How do I play Mega Millions?

The cost is $2 per ticket, but you can add the Megaplier for $1, which will increase the amount of your potential prize up to five times the original prize (except for the jackpot).

Each player selects five numbers from 1 to 70 for the white balls and one number from 1 to 25 for the Mega Ball. However, you can also have the lottery machine generate a random Quick Pick for you. You don’t need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident of a particular state where you purchase your ticket.

More: ‘It still doesn’t feel real’ – New York man claims $476M Mega Millions jackpot

How many balls do I need to match for Mega Millions prize?

You can win $2 for the matching just one – the Mega Ball. Short of the jackpot, you can win up to $1 million for matching all five white balls (except in California). You can check all the prize payouts on the Mega Millions site here.

Beware: No, a lottery jackpot winner isn’t giving you money. How to spot a scammer

Where is the Mega Millions available?

You can play the game in 45 states plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The states not offering Mega Millions are: Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada and Utah.

Lucky? These are the states with the most Mega Millions jackpot winners

Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets. 

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Texas, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

NJ lottery: Where does all the ticket sales money go?

What is deadline for buying Mega Millions tickets?

The deadline for purchasing a Mega Millions ticket varies by state so don’t wait until the last minute. It can be 15 minutes to an hour or more before the actual drawing. For some third-party lottery apps, the deadline can be closer to two hours before the drawing. For example, Jackpocket in New Jersey has a deadline of 9:15 p.m. for the 11 p.m. ET drawing.

Click here to check the deadline for where you live.

What are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots?

Here are the Top 10 Mega Millions jackpots ever:

1. $1.602 billion, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
2. $1.537 billion, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
3. $1.348 billion, Jan. 13, 2023: Won in Maine
4. $1.337 billion, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
5. $1.269 billion, Dec. 27, 2024: Won in California
6. $1.128 billion, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
7. $1.05 billion, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
8. $810 million, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
9. $656 million, March 30, 2012: Three winners in Illinois, Kansas, Maryland 
10. $648 million, Dec. 17, 2013: Two winners in California, Georgia

What was largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever?

Here’s a look at the top jackpots won in the United States, between the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries:

1. $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 7, 2022: Won in California
2. $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023: Won in California
3. $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023: Won in Florida
4. $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016: Three winners in California, Florida, Tennessee
5. $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018: Won in South Carolina
6. $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2022: Won in Maine
7. $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022: Won in Illinois
8. $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 6, 2024: Won in Oregon
9. $1.269 billion, Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024: Won in California
10. $1.128 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, 2024: Won in New Jersey
11. $1.08 billion, Powerball, July 19, 2023: Won in California
12. $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021: Won in Michigan
13. $842.4 million, Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024: Won in Michigan
14. $810 million, Mega Millions, Sept. 10, 2024: Won in Texas
15. $768.4 million, Powerball, March 27, 2019: Won in Wisconsin
16. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017: Won in Massachusetts
17. $754.6 million, Powerball: Feb. 6, 2023: Won in Washington
18. $731.1 million,, Powerball, Jan. 20, 2021: Won in Maryland
19. $699.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 4, 2021: Won in California
20. $687.8 million, Powerball, Oct. 27, 2018: Two winners in Iowa, New York

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms and conditions.