Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryAJR 33 designates August as "Radon Awareness Month" and August 2 as "Radon Action Day" in New Jersey. The resolution aims to increase public awareness about radon - a colorless, odorless radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer - by encouraging regular home testing and mitigation. It does not create new regulations but urges residents to follow New Jersey DEP recommendations, such as testing homes every two years or after structural changes, to reduce exposure risks. The bill recognizes that radon exposure affects homes statewide, with many areas classified as moderate to high risk.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1887 proposes to remove specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for state benefits. Currently, eligibility depends on service during defined conflict periods (e.g., WWII service between September 1940-December 1946), but this bill would amend the definition of "veteran" to eliminate those time-bound criteria. It directly affects veterans who served in conflicts like World War II, Korea, Vietnam, or later missions but may not meet the current narrow date windows. The change would broaden eligibility by focusing on service-connected status rather than exact historical dates. The bill is currently pending in the Assembly Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's existing employer reporting requirements to include ride-sharing, delivery, and other technology platforms that contract with workers for pay. It requires these entities to report worker details (name, address, date of birth, Social Security number) and their own business information to the state within 20 days of hiring or rehiring, or every 15 days if reporting electronically. Failure to comply results in civil penalties of up to $25 per violation, or $500 for intentional false reporting. The law applies to all employers and contractors paying workers in New Jersey, including those using Form 1099 for compensation.

Maddy summaryACR 41 is a New Jersey legislative resolution urging Congress to add Ireland to the E-3 nonimmigrant visa program. It seeks to allow Irish nationals to use the approximately 5,250 unused E-3 visas annually (currently reserved only for Australian workers), which are currently underutilized despite U.S. labor shortages in specialized fields. The resolution highlights Ireland's historical contributions to U.S. workforce development and notes Ireland's expressed interest in reciprocal visa opportunities for American workers. This is a procedural request, not a law, and does not change existing visa allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1705) amends New Jersey law to define a law enforcement officer’s use of a chokehold - applying pressure to the throat, windpipe, or carotid artery - as "deadly force." It directly affects police officers in New Jersey, requiring them to justify such actions only when necessary to prevent death or serious injury to themselves or others. The key provision adds a specific definition to the statute, stating that hindering breathing or blood flow through a chokehold automatically constitutes deadly force, not just a lesser use of force. This change clarifies that chokeholds cannot be used in routine situations, only under the same strict circumstances as other deadly force scenarios. The bill is pending in the Assembly Public Safety Committee and has not yet become law.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits prosecutors from offering negotiated plea agreements that reduce prison time or fines for burglary convictions when a firearm was involved. It directly affects defendants charged with burglary who used a firearm during the crime, requiring them to face the full second-degree penalty rather than a reduced sentence through plea bargaining. The law amends New Jersey's burglary statute to specify that such plea agreements are ineligible if the defendant was "armed with or displays what appears to be explosives or a deadly weapon" during the offense. The bill defines "firearm" broadly to include handguns, rifles, shotguns, and certain air guns, but does not change the underlying burglary charges or penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Medicaid to cover fertility preservation services (like egg or sperm freezing) for individuals who develop infertility as a direct result of medically necessary treatments, such as cancer therapy. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries facing treatment-induced infertility who would otherwise pay out-of-pocket for these services. The key provision amends Medicaid coverage to include these services under "comprehensive medical care" when recommended by a physician prior to treatments known to cause infertility. The policy change ensures coverage for fertility preservation as part of standard medical care, without adding new administrative burdens to existing Medicaid services.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's domestic violence restraining order procedures to strengthen protections for victims. It requires courts to hold hearings within 10 days, apply a standard where the victim must show abuse is more likely than not, and consider factors like past abuse and immediate safety risks. The bill mandates that restraining orders prohibit defendants from possessing firearms and require immediate surrender of weapons, while also allowing courts to order monetary compensation for victims' losses - including counseling costs, property damage, and other expenses. These changes directly affect victims and defendants in domestic violence cases by clarifying court procedures and enhancing safety measures.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $8,000,000 from the Property Tax Relief Fund to Monmouth County's Open Space and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund. The funds are specifically designated to help purchase the Stein property in Upper Freehold Township, a historic Revolutionary War site. The funding supports permanent preservation of this farmland, preventing a proposed warehouse development that local residents and groups expressed concerns about affecting open space, water sources, and community quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey counties to create diversion programs for certain first-time juvenile offenders. Eligible juveniles charged with petty disorderly persons offenses, disorderly persons offenses, fourth-degree crimes, or third-degree crimes (excluding drug offenses) may be referred to the New Jersey Youth Challenge Academy instead of facing criminal charges. If they successfully complete the academy program, the charges against them are dismissed. The program requires juveniles to meet specific academy eligibility criteria, such as being a high school dropout and unemployed.