New Jersey
Happy New Year, New Jersey! These new state laws will take effect in 2025.
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.
A South Jersey mother who was fatally stabbed by her teenage son was described as quiet, kind, and as a dedicated caregiver.
Julissa Serrano, 49, worked as a home health aide for Journey Hospice and lived in the Meadowbrook Condos off Route 40 in Mays Landing.
Police said they responded to her home around 6:05 p.m. Saturday after a 911 call reported a juvenile with a knife.
Officers found Serrano with multiple stab wounds, and she later died at AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center.
Neighbors said the normally quiet complex was suddenly filled with police activity.
Mehmet Cicekli, who lives two doors down, said he was at work when the killing happened. He learned what occurred after seeing television news vans outside.
“I’m really shocked,” said Cicekli, 24. “She was quiet, and she was nice.”
One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, said she believed she saw the teenager escorted from the apartment in handcuffs.
“We didn’t find out until the next day,” the neighbor said of Serrano’s death.
The circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear, but The Atlantic City Prosecutor’s Office announced they charged Serrano’s 17-year-old son with murder, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon.
He was taken to Harborfields Atlantic Youth Center pending his first court appearance.
Investigators have not said how he was identified as the suspect.
Serrano had worked for Journey Hospice for three years, regularly caring for patients facing death, said Denise Raymond, the company’s senior administrator.
“She was one of our home health aids,” Raymond told NJ Advance Media. “She was amazing — very loved by her coworkers, by her patients, by her patients’ families and we’re going to miss her.”
Serrano was named employee of the month at least once and earned positive feedback for her care, Raymond said.
“She was just a very positive, upbeat person to work with,” Raymond said. “You couldn’t be in a room with her without smiling.”
Journey Hospice is affiliated with Lutheran Social Ministries of New Jersey, a nonprofit organization under the Lutheran Christian Church that runs community outreach programs at 18 locations statewide.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on the case Tuesday.
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The basics:
- NJ vo-tech schools launch AI and robotics career pathways
- Mercer, Middlesex and Burlington schools partner with TCNJ, Kean and industry leaders
- Programs emphasize ethical AI use, industry credentials and real-world projects
- Districtwide initiatives train educators to integrate AI across all career programs
As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, New Jersey’s county vocational-technical schools are embracing a unique challenge. The schools are helping staff use AI as administrative and teaching tools as well as integrating the technology throughout their various career programs. Such broad awareness is essential among the schools that prepare students for a range of future career endeavors, from construction trades to the health sciences and even AI itself.
In early 2025, the New Jersey Department of Education awarded Mercer County Technical Schools and Middlesex County Magnet Schools each an “Expanding Career Pathways in Artificial Intelligence” grant. The funding was established to expand the state’s career and technical education (CTE) pathways to include new programs that blend AI and robotics.
Mercer County Technical Schools leveraged funding to partner with the Engineering and Computer Science departments at The College of New Jersey. The collaboration resulted in the launch of a three-course CTE sequence that is the foundation of the school’s new AI and Robotics program, with each of the courses offering students dual enrollment with TCNJ.
Charles Powell, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction at MCTS, said the grant supported a thoughtfully developed program that is “rigorous, relevant and directly connected to industry needs.” In addition to the professors at TCNJ, the school tapped industry experts to weigh in on the curriculum.
Curriculum development
“We simply could not have built a future-proof curriculum without deep partnerships,” Powell noted. “We collaborated with several incredible businesses and professionals who provided essential input on everything from course content to identifying industry-valued credentials (IVCs).”
Key partners have included: Moonbird.Ai; Nagy Group – MagicEdX.ai; QiMeta; and Croda, a global specialty chemical company, demonstrating AI’s broad reach beyond just tech companies.
“Professionals from these businesses helped us identify the critical knowledge gaps and future skill demands. Based on their feedback, we also selected the certifications students would pursue to ensure they graduate with credentials that are immediately valuable to employers,” Powell added.
In just their first year, MCTS AI and Robotics students can participate in the Certified Artificial Intelligence Prefect certification program. The course provides a strong foundation in AI, robotics, machine learning, deep learning, augmented and virtual reality, and Python programming. This certification equips students with the skills needed for future coursework, internships and emerging careers in AI-related fields. Students concurrently enroll in Computer Science Principles, where they explore computational thinking, data analysis, algorithms and programming, enhancing their problem-solving abilities through hands-on projects, digital portfolio creation and an in-depth understanding of computing’s impact on society.
Partners in AI
Middlesex County Magnet Schools also relied on strategic partnerships to develop a new AI and Robotics program. MCMS Director of Career and Technical Education Lee Neamand wrote the curriculum with feedback from HP, SHI and MRA International professionals. She also worked closely with Kean University’s Patricia Morreale, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science and Technology, to focus the curriculum around the ethical and responsible use of AI.
