Happy New Year, New Jersey!
Now that 2025 has arrived, several new laws are being introduced that could affect many aspects of daily life in our state.
The laws will cover health insurance, driving, real estate, wages, and support for new moms, all of which aim to address important issues and improve everyone’s lives.
Here’s a detailed look at what’s new and how it might affect you.
Starting January 1, health insurance companies in New Jersey will need to speed up their handling of prior authorizations.
They must decide within 24 hours for urgent medical requests, while non-urgent cases have a 72-hour limit.
Approvals for long-term or chronic conditions will remain valid for 180 days.
However, if you switch insurance plans, any authorizations from your old plan will carry over for 60 days.
Additionally, if a request is denied, the decision must come from a physician in the same specialty as the doctor who made the recommendation.
This law applies to state-regulated insurance plans like the State Health Benefits Program and the School Employees Health Benefits Program but not to federally regulated self-insured plans.
New rules are also coming for young drivers.
Starting February 2, anyone under 21 learning to drive must log 50 hours of practice, including 10 hours at night, before getting a probationary license.
Parents or guardians will need to track and confirm these hours with the Division of Motor Vehicles.
This law was introduced to address safety concerns, as data from 2019 showed 30,000 crashes involving drivers under 21, with 7,000 resulting in injuries or fatalities.
Also, victims of sexual assault will now be kept informed about progress in their cases.
From January 1, investigators must notify survivors if DNA evidence leads to a profile if the profile is entered into a database, and if it finds a match.
This builds on the Sexual Assault Victim’s Bill of Rights, which already requires forensic evidence to be preserved for at least five years.
The new law ensures victims have access to timely updates, helping them feel more informed and supported throughout the investigation process.
Real estate appraisers in New Jersey will be required to complete anti-bias training starting March 8.
It will also be illegal for appraisers to factor in personal characteristics like race, religion, or sexual orientation when valuing a home.
These changes aim to address longstanding discrimination in real estate, which has often prevented minority families from building wealth.
By tackling biases, the state hopes to promote fairness and reduce the racial wealth gap in homeownership.
Starting May 17, healthcare providers will need to create individualized postpartum care plans for mothers leaving the hospital.
These plans will include information about any complications during pregnancy, follow-up recommendations, and advice on recognizing postpartum depression or anxiety.
Even mothers who have experienced a miscarriage or stillbirth will receive these plans.
With one in five mothers developing mood disorders during or after pregnancy, this law aims to improve care and prevent complications.
Finally, there’s good news for workers as New Jersey’s minimum wage increases on January 1.
The general minimum wage will rise to $15.49 per hour, while seasonal and small business workers will earn $14.53 per hour.
Farmworkers will see their wages increase to $13.40, and employees in long-term care facilities will now earn at least $18.49 per hour.
These increases are part of a 2019 law that tied wage hikes to the consumer price index to keep up with inflation.
The new laws we have seen today show that the state is working to make New Jersey a safer, fairer, and better place to live.
As the changes start, they’re expected to improve life for everyone in the state.
Here’s to 2025—a year of positive changes and progress!
