Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4139) allocates $15 million from the state General Fund to the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Foundation for facilities expansion. The funds specifically support adding 11,850 square feet to the Vietnam Era Museum, enabling the foundation to achieve accreditation, preserve artifacts with new equipment, and enhance educational programs. The foundation serves over 10,000 New Jersey students annually through its exhibits and storytelling initiatives about Vietnam War service. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly benefiting the Memorial Foundation and its museum operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requests that the Joint Committee on the Library of Congress approve replacing New Jersey's current statues of Richard Stockton (a Revolutionary War figure) and Philip Kearny (a Civil War general) in the National Statuary Hall Collection with statues of Harriet Tubman (an abolitionist and Underground Railroad leader) and Alice Paul (a women's suffrage activist). It establishes a temporary committee to manage the administrative process, including where the existing statues will be displayed after replacement. The bill highlights Tubman's work rescuing enslaved people and Paul's role in securing women's voting rights through the 19th Amendment. If approved, the request would update New Jersey's representation in the national collection to honor figures with significant civil rights contributions.

Maddy summaryA4230 requires New Jersey movie theaters to provide communication devices (such as hearing loops or screen readers) for customers with visual or hearing impairments. It amends the Law Against Discrimination to explicitly include these accessibility requirements for movie theaters, classifying them as "places of public accommodation" under the law. The bill directly affects movie theater operators, mandating they implement these accommodations, while benefiting individuals with disabilities by improving access to movie screenings. This expands existing anti-discrimination protections to cover specific accessibility needs in entertainment venues.

Maddy summaryACR 112 is a concurrent resolution directing New Jersey's State Commission of Investigation (SCI) to examine human trafficking activity at massage and bodywork therapy businesses. The SCI must investigate these locations - where employers are registered and therapists are licensed under state law - and submit a report with findings and recommendations within two years. The report may be delayed up to 120 days if the Attorney General objects to information suggesting potential trafficking or criminal activity. This resolution does not change existing laws but mandates an investigation to address concerns highlighted in a 2018 Polaris Project report about trafficking in such businesses.

Maddy summaryAJR 137 designates October 31st of each year as "Juliette Gordon Low Day" in New Jersey to honor the founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day through community activities. This ceremonial measure directly affects New Jersey residents by establishing an official state recognition of Juliette Gordon Low's birthday, with no new laws, funding, or regulatory changes. It commemorates her founding of the Girl Scouts movement, which has impacted millions of girls nationwide through leadership development programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that applications to add wireless equipment (such as cell antennas) to existing structures must be reviewed and approved by a municipal administrative officer, not by a planning board or land use committee. It sets a 30-day deadline for the administrative officer to act on collocation applications, with automatic approval if the deadline passes. The approved zoning permit for collocation then satisfies requirements for all other permits, like building or electrical, eliminating redundant reviews. This applies to all New Jersey municipalities and primarily affects wireless companies seeking to expand their infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects tenants who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking from housing discrimination. Landlords cannot evict, refuse to renew, or deny rentals based on a tenant’s victim status. To qualify, tenants must provide documentation like restraining orders, law enforcement records, medical reports, or certifications from domestic violence specialists. Violating this law could lead to civil lawsuits where victims recover damages, attorney fees, and court costs. The bill amends New Jersey's eviction statutes to explicitly prohibit housing decisions based on victim status.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4181) allows New Jersey pharmacists to provide emergency supplies of **chronic maintenance drugs** without a current prescription under specific conditions. It directly affects **patients needing urgent access to ongoing medications** (like for diabetes or hypertension) when a refill is unavailable, and **pharmacists** who must follow strict criteria: the pharmacy must have a prior prescription record without a valid refill, the pharmacist must have tried but failed to contact the prescribing provider, and the drug must not be a controlled substance. The emergency supply is limited to a **30-day amount** (or standard unit size), and pharmacists receive **civil immunity** from liability unless gross negligence occurs. The bill does not change existing rules for 72-hour emergency supplies under current regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public agencies to remove handwritten signatures from documents posted on their official websites to protect personal privacy. Individuals can request removal of their signatures from previously posted documents within seven business days of a written request. The law does not apply to signatures on election petitions, ballots, or public officials' signatures on government records related to their official duties.

Maddy summaryAJR 121 designates the week of February 24-March 2 each year as "Say Something Week" in New Jersey. The resolution aims to raise awareness about preventing school violence and youth suicide by encouraging students to report warning signs to trusted adults, based on statistics showing most school shooters and suicide attempters shared their plans with others beforehand. It requests the Governor issue a proclamation urging schools and communities to observe the week with educational activities. This is a symbolic resolution with no new legal requirements, focusing solely on awareness.