Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 413) extends the protected tenancy period for qualifying senior citizens (62+ years) and disabled tenants in New Jersey when their rental buildings convert to condos or cooperatives. It changes the previous 40-year protection to a full lifetime of the tenant, preventing forced evictions due to building conversions. Tenants must have lived in the unit for at least one year before conversion and meet income or disability criteria (e.g., medically determined disability or 60% veterans' disability rating). The law applies specifically to buildings converting from rental use, ensuring these tenants can remain in their homes without rent hikes tied to the conversion.

Maddy summaryS 712 requires New Jersey's Department of State to create a public "Reproductive Health Travel Advisory" to help residents traveling while pregnant make informed decisions. The advisory will categorize all U.S. states using a color-coded system: "Blue" (full access without legal risk), "Yellow" (restricted access with potential legal consequences), and "Red" (extreme restrictions risking denial of emergency care). It will detail each state's laws on abortion bans, waiting periods, insurance coverage, and legal protections for patients and providers. The advisory must be posted on the state website and updated whenever another state changes its reproductive healthcare laws. This directly affects New Jersey residents who may need to travel during pregnancy for medical emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 420) allows New Jersey municipalities holding regular elections in May to extend their early voting period from 4 days to 11 days before the election, if they adopt a local ordinance. It directly affects municipalities that conduct May municipal elections under the Uniform Nonpartisan Elections Law. Key provisions include requiring early voting sites to be public facilities (like libraries or courthouses, not schools), setting location limits based on county voter counts (e.g., 5-10 sites for counties with over 150,000 voters), and mandating that sites be geographically accessible. The bill amends existing voting law to provide this flexibility for May municipal elections only.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a temporary New Jersey Task Force to improve coordination among nonprofit social service organizations. The task force will develop recommendations focused on reducing administrative costs through shared services, eliminating service duplication by forming alliances, and creating uniform reporting procedures for expenditures to policymakers and the public. It consists of 17 members, including state agency commissioners and 13 public representatives from diverse social service sectors (e.g., mental health, domestic violence support, homelessness services). The task force must report its findings to the Governor and Legislature within 12 months of its first meeting, after which it will dissolve.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most retail businesses in New Jersey from charging extra fees when customers pay with cash. It requires businesses to accept cash without adding "convenience fees" to the total price, directly affecting in-person retail transactions like grocery stores or clothing shops. Key exemptions include airports (with minimum cash-accepting vendors), municipal parking facilities, mobile-only payment parking, car rentals (if accepting cashier's checks), and large sports venues. The law aims to make cash payments equal in cost to other payment methods, with penalties for violations including civil fines up to $5,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance companies and other health carriers in New Jersey to reimburse healthcare providers for vaccines at a rate no lower than the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cost per dose rate listed on the CDC's official price list. It directly affects health insurance carriers (including companies and health plans) and healthcare providers who administer vaccines. The key provision sets a minimum reimbursement rate based on the CDC's actual per-dose cost effective on the date the vaccine was provided. This ensures providers are paid at least the CDC's contracted price, preventing underpayment for vaccine administration.

Maddy summaryS 680 requires new artificial intelligence (AI) data centers and cryptocurrency mining facilities in New Jersey to use electricity exclusively from new renewable energy sources or newly constructed nuclear power. Applicants must submit an energy usage plan to the Board of Public Utilities detailing how they will minimize energy use for cooling, optimize water sourcing, and improve building efficiency. The bill aims to prevent these facilities from increasing strain on the state's power grid and raising electricity costs for ratepayers. All electricity must be derived from new clean sources as measured hourly, with no net decrease in verifiable clean energy on the grid.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to launch a mobile cancer screening program within 180 days of its effective date. The program will use staffed mobile vehicles deployed across the state's northern, central, and southern regions, each operated by at least one qualified healthcare professional who determines screening methods based on their expertise and available equipment. The bill appropriates $100,000 from the state General Fund to fund this initiative and mandates a report to the Governor and Legislature within two years, summarizing results and suggesting future legislative action. The program directly affects New Jersey residents, particularly those in underserved areas who may gain easier access to cancer screenings.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all licensed general and special hospitals in New Jersey to create and implement evidence-based protocols for early sepsis recognition and treatment. The protocols must cover screening, treatment guidelines (with separate adult and pediatric components), infection source identification, antibiotic timing, and exclusion criteria for inappropriate cases. Hospitals must submit protocols to the Department of Health within 120 days of enactment, train staff regularly, and annually report data to track adherence and mortality rates for quality improvement. The law focuses on standardizing care for a life-threatening condition that can cause organ damage or death if untreated.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2980) requires nursing home owners to submit detailed financial and ownership information before transferring ownership or delegating management to third parties. It mandates disclosure of 100% ownership structures, organizational charts, and third-party service providers paying over $200,000 annually, along with resolution of outstanding Medicaid debts. The Department of Health must publicly post applications (with privacy redactions) and allow a 30-day public comment period. These changes aim to increase transparency for prospective buyers and the public while ensuring new owners meet financial and operational standards.