Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill requires colleges and universities in New Jersey to report any allegations of sexual misconduct committed by health care professionals employed at their institutions to the relevant state licensing board. The licensing board must then investigate the allegation to determine if disciplinary action, license suspension, or restrictions are needed. Institutions making these reports in good faith are protected from civil liability. The law directly affects higher education institutions, health care professionals (like nurses or therapists), and the state licensing boards that oversee their credentials. It does not replace campus investigations or law enforcement reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $2.5 million from the state General Fund to the Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) to reimburse joint insurance funds for covering COVID-19 surveillance testing costs. It directly affects insurance plans providing group health coverage to "covered workers" (defined in Governor Murphy's executive orders), specifically for weekly testing of unvaccinated, asymptomatic employees in healthcare and high-risk settings from August 2021 to August 2022. The reimbursement covers costs incurred by insurance funds that voluntarily provided this testing despite federal guidance not requiring it. The bill establishes a process for funds to request reimbursement through DOBI and clarifies that "surveillance testing" refers to routine screening to identify asymptomatic cases, distinct from required medical testing.

Maddy summaryAJR 73 designates May of each year as "Older Americans Month" in New Jersey through a symbolic resolution. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public recognition of older residents' contributions to community life, civic engagement, and the workforce. The bill does not create new programs, funding, or policy changes - it solely establishes a formal month of acknowledgment. This follows a national tradition that began in 1980, focusing on honoring older Americans' ongoing value and rededicating efforts to support their well-being.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows veterans living in New Jersey State veterans' residential facilities to have service dogs and emotional support dogs on-site. It requires facilities to permit these animals under federal guidelines but adds that emotional support animals (not covered by federal law) are now explicitly allowed. Facilities may deny access if animals aren't controlled, aren't trained to eliminate waste outdoors, or pose health/safety risks, and veterans must provide documentation confirming the animal's certification and current vaccinations. The bill directly affects veterans with disabilities who rely on these animals for support.

Maddy summaryBill A 2338 required public transportation employees, motorbus operators, hotel/motel staff, healthcare facility workers, and judicial personnel to complete one-time training on recognizing human trafficking signs and responding appropriately. The training, mandated as a condition for license renewals or employment, must include specific content about victim signals observed in public spaces and be reviewed biennially. It applied directly to licensed entities like hotels, healthcare facilities, and transit operators, with enforcement handled by the Department of Community Affairs and Department of Health. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, after being approved as P.L.2025, c.343.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 956) requires state agencies involved in criminal justice to maintain accurate criminal records and track how those records are shared. It mandates that agencies create public logs for every record request, including who requested it, when, and why, and correct any inaccuracies within 14 days. The law directly affects individuals whose records are maintained (the "subjects") and agencies like courts, police departments, and correctional facilities that handle criminal history data. Key provisions include requiring agencies to submit biometric data within 5 days and notify other agencies of corrections within a year. The bill focuses on transparency and accuracy in record-keeping, not on changing criminal penalties or new legal standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the New Jersey Forensic Science Planning Commission, a 23-member body to oversee and plan for the state's forensic science system. The commission includes diverse stakeholders such as crime lab directors, judges, defense attorneys, academic experts, wrongful conviction advocates, and forensic science professionals. It will develop standards and strategies for forensic laboratories and services, focusing on quality, accreditation, and addressing issues like cognitive bias. The commission is procedural in nature and does not change existing laws; it is pending before the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires retired law enforcement officers in New Jersey to annually pass a firearms proficiency test to maintain their ability to carry a weapon. It directly affects retired officers who currently hold authorization to carry firearms under state law. The key provision mandates an annual examination approved by the State Police superintendent to verify firearm handling skills. This update adds a recurring qualification requirement for retired officers, aligning with existing annual testing rules for certain active law enforcement personnel like correctional officers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3768) creates a new offense for sending unsolicited nude images or sexual content via electronic means without the recipient's consent. It establishes a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) for sending such material without consent, and elevates this to a fourth-degree crime (up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine) if the sender knows the recipient is a child under 13 or someone with a mental disability unable to understand the sexual nature of the content. The law directly affects individuals who send unsolicited explicit images electronically, expanding existing lewdness statutes to cover digital transmission. Key provisions require that the recipient did not request or consent to the material, with stricter penalties for vulnerable recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to seek federal Medicaid waivers to fund additional graduate medical education slots focused on behavioral health care. It directly affects medical training programs in the state, enabling them to use Medicaid funds for new training positions in behavioral health. The bill establishes a process where existing and new medical education programs can request these funds, contingent on federal approval of the required Medicaid plan amendments. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.