Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill expands Medicaid coverage in New Jersey to include assistive devices for individuals who are hearing impaired, subject to certain federal and state requirements. The legislation modifies existing Medicaid statutes to allow the state to provide coverage for hearing aids and related assistive technology under specific circumstances. The bill directly affects Medicaid recipients who have hearing impairments and their healthcare providers who prescribe these devices. It does not specify the exact types of devices covered or the eligibility criteria beyond referencing federal Social Security Act Title XIX limitations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows businesses in New Jersey to receive tax credits for employing individuals with developmental disabilities, including those with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, and other neurological conditions. The credits apply to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, providing 40% of the first $6,000 in wages paid to each qualified employee, up to a maximum of $2,400 per person per year. Businesses must meet specific eligibility criteria, and the total credits combined with other tax benefits cannot exceed 50% of the tax liability owed. The legislation also includes provisions to prevent abuse, such as denying credits to companies that replace regular employees with individuals with disabilities primarily to obtain tax benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey municipalities to set up online systems for residents to submit complaints and receive important municipal updates via email, text, or social media. Under the law, towns with websites must post a complaint form on their sites, while those without websites will use a state-provided form that the Department of Community Affairs will forward to local clerks. Municipalities must also allow residents to sign up for electronic notifications about public meetings, meeting minutes, budgets, emergencies, health and safety issues, and traffic changes. The bill includes a funding safeguard, meaning these electronic systems only become mandatory if the state provides money to help towns afford the implementation costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a three-year pilot program in New Jersey's Medicaid system to test a value-based payment approach for certain high-cost prescription drugs. Under the program, the state would negotiate with drug manufacturers to tie reimbursement amounts to observed patient outcomes rather than just the price of the medication. The initiative would focus on at least three expensive drugs with measurable health results and would require Medicaid managed care organizations to participate. At the end of the three-year period, the state would report findings to the Governor and Legislature to determine whether to expand or modify the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public school teachers in New Jersey to complete eight hours of mental health first aid training during their first year of employment and recertify every three years. The training covers identifying signs of mental health and substance use disorders, understanding risk factors, and learning intervention strategies for both crisis and non-crisis situations. It directly affects all public school teachers by making this instruction a mandatory part of their professional development requirements. The State Board of Education must implement these training requirements as part of existing professional development standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special "We Support the Arts" license plates, with an optional $50 application fee and $10 annual renewal fee. The collected fees will be deposited into a dedicated fund to support the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, after reimbursing the Motor Vehicle Commission for administrative costs. The bill requires the commission to design the plates through a statewide contest and prohibits using state funds for initial program costs, instead seeking private contributions to cover those expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the College Child Care Advisory Commission in New Jersey to study and make recommendations about child care services for college students. The commission will consist of 15 members, including state officials, educators, child care providers, and a student parent, who will meet to examine current programs and identify ways to improve access to child care on college campuses. Its main tasks include gathering data on student needs, reviewing existing services, and exploring partnerships between colleges and child care providers to potentially use campus facilities for child care. The commission must submit its final report to the governor, legislature, and college presidents within one year, and the bill will end once that report is issued.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public and nonpublic schools in New Jersey to place at least one portable, FDA-approved anti-choking device in accessible locations such as cafeterias and school nurse offices. The devices must be unlocked and clearly marked with identifying signs during school hours and school-sponsored events. Schools must also develop policies for device use and ensure all staff receive training in airway management and choking response techniques. The Department of Education will reimburse schools for implementation costs and may accept private contributions to help fund these expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as "Linnette Lebron's Law," amends New Jersey marriage and civil union laws to simplify procedures for couples where one partner is terminally ill. It allows the hospitalized partner's attorney-in-fact to obtain a marriage license on their behalf without requiring the ill person to appear in person, and permits the 72-hour waiting period for license issuance to be waived when a treating physician certifies the terminal illness. The law also requires officiants to submit the power of attorney along with marriage certificates for these cases, ensuring proper documentation while accommodating the medical urgency of terminally ill individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipalities in New Jersey to identify and track abandoned properties before they can receive certain state financial aid programs. It establishes a statewide database of these properties and mandates that owners document their rehabilitation efforts on a quarterly basis. Municipalities will be able to charge annual fees to cover the costs of maintaining these registries, and owners must provide evidence of repairs or improvements made to their properties. If a municipality fails to comply with these tracking and reporting requirements, it will lose access to specific state aid programs during that fiscal year.