Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study the feasibility of developing advanced reactors statewide within 18 months. The study must examine suitable locations (including retired power sites), regulatory requirements, economic viability, safety, environmental impacts, and public input through three stakeholder sessions. It directs the BPU to recommend a potential program for deploying small modular reactors and publish findings online. The study expires 30 days after the report is submitted to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill protects physicians in New Jersey from employment retaliation related to work-connected post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It prohibits employers from firing, discriminating against, or threatening physicians who take leave for a qualifying PTSD diagnosis, requiring reinstatement to their previous role after fitness is documented by an outside licensed professional. A diagnosis qualifies only if it stems from work-related trauma (directly experiencing/witnessing events or vicarious trauma from patient care) and is verified by a healthcare provider other than the physician. Violations allow employees to sue for remedies including reinstatement, back pay, and civil fines of $5,000 for first offenses or $10,000 for repeat violations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 946), now law as P.L.2025, c.177, requires mental health services to be provided in the communication method preferred by each deaf or hard of hearing individual - such as sign language or oral communication - based on their assessment. It mandates that mental health professionals be fluent in that method, trained in cultural needs, and able to collaborate with interpreters. The law also requires a state resource guide listing specialized mental health services and ensures individuals can help shape their own care plans. It directly affects all deaf or hard of hearing residents seeking mental health support in New Jersey, addressing long-standing barriers in access and care quality.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A-2593 requires the Commissioner of Education to create a sensitivity training program for high school athletic directors, coaches, and sports officials. The training covers topics like gender/sexual orientation, race, disabilities, religious tolerance, unconscious bias, and diversity. Coaches, athletic directors, and sports officials must complete the training every four years (with new hires doing it in their first year), and officials must certify completion when applying for certification. This bill, currently introduced but not yet enacted, directly affects all public and nonpublic high school sports staff in the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3359) requires New Jersey nursing homes to have specific pharmacy staffing and oversight structures to improve medication management. It mandates each facility to employ a consultant pharmacist (not affiliated with the facility's pharmacy staff), a provider pharmacist or in-house pharmacy director, and an interdisciplinary pharmacy committee that meets quarterly to review medication use. The committee must include the facility administrator, nursing staff representative, and consultant pharmacist, with records maintained of all meetings. The bill also adds a conflict-of-interest requirement, requiring consultant pharmacists to attest they have no ties to the facility’s pharmacy leadership. *Note: The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was already codified in P.L.2025, c.294.*

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the "BRAVE Act," requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs (DMVA) to give contract preference to vendors employing the highest percentage of veterans when awarding goods or service contracts. Vendors competing for DMVA contracts must submit employee veteran data, which the department must verify within 30 days; false claims lead to 5-year contract bans and contract termination. It defines "veteran" broadly to include disabled veterans certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The law directly affects businesses seeking DMVA contracts and aims to incentivize veteran employment through procurement preferences.

Maddy summaryThis proposed New Jersey bill (A 2740) requires large warehouses and distribution facilities - specifically those generating 50+ daily truck trips or exceeding 50,000-100,000 sq. ft. - to obtain annual permits from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and implement yearly measures to reduce air pollution from truck traffic. Key provisions include a 2050 deadline for zero emissions (via solutions like electric trucks or solar power), shorter 3-year permits for facilities near overburdened communities, and a points-based system for tracking pollution-reduction efforts. The bill directly affects major logistics hubs in or near communities already facing disproportionate pollution impacts, mandating DEP oversight and community input for permit renewals. It aims to address localized air quality issues missed by broader monitoring, focusing on high-traffic facilities as priority targets.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a five-year pilot program requiring New Jersey's Juvenile Justice Commission to establish three arts-based education programs for youth in detention and correction facilities. The programs, developed through partnerships with arts organizations, community groups, and private funders, aim to build skills like critical thinking, problem-solving, and self-esteem using creative arts. Each program will undergo annual evaluation to measure impacts on educational outcomes and youth development, with final recommendations for continuation or expansion to be submitted after four years. The bill directly affects juvenile offenders in state correctional facilities and requires collaboration with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal courts in New Jersey to notify applicants for public defender services about any application fee (capped at $200) and the process to waive it if they cannot afford the fee. It directly affects low-income individuals applying for municipal public defender representation in municipalities that charge such fees under existing law. The key mechanism mandates that courts provide this notice to all applicants, ensuring they know how to request a fee waiver based on financial inability. The bill does not change the fee amount or waiver standard but ensures courts proactively inform applicants of their options.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 20-member Chronic Absenteeism Task Force to study chronic absenteeism in New Jersey public schools. The task force, appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, will analyze root causes - including mental health, school climate, pandemic impacts, and discipline policies - and research state best practices to develop recommendations. It must issue a final report to the Governor and Legislature within six months, focusing on strategies to improve school attendance and family engagement. The task force expires 30 days after submitting its report. This bill directly affects public school students and districts by addressing a growing issue: chronic absenteeism rose to 16.6% in 2022-2023, up from 10.6% pre-pandemic.