New Jersey Senate approves package of bills including expanded early voting and yearlong postpartum Medicaid coverage

The New Jersey State Senate approved a broad slate of measures on third reading, including an expansion of the early voting period that carries a $6 million appropriation, and a bill codifying 365‑day Medicaid coverage for eligible postpartum women.

The session opened with ceremonial remarks and the pledge of allegiance; senators then confirmed nominees, adopted resolutions and took roll calls on a series of bills sent to the floor for third reading. Most third‑reading bills passed with unanimous or near‑unanimous tallies, while the early voting expansion drew the narrowest margin of recorded support.

The early voting expansion, S.3990, which lengthens the early voting period for primary elections and extends the challenger appointment deadline and includes an appropriation of $6,000,000, passed 25 in favor and 13 opposed. The Senate cast recorded votes on that measure; Senator Stack moved the bill for consideration.

A health measure, S.3934, codifying Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for a 365‑day period beginning on the last day of pregnancy, passed on a recorded vote of 39‑0. Sponsors listed on the floor included Senator Ruiz and Senator Vitale.

Other bills the Senate passed on third reading included measures on renewable energy definitions, tax treatment for volunteer emergency responders, consumer protections, higher‑education procedures, and property and criminal law changes. Several bills passed unanimously (39‑0 or 38‑0 where recorded) and a handful passed by smaller recorded margins (for example, S.3735 passed 34‑2; S.4144 passed 27‑10).

The Senate also confirmed nominations presented in three lists. Lists 1 and 2 were confirmed by recorded votes of 39‑0; an emergency on list 3 was declared and that list was confirmed 39‑0. During…