Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryAJR 128 designates October of each year as "Cyber Security Awareness Month" in New Jersey to educate all state residents about online safety risks and responsible digital behavior. The bill requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials, private organizations, and citizens to participate in awareness activities during October. It does not create new laws or funding but aligns New Jersey with the federal National Cyber Security Awareness Month designation. The resolution aims to increase public understanding of threats like data breaches, fraud, and privacy risks, building on existing state efforts like the Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Cell.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a Veterans Affairs Oversight Board within New Jersey's Department of Veterans Affairs to monitor all state programs and services for veterans and military families. The board will oversee veteran service officers, state agencies providing these services, and their programs, requiring agencies to submit biannual reports on services delivered and appoint liaisons. Board members will be appointed from veteran service organizations and elected to lead, with mandatory monthly meetings and annual budget reviews for veteran programs. This structure aims to enhance accountability and transparency in how state resources support veterans and their families.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public schools to teach suicide prevention and related mental health education in every grade from kindergarten through 12th grade. It mandates that the State Board of Education revise curriculum standards within 180 days to include eight specific elements, such as recognizing suicide warning signs, understanding mental health's connection to overall health, identifying support resources, and addressing stigma. The instruction must be age-appropriate and evidence-based, covering topics like risk factors, protective factors, and the relationship between mental health and substance abuse. Implementation begins with the first full school year after the bill takes effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a mandatory incentive-based payment system for home health agencies and healthcare service firms that serve NJ FamilyCare recipients enrolled in Fully Integrated Dual Eligible Special Needs Plans. It requires these providers to meet specific performance targets across nine key health outcomes - including reduced hospitalizations, improved patient mobility, medication reconciliation, and fewer adverse events - to earn additional payments. The system measures performance using standardized metrics from the "Outcome and Assessment Information Set," with payments distributed by managed care organizations based on achieved results. Agencies must also implement protocols for care coordination, discharge follow-up, and patient education as part of participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "New Jersey Kratom Consumer Protection Act," regulates kratom products sold in New Jersey. It directly affects kratom retailers (businesses selling kratom) and consumers, requiring them to comply with specific safety and labeling rules. Key provisions include banning kratom products contaminated with dangerous substances (like certain drugs or solvents), limiting the alkaloid 7-hydroxymitragynine to under 2% of the product, mandating clear labeling of active ingredients and serving sizes, and prohibiting sales to anyone under 21 years old. The bill does not ban kratom but sets safety standards for its sale and labeling.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all elected and appointed municipal and county officials in New Jersey to complete annual ethics training on the state's Local Government Ethics Law and any applicable local code of ethics. New officials must finish training within six months of taking office, while all others must complete it by December 1 each year. The state will develop a standardized training program (which may include online options), and officials must sign a certificate of completion and file it with their municipal attorney or county counsel. Failure to comply may result in personal fines of $1,000 to $5,000, payable directly by the official.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax exclusions for New Jersey taxpayers using "lifelong learning accounts" to cover education expenses. Eligible taxpayers (aged 18-70) can exclude up to $2,500 in employer contributions and account earnings from their gross income each year. Distributions used for qualified education expenses (e.g., tuition, books) are also excluded from taxable income, but nonqualified withdrawals incur a 5% penalty tax. The accounts must be administered by banks or approved entities, cannot invest in life insurance, and require strict reporting to avoid penalties. This directly affects New Jersey residents saving for education through these designated accounts.

Maddy summaryAJR 134 designates March as "Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs Month" in New Jersey to honor the service of these dogs and their handlers. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition through appropriate activities during March. It does not create new laws, funding, or requirements - it is a symbolic gesture acknowledging the historical and ongoing contributions of military and law enforcement working dogs since the U.S. Army established its formal K-9 program in 1942.

Maddy summaryThis bill permits the interment of cremated pet remains in designated spaces within New Jersey cemeteries, specifically in graves, crypts, or columbarium niches. It directly affects pet owners who wish to bury their pets' ashes alongside human remains in cemetery plots that already allow such interments. The bill amends existing cemetery law by adding definitions for "cremated pet remains" and clarifying that these remains may be interred in the same spaces used for human cremated remains. The change applies only to cemeteries that previously permitted human remains interment, without requiring new infrastructure or altering cemetery operations.

Maddy summaryAJR 120 designates the last Friday in March of every year as "Social-Emotional Learning Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging schools, organizations, and communities to observe the day through activities promoting social-emotional learning (SEL). SEL refers to skills like managing emotions, building relationships, and making responsible decisions - core competencies highlighted in the bill. This is a symbolic recognition effort with no new requirements for schools or funding, affecting all public and community entities across the state.