Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryAJR 138 designates October 22nd each year as "Stuttering Awareness Day" and the second full week in May as "Stuttering Awareness Week" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue annual proclamations encouraging public observance through activities that promote awareness of existing support and treatment services for people who stutter. It does not create new programs, funding, or legal requirements. The bill focuses on raising public understanding of stuttering - a speech disorder affecting approximately 3 million Americans - without altering any policies or services. This is a symbolic, procedural resolution with no direct impact on specific individuals or organizations.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution urges Congress and the President to reauthorize the Family Violence Prevention and Services Act (FVPSA), which provides the primary federal funding for domestic violence services. The FVPSA currently supports over 1,600 community-based programs nationwide, offering emergency shelter, counseling, legal aid, and crisis intervention to approximately 1.3 million victims annually - including services like the National Domestic Violence Hotline. The resolution highlights that since FVPSA’s 2015 authorization expired, funding has remained below the authorized $175 million, leaving over 11,000 service requests unmet nationally (including 131 in New Jersey) in 2017. It specifically references pending bipartisan bills (S.2784/H.R.6014) seeking to reauthorize the law through 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school principals to permit representatives from youth-focused patriotic societies (defined as organizations listed in Title 36 of the U.S. Code, such as the Boy Scouts) to speak to students during regular school hours in the first quarter of the school year. The societies must provide advance notice to principals about their presentation, which must explain civic involvement opportunities without soliciting personal information. School principals retain full discretion over the timing, location, and format of these presentations. The law directly affects public school students, principals, and qualifying patriotic organizations by mandating access to school classrooms during a specific academic period.

Maddy summaryAJR 133 designates February 4th of each year as "Women and Girls in Sports Day" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to recognize and celebrate women's and girls' contributions to sports, while promoting gender equality in athletics. It highlights ongoing gender disparities in sports resources like funding, facilities, and equipment, though the resolution itself does not create new policies or allocate funds. The measure aligns with the existing national observance of "National Girls and Women in Sports Day" and encourages public awareness through community activities. As a joint resolution, it serves as a formal state recognition rather than a legislative mandate with concrete policy changes.

Maddy summaryAJR 129 designates the week of February 24 through March 2 each year as "Say Something Week" to raise awareness about preventing school violence. It requests the Governor issue a proclamation encouraging New Jersey middle and high schools to hold activities teaching students to recognize warning signs of potential violence or suicide and report concerns to trusted adults. The resolution aims to build a school culture where students feel empowered to act when they hear about threats, based on statistics showing many perpetrators shared their plans with others beforehand. This is a symbolic designation, not a binding law, and applies annually to all public schools in the state.

Maddy summaryACR 112 proposes a constitutional amendment to allow disabled veterans to qualify for state benefits regardless of when they served. Currently, disabled veterans must have served "in time of war or other emergency" to receive benefits like civil service hiring preferences and property tax deductions. The amendment would remove this time-of-service requirement, enabling veterans with service-connected disabilities who served at any time to access these benefits. This change would directly affect disabled veterans who served during peacetime or non-emergency periods. The bill seeks to update eligibility under New Jersey's Constitution for veterans' benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits manufacturers and distributors from excessively increasing prices for essential off-patent or generic prescription drugs and biological products without justification. It targets price hikes exceeding 50% within one year or exceeding $80 for a 30-day supply or full treatment, triggering an investigation by the Director of Consumer Affairs. Manufacturers must then justify the increase within 45 days by detailing production costs, cost changes, and public health efforts. Violations can result in court orders requiring price restoration, mandatory availability at prior prices, or civil penalties up to $10,000 per sale.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey Medicaid coverage to include cochlear implants and auditory osseointegrated devices, in addition to hearing aids, for individuals with hearing impairments when deemed medically necessary. It specifies that these devices, along with related accessories and services, must be prescribed or recommended by a licensed physician or audiologist. The bill codifies and expands upon New Jersey's existing Medicaid coverage for hearing aids, which was already available for medically necessary cases. This change directly affects Medicaid recipients with hearing impairments who require these assistive devices for daily functioning and communication.

Maddy summaryACR 116 is a New Jersey Assembly concurrent resolution expressing support for a "Farmers Bill of Rights" that would establish specific rights for farmers. It outlines concrete rights including fair access to markets for seeds and equipment, the right to repair farm machinery, transparent product labeling, protection of farmland, and access to fair capital. The resolution does not create new laws but urges the U.S. Congress to pass similar legislation and asks federal and state agencies to support the agricultural community. This symbolic resolution directly addresses concerns about corporate concentration in agriculture and aims to influence federal policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3612) expands New Jersey's tuition benefit program to include dependents of all U.S. Armed Forces members who died while on active duty, not just New Jersey National Guard members as previously required. It allows eligible dependents (children or surviving spouses) to attend public New Jersey colleges tuition-free for up to 16 credits per semester and receive a new monetary award equal to 10% of tuition costs for non-tuition expenses like housing, meals, or supplies. Dependents must first apply for all available state, federal, and VA education benefits before using this program. The changes take effect immediately for the next academic year.