Public Administration
Appeal Filed in School Segregation Case – On April 15th, attorneys filed a motion asking a state appellate court to reconsider a lawsuit alleging the state has failed to address racial segregation in its public schools. The case, originally filed in 2018, argues that longstanding discriminatory housing policies have made New Jersey’s schools among the most segregated in the country. In 2023, a judge acknowledged that racial imbalances existed within the school system and that the state is responsible for addressing the issue. However, the judge ruled that the plaintiffs failed to provide sufficient evidence of system-wide segregation across all school districts. Governor Phil Murphy and the state Department of Education have until April 28th to respond to the new filing.
Health
Committee Advances Bill to Expand Access to Mental Health Medications – On April 10th, the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee voted 9-1 to advance Bill A4838 related to insurance limits on psychiatric drug prescriptions. The bill would require health insurance companies and state programs to cover medication for serious mental illnesses, without insurer prior authorization or “step therapy” protocols, if prescribed by psychiatrists or obstetrician/gynecologists in postpartum cases. Step therapy is a practice where insurers require patients to try lower-cost or alternative medications before covering the doctor’s original prescription. Supporters, including the New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies, argue the bill would reduce treatment delays and improve outcomes. Critics, such as the New Jersey Association of Health Plans, warn that the measure would eliminate important safety checks and lead to higher costs.