Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1402) provides disability insurance coverage instead of disability retirement benefits for new members of New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) and Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) who become disabled. It creates a special fund to pay for group disability insurance premiums, replacing the previous system. Covered members receive 60% of their base salary (minimum $50/month) if totally disabled for six+ months, with benefits ending at age 70 or when returning to work. The bill was withdrawn after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.370, meaning the policy changes are now law.

Maddy summaryThis bill repeals a law that allowed New Jersey municipalities to charge applicants up to $200 for a public defender application. It directly affects people seeking public defender services in local courts who might have faced this fee. The key provision removes municipal authority to impose such fees, eliminating a potential financial barrier. The sponsor states this aligns with the Sixth Amendment right to counsel by removing fee-related obstacles. The bill would take effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires developers seeking long-term property tax exemptions (e.g., for urban renewal projects) to submit a cost-benefit analysis showing impacts on local government revenues and services, including effects on schools and municipal budgets. Municipalities must publish these analyses online within 30 days. It also mandates the state Department of Community Affairs to create a public database tracking all approved tax exemption agreements, including their financial details, sorted by municipality. The law directly affects developers, municipalities, and local taxing districts (like school boards) involved in tax exemption decisions. It aims to increase transparency around tax exemption approvals without changing the exemption process itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires explicit permission from individuals or their representatives before collecting genetic information from DNA samples, with specific exceptions. It prohibits law enforcement from using crime victims' or witnesses' DNA to investigate unrelated family members - a practice recently reported to cause unintended consequences. Exceptions include newborn screening under existing health programs, paternity testing, DNA databases for criminal investigations, and medical research where identities remain anonymous. The law also mandates healthcare providers to inform patients about how their genetic data will be handled and protected.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a "Pretrial Partnership for Community Support and Services Pilot Program" in New Jersey, creating a new pathway for defendants eligible for pretrial release to access community-based support services. It amends pretrial release procedures to require courts to consider approved community support providers for services like substance abuse treatment, mental health care, or case management as part of release conditions. The program directly affects defendants facing pretrial detention who qualify for release but may need additional support to comply with conditions. Key provisions mandate courts to include these services as a non-monetary release condition when appropriate, prioritizing the least restrictive options to ensure court appearance and community safety.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2929) increases penalties for false alarms targeting religious buildings. It amends state law to make false reports about churches, synagogues, mosques, gurdwaras, or other places of worship a second-degree crime (instead of third-degree). The bill defines "place of worship" as a building seating over 50 people used primarily for religious services. Violators face a minimum $5,000 civil fine or actual emergency response costs (double the standard penalty for other false alarms), with criminal penalties up to 10 years in prison. The law aims to deter disruptions to religious institutions and reduce unnecessary emergency responses.

Maddy summaryS 2958, the "SLUMLORD Act," strengthens tenant protections by requiring landlords managing multiple residential units to designate a "Principal Agent" (a contact person for habitability complaints) and imposing stricter enforcement for repeated safety issues. It defines "severe habitability violations" as more than 10 total violations across properties or 3 for a single unit after notice, triggering mandatory action. The bill appropriates $5 million to fund a new enforcement program under the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to address these violations. This directly affects landlords with multiple rental properties, tenants in those units, and municipalities responsible for oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey high schools serving grades 9-12 to offer at least one computer science course starting in the 2022-2023 school year. The course must cover computing principles, hardware/software design, and technology's societal impact, as defined in the bill. Schools must provide high-quality courses in flexible formats - including traditional classrooms, online, or blended learning - to accommodate all students. It directly affects public high school students and district boards of education across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires specialized training for judges, court staff, law enforcement, and prosecutors handling domestic violence and child abuse cases in custody disputes. It mandates 20 hours of initial training and 15 hours every five years for judges and court personnel on topics including domestic violence dynamics, child trauma, racial bias impacts, safety planning, and evidence-based child abuse research. Law enforcement must complete annual training on domestic violence response, while judges handling custody cases receive specific instruction on restraining orders, child custody arrangements, and risk assessment. The training aims to improve how the court system addresses child safety in cases involving domestic violence or abuse. The bill does not change custody laws but focuses on equipping officials with updated knowledge and tools.

Maddy summaryS 2928, "The Preserving Affordable Main Streets Act," modifies zoning rules in New Jersey municipalities to encourage residential development near transit and commercial corridors. It requires municipalities with transit stations to remove minimum parking requirements and use variances for mixed-use or multi-unit developments meeting specific criteria: at least 15 dwelling units per acre, 50% lot area served by water/sewer infrastructure, and location within a half-mile of a transit station. For municipalities without transit stations, it allows similar developments in high-density areas (500+ people/sq mile or 7,500+ population) within a quarter-mile of a main street corridor. The bill also mandates 65-day approval timelines for qualifying projects and voids non-compliant zoning rules if municipalities fail to update ordinances within six months.