Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires public agencies to redact handwritten signatures from documents they post on the Internet. It mandates that agencies remove handwritten signatures before making documents available online, while allowing individuals to request redaction of their signatures from documents posted before the law took effect. The law does not apply to signatures on election petitions, ballot questions, or public officials' signatures on government records related to their official duties. Agencies must also post notice of these requirements on their websites.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Megan's Law to comply with federal Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA) requirements. It changes the registration system from risk-based classification to offense-based classification, meaning registration duration (15 years, 25 years, or lifetime) is determined solely by the type of sex offense committed, not the offender's risk level. The bill requires sex offenders to verify their information with law enforcement at different intervals (annually for 15-year registrants, every 180 days for 25-year, and every 90 days for lifetime registrants) and updates the internet registry to provide public access to more comprehensive information about sex offenders, while excluding juvenile sex offenders from the public registry unless they were tried as adults. This change ensures New Jersey maintains full eligibility for federal law enforcement funding and creates a more uniform system across jurisdictions.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Bill A3727 requests the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approve replacing the state's current statues of Richard Stockton and Philip Kearny in the National Statuary Hall Collection with statues of Harriet Tubman and Alice Paul. The bill creates a temporary seven-member state committee to select sculptors, secure funding, and manage the replacement process, including transportation and unveiling ceremonies. This would change New Jersey's representation in the Capitol's collection, highlighting Tubman's work as an abolitionist and Underground Railroad leader and Paul's role in securing women's suffrage. The bill follows federal procedures allowing states to request statue replacements, requiring formal approval from the Joint Committee. If approved, the new statues would honor figures with significant ties to New Jersey and national history.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3713 clarifies that disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients do not need to own a vehicle to qualify for free municipal parking meter fees; leasing a vehicle is now acceptable. The exemption requires the vehicle to display a valid disabled veteran or Purple Heart license plate or placard, and the veteran must be the driver or passenger. This bill removes the prior requirement that the veteran had to be the vehicle's owner, applying immediately to all municipalities statewide. The change ensures veterans can access parking benefits regardless of vehicle ownership status, as long as the vehicle displays the proper identification and they are present in the vehicle.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the State Capitol Joint Management Commission to display a head-and-shoulders statue of Alice Paul in the New Jersey State Capitol building. It mandates the Commission to secure and place this representation in an appropriate location, with an alternative site during building renovations. The bill honors Alice Paul, a New Jersey native who co-authored the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which granted women the right to vote. The measure focuses solely on commemorating her suffrage work, with no financial or operational changes beyond the display requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Racing Commission to create safety guidelines for postponing horse races during severe weather. It directly affects horse racing events, jockeys, drivers, and horses by mandating postponements when weather poses risks. The guidelines must require postponements for conditions like active thunderstorm/tornado watches within one hour of a race start or heat index above 90°F during the race. The Commission must develop these rules in consultation with the Agriculture and Health Departments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3722 requires State employees with supervisory authority (defined as "directors" who direct other employees, enforce rules, or manage operations) to complete mental health first aid training. The Civil Service Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Human Services, will establish training standards and ensure all eligible employees receive it. Each State employer must provide the Commission with a list of directors needing training. The training covers recognizing early signs of mental health issues, understanding common disorders, and knowing appropriate referral strategies to professional help.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans to earn Firefighter 1 certification without completing the standard training course if they have 12+ months of active military service and completed military firefighter training. It directly affects veterans transitioning from military firefighting roles to civilian fire departments in New Jersey. The law waives the mandatory training course requirement while maintaining all other eligibility and examination standards set by the Division of Fire Safety. This provides a streamlined pathway for qualified military firefighters to obtain certification without repeating civilian training.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey public officials to automatically forfeit their positions upon conviction of certain crimes, including offenses involving dishonesty or crimes of third degree or higher. It clarifies that a conviction is considered related to the public office if the offense was connected to the official's duties or the trust associated with the position, regardless of whether it occurred during work hours. The bill specifies courts must assess the nature of the crime, its context, the victim's identity, and the qualifications required for the position when determining if a crime is related to the office. Officials convicted would be permanently barred from holding any future public office or position of trust in New Jersey state government or its political subdivisions. This applies to all elected and appointed public officials in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require all firearm transfers between immediate family members to be conducted through a licensed retail dealer, removing an existing exception in New Jersey law. Currently, transfers between family members defined as spouses, domestic partners, civil union partners, parents, children, and other close relatives (as specified in current law) can occur without dealer involvement. The bill would mandate that licensed dealers conduct background checks and maintain records for all such transactions. Violating this requirement would be considered a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.