Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Predatory Alienation Prevention and Consensual Response Act," creating a system to prevent and address predatory alienation - a pattern where individuals are manipulated through isolation, coercion, and undue influence to gain control over their decisions. The law directly affects vulnerable populations (including children, seniors, veterans, individuals with developmental disabilities, and incarcerated people) and facilities serving them, such as hospitals, senior centers, schools, and correctional institutions. Key provisions include mandatory screening assessments for vulnerability, a counseling referral system connecting victims and concerned family members to support services, and public education campaigns with targeted information for different population groups. The system focuses on voluntary, consensual support rather than mandatory interventions, requiring annual reporting on screening results and program effectiveness to ensure it balances victim protection with personal autonomy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3661) allows individuals with hearing impairments - identified by a specific numerical code on their New Jersey driver's license - to apply for a free vehicle windshield placard displaying the international deaf symbol. The placard, issued by the Motor Vehicle Commission, must be displayed per commission guidelines but does not grant access to disability parking privileges unless the person also holds a separate disability placard. The bill directly affects hearing-impaired drivers who currently lack a dedicated placard option and clarifies that this placard is solely for identification, not for accessing disability parking benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new requirements for doctors prescribing opioids for pain management in New Jersey. It limits initial opioid prescriptions for acute pain to a five-day supply and requires doctors to discuss risks, review patient history, and check prescription monitoring data before prescribing. For chronic pain treatment, doctors must create written pain management agreements with patients, conduct baseline and annual urine tests, and refer patients to specialists if treatment goals aren't met. The bill also allows 90-day prescriptions for implantable pumps used in cancer or terminal illness care. These rules apply to medical practitioners (including doctors, dentists, and nurse practitioners) who prescribe opioids for pain, excluding patients in hospice, cancer care, or long-term facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to the New Jersey Library Network to cover rising operational costs. It directly supports approximately 2,500 public libraries across New Jersey that provide community access to materials, programs, and services. The funding is a supplemental allocation added to existing library funding under the annual appropriations act. It ensures these libraries can continue serving residents without service disruptions due to financial pressures. The bill does not change library policies or eligibility - it solely provides emergency operational funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Office of State Dental Director and the New Jersey Oral Health Commission within the Department of Health. The State Dental Director - appointed by the Governor with input from the New Jersey Dental Association - will develop oral health awareness campaigns, create educational materials for schools, and advocate for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in dental care access. The 15-member Oral Health Commission, including state agency heads and appointed dental/health professionals, will develop policies and awareness campaigns to improve statewide oral health. Both entities will report annually to the Governor and Legislature on oral health status and progress, with the director overseeing all dental health programs in the Department of Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey nursing homes to establish permanent morgues for storing deceased residents during normal times and supplemental emergency morgue space for public health emergencies. Nursing homes must develop and submit a long-term storage plan to the Department of Health within 30 days of the bill's effective date, detailing how they'll store bodies safely and humanely. The permanent morgue must hold at least two bodies simultaneously, and bodies must be transferred for final disposition within five days during normal times (or as soon as practicable during emergencies). Nursing homes must maintain records for five years and face civil penalties of up to $5,000 for non-compliance with storage and transfer requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill shortens the timeline for the first permanency hearing for children in foster care from 12 months to six months after placement, specifically when the court is working to reunite the child with their parents. The hearing reviews the child's permanency plan, including goals for returning home or achieving a permanent placement, and evaluates services provided by the child welfare agency. The change applies only to cases where reunification efforts are required; for cases where reunification is not pursued (e.g., due to safety concerns), hearings must still occur within 30 days as previously mandated. This adjustment aims to accelerate decisions about children's long-term stability without altering existing requirements for periodic plan reviews.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for direct support professional services under New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to include individuals with disabilities aged 18 to 21. Currently, these services are only available to those 21 and older, leaving many who graduate high school before age 21 without access. The law requires DHS to provide non-medical, daily support to help these individuals integrate into the community, manage daily living, pursue employment, and make independent choices. It does not change existing school-based support for those under 21 but ensures continuity of care after high school graduation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3622) requires all New Jersey state agencies to replace the terms "mother" and "father" with "parent or guardian" on every official form, document, or application provided to the public. It directly affects state departments, commissions, and agencies that use these terms in their standard materials. The key mechanism mandates the immediate replacement of these terms on all state-furnished forms, with implementation required within three months of the bill's enactment. The change applies uniformly across all state-issued documents to ensure inclusive language.

Maddy summaryThis bill officially recognizes New Jersey's Sandhill Indian Tribe of Neptune as an American Indian Tribe for specific, limited purposes. It helps the tribe access federal education, job training, housing benefits, and grants by providing state-level validation. The recognition also protects their traditional religious practices, burial sites, and allows tribal handicrafts to be sold as "Indian made." Crucially, it explicitly states this recognition does not apply to gambling, land claims, or federal gaming regulations.