Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $400,000 from New Jersey's General Fund as a supplemental grant to the nonprofit Living for a Cause. The funds will support its "Patient Pet Food Security Wellness Program," providing pet food to pet owners in Burlington County and surrounding areas who are undergoing medical care and facing economic hardship. The program aims to reduce the financial burden of pet ownership during medical treatment and prevent pets from being surrendered to shelters. The grant is specifically designated for this existing program, which has operated since 2023.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new "Type S School Bus Certificate" that would allow certain qualified drivers to operate specific school buses without needing a commercial driver's license, passenger endorsement, or school bus endorsement. To qualify, drivers must be at least 21 years old, have held a basic driver's license for three years, pass physical and eye exams, complete a knowledge exam, and finish special training for students with special needs. The certificate would apply to "Type S school buses," defined as vehicles designed for nine passengers or less (excluding driver) with a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or more, used for transporting students to and from school. This would streamline school bus operations for qualified drivers while maintaining safety standards for student transportation. The bill amends existing school bus regulations to include this new certification pathway.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Second Chance Program within New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development to connect formerly incarcerated individuals with employment opportunities through labor organizations. The program requires labor unions to identify job pathways in their trades and develop plans for hiring returning citizens, directly benefiting individuals recently released from prison who face high barriers to employment. It aims to reduce recidivism by addressing a key factor cited in the bill: the lack of viable jobs for this population, which correlates with higher reoffending rates. The program operates under the State Employment and Training Commission and mandates consultation with labor organizations to create sustainable career opportunities. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a fourth-degree crime to secretly install or use electronic tracking devices or apps to monitor another person's location without permission, punishable by up to 18 months in jail or a $10,000 fine. It defines "electronic tracking devices" (like GPS trackers) and "tracking applications" (like hidden location apps) and creates a legal presumption that secret tracking is for illegal purposes like stalking. Key exceptions include parents tracking minor children, monitoring individuals at health risk, business property tracking during transactions, employer vehicle monitoring (with required notice), and explicit consent from the person being tracked. Consent must be in writing for devices or explicit opt-in for apps, and can be revoked if spouses file divorce petitions or domestic violence restraining orders.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's legal terminology by replacing "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" (CSAEM) throughout state statutes. The change affects multiple sections of law including those related to crimes, sex offender registration, employment disqualifications, and educational programs. The purpose is to use more accurate language that reflects the reality of these crimes and avoids implying consent from victims. The sponsor states this terminology update is not intended to change the substance of the law, but to make the language more consistent with current understanding and international standards. The bill corrects technical inconsistencies in existing statutes while maintaining the same legal protections and penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for assaulting law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. If bodily injury occurs, assaulting a law enforcement officer would become a second-degree crime (5-10 years in prison) rather than third-degree under current law. The bill also requires offenders to submit to testing for communicable diseases when assaulting these professionals, with positive results shared with the victim. It expands the list of protected professionals to include firefighters and emergency medical personnel under the assault with bodily fluids provision. These changes would apply to offenses occurring after the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows grocery stores and third-party delivery services to provide single-use paper bags (with at least 40% recycled content), cardboard boxes, or reusable bags for grocery orders delivered, picked up, or ordered curbside, for a three-year period. Customers must be offered a choice among these packaging options, and stores may also let customers use their own containers for perishable items. Grocery stores must establish a program for returning reusable bags - either reusing them, recycling them, or donating them to food banks - within 90 days of the bill’s effective date. After three years, paper bags and cardboard boxes can no longer be provided for these orders. The bill directly affects grocery retailers, delivery services, and food banks, which gain extended time to use certain bags.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Home Security Systems Anti-Burglary Task Force" within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety. The task force will study home security systems - including keyless entry, cameras, and alarms - to make recommendations for manufacturers and installers aimed at preventing residential burglaries. Composed of 14 members (including state officials, industry representatives from groups like the Security Industry Association, and public members with locksmith/alarm experience), it must submit a report within six months detailing improvements to security system design and product availability, along with any needed legislative or regulatory changes. The task force expires upon report submission.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the next Educational Adequacy Report (due September 1, 2025) to include a comprehensive review of school funding components, developed through consultation with school administrators, staff, students, parents, and community members. It also mandates that the Governor and Commissioner commission school finance experts to recommend revisions to the methodologies used for calculating key funding factors, such as base per-pupil amounts, preschool funding, special education costs, and transportation/security aid coefficients. The goal is to ensure these funding levels adequately support students meeting New Jersey's core curriculum standards. The report will update the parameters determining state aid to school districts for the following three fiscal years.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2402 authorizes special license plates for active and honorably separated U.S. Coast Guard members, their spouses, parents, and business owners they control. Applicants pay a $50 one-time fee and $10 annual renewal fee, with proceeds funding a dedicated "Coast Guard License Plate Fund" that annually allocates money to the U.S. Coast Guard. The plates must display the Coast Guard seal and design approved by the Motor Vehicle Commission in consultation with the Coast Guard. Implementation requires 500 pre-paid applications and $25,000 in initial funding from the Coast Guard or private donors before plates can be issued.