They focused on five ethical principles: AI enhances rather than replaces human teaching and learning; educators and students maintain agency and control; AI use is transparent and explainable; student data is protected; and AI tools promote equity and access for all learners.
“AI should be a thought partner, never a substitute for critical thinking,” explained Neamand. “Using AI without critical evaluation perpetuates biases and inaccuracies. Students need both technical skills and ethical literacy.”
AI should be a thought partner, never a substitute for critical thinking.
– Lee Neamand, MCMS director of Career and Technical Education
Neamand said that the program would fail students if it simply taught them how to use AI tools and focused too much on tasks that will become automated. She emphasized, “We’re preparing students for the jobs of the future; we’re teaching them how to create AI, manipulate AI and solve problems using AI.”
Solving problems
As students progress through the program to complete four years of high school, they will finish with a capstone project that challenges them to identify a problem in the community and use AI to solve it in a systemic way. Neamand said this type of coursework can prepare students to make a real impact in their community. She offered the example of how AI tools have increasingly been used to detect cell deformity before humans can see it.
MCMS students will further benefit from opportunities throughout the program to learn from industry experts with support from an Advisory Committee that formed organically as Neamand sought input on the curriculum.
“Through these experiences, students will collaborate on real-world AI projects with business partners, allowing them to practice their technical skills and business application,” explained MCMS Superintendent Jorge Diaz. “This collaboration creates meaningful career pathways, connecting our AI-literate students with employers seeking their skills while ensuring all students, regardless of labels and zip codes, have access to emerging tech opportunities.”
Industry feedback
MCMS also will look to these business partners and its advisory committee to provide timely feedback on students’ knowledge and level of preparedness to guide program adjustments.
“Relevance is our biggest challenge moving into the future, but it’s one we planned for,” said Powell of Mercer’s AI and Robotics program. “We also established a CTE Program Advisory Committee for our Artificial Intelligence program with our business partners and TCNJ faculty. This Advisory Committee will meet on an ongoing basis to review new advancements in AI, share best practices and constantly provide recommendations to update the curriculum materials. By formalizing this feedback loop with both academia and industry, we ensure our curriculum is reflecting the state-of-the-art industry needs and preparing students not just for today’s jobs, but for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Not just for students
Powell said developing the new AI and Robotics program has prompted the district as a whole to examine its own use of AI. Starting last spring, MCTS implemented AI professional development for all instructional staff and recently completed a District Approved Policy on Acceptable Use.
“This ensures that the responsible and ethical use of AI is woven into every classroom, not just the CTE program,” Powell emphasized.
Burlington County Institute of Technology has emerged as a leader among New Jersey’s county vocational-technical schools in preparing staff for using AI professionally. At the start of this school year, BCIT launched a districtwide AI Task Force made up of educators, administrators, students and industry partners. Led by Director of Curriculum and Instruction Danielle Hartman, the group takes on a range of AI-related topics involving ethics, guidelines for use in the classroom, district policy development, and best practices for both administrative and instructional use.
“We want to help our colleagues leverage this technology as a thought partner and also a time-saver,” explained Hartman.
BCIT recently held a full day of professional development for staff led by Thomas Semko, a talent development expert, education consultant and adjunct professor at The College of New Jersey. This latest training focused on prompt engineering, guiding instructors on creating prompts using Chat GPT or Gemini to produce impactful learning opportunities for students.
Spanning industries
Hartman explained that a plumbing instructor may prompt AI to simulate a problem in the field that a student needs to troubleshoot. The instructor can input a plumbing codebook to give the AI tool specific information to pull from when both creating the problem and evaluating the student’s solution. Instructors may also prompt the AI tool to quiz students on an input codebook or safety manual.
BCIT Assistant Superintendent Eder Joseph said the district’s focus on training staff to use AI is strategic: Instructors must first become adept at using AI before they present it as another tool for students to use in their chosen career.
“Even masonry is using AI now to simulate what a job will look like before one brick is even put into place,” Joseph said.
He added, “AI will impact many of our career programs and also will change the programs we offer here at BCIT. Some careers may become obsolete, while others emerge. We’ll constantly evaluate our program offerings and how we teach these programs to best support our students.”
Ashanti Holley, superintendent of BCIT, added, “Artificial intelligence is redefining how the world learns and works, and leadership will determine whether that future creates broader access or deeper divides. At BCIT, we lead with intention and clarity so that technology expands possibilities, strengthens human potential and positions every student for meaningful success in a rapidly changing world.”
Jackie Burke is executive director of the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools.
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