Asm. Carol Murphy

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Director of the Division of Purchase and Property to review all state purchasing for menstrual products and develop a centralized contract to reduce costs for state agencies. It mandates that the director award a single contract for menstrual products (including pads, tampons, and cups) upon request by any state department, making it available to all executive branch entities and cooperative purchasing groups. Non-profit organizations may also purchase under this contract with director approval, subject to reporting requirements on expenditures. The bill directly affects state departments, agencies, and eligible non-profits using state procurement systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's privacy law to expand the definition of "personal data" to include a person's use of or attempt to use reproductive health care services. It specifically prohibits entities from collecting or disclosing this information, including preventing prescription monitoring programs from tracking drugs used for contraception, sterilization, abortion, or in-vitro fertilization. The law also adds reproductive health care usage to the category of "sensitive data" that requires special protections. These changes directly affect healthcare providers, pharmacies, and any business that collects or processes personal data in New Jersey, strengthening privacy protections for individuals seeking reproductive health care services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a temporary courtesy license for nonresident military spouses (spouses of active-duty service members who have moved to New Jersey due to military orders) to practice their profession without full state licensure. The license is valid for one year (or two years for specific professions like nursing, social work, and psychology) and requires applicants to hold a current license in another state with equivalent standards, have practiced for at least two of the last five years, pass a background check, and meet other board-specific requirements. The license automatically terminates if the spouse loses their home state license for misconduct or criminal activity. This aims to reduce barriers for military spouses relocating due to service.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows out-of-state applicants seeking cosmetology or hairstyling licenses in New Jersey to count teaching experience toward the required three years of practical experience. Specifically, applicants who taught cosmetology in a licensed school (approved by the other jurisdiction) may use that experience if the New Jersey State Board of Cosmetology and Hairstyling determines it's equivalent to working in a licensed shop. The board has discretion to assess whether the teaching experience meets the state's standards. This change directly affects individuals licensed in other states or countries who want to work in New Jersey's cosmetology industry without retaking exams. The bill does not alter existing requirements for applicants without teaching experience.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public schools, private schools, and colleges in New Jersey to test buildings for radon gas or radon progeny at least once every five years. Buildings not tested within the prior five years must be tested within 60 days of the law's effective date, while those tested recently must follow the five-year cycle. School administrators (like principals or college leaders) must work with environmental agencies to identify testing locations, methods, and notify the public about results. The law repeals an expired previous requirement that only applied to public schools, now extending testing to all schools and colleges equally.

Maddy summaryAJR 172 designates April 9 of each year as "Dr. James Still Day" in New Jersey to honor Dr. James Still, an African-American homeopathic healer born in 1812 who overcame racial barriers through self-education and medical innovation. The bill requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day with appropriate events. This resolution has no funding requirements or regulatory changes - it solely commemorates Dr. Still's legacy and contributions to medicine, as preserved at the Dr. James Still Historic Office Site in Medford.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2165) allows spouses and dependent children of active-duty military service members to maintain New Jersey in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities if the service member is transferred to another state. It specifically applies to those who were already enrolled in a New Jersey public institution before the transfer and maintain continuous enrollment. The bill also extends this benefit to military dependents who attended New Jersey high school for at least three years, regardless of where they live when enrolling. These changes amend existing law (P.L.1985, c.231) to ensure military-connected students avoid sudden tuition increases due to relocation.

Maddy summaryThe bill would broaden veterans' benefits eligibility by removing specific war or conflict service requirements. Instead of needing to have served during designated wars (like World War II or Vietnam), veterans would only need at least 90 days of active duty service (excluding basic training), or Reserve members would need to serve the full period called to active duty. Veterans discharged due to service-connected disabilities would qualify regardless of service duration. This change would expand access to benefits including civil service hiring preference, retirement allowances, and the ability to purchase military service credit for retirement.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 129) urges Congress to pass the federal "Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act" (H.R. 3106). The resolution describes H.R. 3106 as a bill that would make it a crime to intentionally disclose or threaten to disclose digitally altered intimate images without consent, and would allow victims to file private lawsuits. It directly addresses victims of non-consensual deepfakes - digital forgeries that create fake pornographic images of people without their permission, causing emotional and reputational harm. The resolution cites a recent incident at a New Jersey high school as context for supporting this federal legislation. Note: AR 129 itself is a non-binding resolution, not a law, and only urges congressional action on H.R. 3106.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4265) creates a program to pay monetary awards to whistleblowers who report tax law violations by employers in New Jersey's construction industry. Whistleblowers providing specific, credible information that leads to enforcement actions (like penalties or settlements) can receive 15-30% of the money collected, or up to 10% if the information came from public sources like media or government reports. It excludes current Treasury employees and individuals who planned the violations they reported, and protects whistleblowers from retaliation under existing law. The award amount is based on how much the information contributed to the case outcome.