Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover treatment for stuttering, including habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy as determined medically necessary by a patient's doctor. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any cost-sharing such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It applies to all insurance types including individual and group health plans, health maintenance organizations, and Medicaid, and covers both in-person and telehealth services. The bill defines habilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve daily living skills, and rehabilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps restore or improve skills that have been lost or impaired. This legislation would directly affect individuals with stuttering who rely on insurance or Medicaid for speech therapy services.

Maddy summaryS 4144 clarifies New Jersey's requirements for installing ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for drivers convicted of certain DWI offenses. The bill allows individuals with a DWI conviction to install an IID in their vehicle and receive one day of credit against their license suspension period for every two days the device is installed. This credit applies to first, second, and third DWI offenses, but is not available if the DWI resulted in serious bodily injury or involved narcotics, hallucinogens, or habit-producing drugs. Commercial vehicle DWI convictions are also ineligible for this credit. The provisions take effect immediately and expire on January 1, 2029.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summarySJR 140 designates March of each year as "Amyloidosis Awareness Month" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution aims to educate the public about amyloidosis - a rare disease involving abnormal protein buildup in organs - and its symptoms, such as fatigue, swelling, and nerve issues. It does not create new laws or provide funding but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public awareness activities. The resolution directly affects New Jersey residents by promoting early diagnosis, which can help improve outcomes for those with the disease. It is a procedural measure focused on public education, not policy or treatment changes.

Maddy summaryAJR 202 designates March each year as "Amyloidosis Awareness Month" in New Jersey. The resolution aims to educate the public about amyloidosis symptoms - such as fatigue, numbness, swelling, and organ-related issues - to encourage earlier diagnosis and improve outcomes for those affected. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation urging public awareness activities. The bill does not create new laws, funding, or medical treatments, but focuses solely on raising public knowledge about this rare disease. This designation directly affects New Jersey residents, patients with amyloidosis, and healthcare providers by promoting timely recognition of symptoms.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies the requirements for installing ignition interlock devices (IIDs) for New Jersey drivers convicted of certain DWI offenses. It allows individuals who would otherwise lose their driving privileges to instead install an IID in their vehicle and receive one day of credit toward their license suspension for every two days the device is installed. This credit is not available if the offense resulted in serious bodily injury, involved narcotics or hallucinogenic drugs, or involved operating a commercial vehicle under the influence. The bill modifies existing penalties for first, second, and third DWI offenses to clarify IID installation requirements during license forfeiture periods, with provisions taking effect immediately and expiring on January 1, 2029.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A567) requires courts to order counseling for children who have witnessed or been exposed to domestic violence in households where abuse has occurred. It establishes a legal presumption that custody of minor children should be awarded to the non-abusive parent when a final restraining order is issued in domestic violence cases. The bill also permits courts to order the abusive parent to pay for the child's counseling and requires them to provide proof of payment to the court. Additionally, it mandates that courts consider the child's exposure to domestic violence when making custody decisions, prioritizing the child's safety and well-being.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2423, now P.L.2025, c.35) formally renames New Jersey's "Juvenile Justice Commission" to "Youth Justice Commission" throughout state law. It updates all statutory references, definitions, and provisions (such as in Sections 1, 3, and 1 of related laws) to replace "Juvenile" with "Youth" while preserving all existing legal procedures and policies unchanged. The bill has no policy impact - it solely adjusts terminology to reflect the commission's focus on youth services rather than juvenile justice. The name change is now law, effective March 17, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5321) codifies Medicaid coverage for eligible pregnant women for a 365-day period beginning on the last day of pregnancy. It extends current coverage that has been provided since FY 2022 through budget language and the NJ FamilyCare 1115 demonstration, aligning with federal changes that allow states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months instead of 60 days. The coverage applies to pregnant women whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under New Jersey's Medicaid plan. This policy is currently in effect through June 30, 2028, under the existing demonstration authority.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey telephone chat-line program to connect seniors aged 60+ who feel isolated with trained volunteers for weekly supportive phone calls. Seniors (or their family/guardians) register with details about their interests, hobbies, and preferred call times, while volunteers (18+) provide similar information to enable matching based on shared interests and location. The program requires strict confidentiality for all participant information and call content. It directs the Division of Aging Services to implement the program immediately with no additional funding or timeline specified.