Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill imposes a $0.40 monthly fee per mobile line on New Jersey residents using commercial mobile or IP-enabled voice services (excluding federal Lifeline program users) to fund the state's 9-8-8 crisis system. Telecom companies collect the fee from customers' bills and send it quarterly to a new "9-8-8 Suicide Prevention and Behavioral Health Crisis Hotline Trust Fund." The fund will pay for 9-8-8 call routing, mobile crisis response teams, crisis stabilization centers, and public awareness campaigns. This directly affects all NJ mobile subscribers (except Lifeline users) and creates a dedicated revenue stream for expanding behavioral health crisis services.

Maddy summaryThis bill would exempt salaries and wages for emergency response personnel (like firefighters, police, and EMTs) from New Jersey's 2.5% annual municipal budget cap. Municipalities could then increase these specific payroll costs without triggering the standard budget growth limit. The change directly affects local governments managing public safety staffing costs, providing budget flexibility for essential emergency services.

Maddy summaryAJR 35 designates August each year as "Civility Month" in New Jersey. It does not create new laws or affect specific groups; instead, it requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging residents and officials to observe the month through activities promoting respectful discourse. The resolution cites studies showing widespread public concern about declining civility in political and social interactions, linking incivility to issues like cyberbullying and reduced community engagement. Its sole mechanism is the symbolic designation of August to raise awareness and encourage civil behavior, with no binding requirements or policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1940) required manufacturers of menstrual products sold in New Jersey to list all non-confidential ingredients on product packaging and their websites, with ingredients ordered by quantity. It applied to all menstrual products - like tampons, pads, cups, and underwear - packaged for individual retail sale, giving manufacturers 18 months to comply after the law took effect. Manufacturers could exclude confidential business information but had to list it by common name. Non-compliant products faced civil penalties of up to $1,000 per package, based on 1% of annual in-state sales. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as P.L.2025, c.232 and enacted into law.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3585) makes it a crime to knowingly share manipulated videos or audio that falsely depict a candidate or election issue within 90 days of an election, with penalties including up to a fourth-degree offense (or third-degree for repeat violations). It directly affects voters (by aiming to prevent deception), candidates (who can seek legal relief for false depictions), and content creators (who face criminal or civil liability). Key provisions require clear disclaimers for minor edits or news/satire content, and exempt social media platforms, traditional media, and news outlets under federal law. The law does not apply to accidental edits, news reporting, or content with prominent disclaimers identifying manipulation.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have established criminal penalties (fourth-degree crimes) for employers who knowingly falsify payroll records required under New Jersey's Prevailing Wage Act or make false statements on public works contractor registration forms. It directly affects employers working on public construction projects subject to prevailing wage requirements. Currently, such violations are punishable only as minor offenses (up to 90 days in jail), but this bill would have increased penalties to up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fines. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was approved as part of P.L.2025, c.356, meaning the changes are now law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-2335) protects E-ZPass users whose vehicles with transponders are stolen. If a customer reports the theft promptly to the toll authority and provides a police report, they won’t be charged for: - Unauthorized tolls of $50 or more incurred before reporting, - Any unauthorized tolls after reporting, or - Fees for replacing the stolen transponder. It applies to New Jersey’s toll systems operated by the Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority. The exemption requires timely reporting and police documentation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2066) establishes the "New Jersey STEM Scholars Grant Pilot Program" to provide competitive grants to public school districts, renaissance schools, and charter schools. The program funds three specific STEM education approaches: project-based learning, after-school STEM activities, and out-of-school STEM experiences. Schools applying must detail how funds will enhance existing programs or create new ones, recruit students, support educators, and ensure long-term sustainability. Grants must supplement, not replace, existing STEM funding and are subject to annual state appropriations. The program runs for four years, with funding sourced from state appropriations and private donations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes a central registry for newborns diagnosed with sickle cell trait (carrying one sickle cell gene, not the full disease) and requires health officials to notify parents about genetic counseling. It mandates that doctors inform parents about the risk of passing the trait to future children and the need for follow-up care. Parents will receive targeted notifications during early adolescence (regarding sports safety risks) and later adolescence (regarding reproductive planning), with similar outreach for patients turning 18. All registry information remains confidential, with penalties for unauthorized disclosure, including fines or imprisonment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2649) requires all health insurance plans sold in the state to cover annual mental health screenings as part of standard coverage for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. It applies to hospital service, medical service, and health service insurance contracts, mandating that insurers provide this coverage under the same terms and conditions as physical health care - meaning no stricter copays, deductibles, or review processes for mental health than for other medical services. The law aligns with federal parity requirements and specifically adds the annual screening as a covered benefit. This directly affects all health insurance companies operating in New Jersey and their policyholders, ensuring access to preventative mental health care without additional cost barriers.