Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey State budget for fiscal year 2027 by allocating approximately $60.7 billion in state funds and $30.5 billion in federal funds. The legislation distributes these resources across various government departments, including education, health, and human services, with specific amounts designated for direct state services, grants, and state aid. While the total appropriation is slightly higher than the governor's original proposal, the bill ensures that anticipated revenue covers projected spending for the upcoming fiscal year.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities that have established an arts and culture trust fund to temporarily redirect money collected from local taxes into their general operating funds. Specifically, it permits the use of funds originally set aside for open space, recreation, floodplain protection, farmland preservation, and historic preservation during fiscal year 2027. The measure applies only to unspent money from previous years and requires the municipality to have an existing arts and culture fund to qualify for this temporary flexibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Hudson County to return up to $28.1 million in unspent funds from previous state budgets intended for the Hudson County Jail to the state treasury by June 30, 2026. In exchange, the state authorizes a new appropriation of up to $28.1 million in general operating aid to the county, ensuring the new funding does not exceed the amount of money returned. The legislation directly affects Hudson County by mandating the repayment of specific past appropriations while simultaneously providing a mechanism for the county to receive fresh funding for general operations.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes the State of New Jersey's budget for fiscal year 2027, allocating approximately $60.7 billion in state funds and $30.5 billion in federal funds to support government operations and public services. The legislation authorizes spending from various revenue sources, including sales taxes, corporate business taxes, and fees collected by departments such as agriculture and banking. By approving these specific amounts, the bill enables the state to fund its agencies and programs for the upcoming year without changing existing tax rates or creating new ones.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows certain Rutgers University employees to hold dual employment with affiliated nonprofit health organizations, enabling them to receive compensation from both entities. It specifically applies to staff overseeing medical education, research, or clinical care programs related to long-term affiliation agreements between the university and these partners. The legislation also permits board members of Rutgers who serve on the governing boards of these affiliated entities to vote on matters necessary to implement those health-related agreements. By doing so, the bill creates exceptions to standard state conflict of interest laws that normally restrict public employees from accepting outside employment or compensation.

Maddy summaryThis bill regulates how data brokers and collectors handle personal information in New Jersey by requiring them to limit data collection to what is necessary and obtain explicit consent before processing sensitive data or selling personal information. It mandates that companies implement strong security measures to protect data and provides consumers with an easy way to revoke their consent, which must be processed within 15 days. Additionally, the law requires organizations to conduct confidential data protection assessments for activities that pose a heightened risk of harm, such as targeted advertising or selling personal data, and prohibits processing personal data of children between the ages of 13 and 17 for advertising or profiling without consent.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey healthcare providers to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances, such as certain pain medications, through telemedicine without requiring an in-person examination. It permits these prescriptions based on a remote provider-patient relationship, provided the provider has reviewed the patient's medical records and determined they can meet the standard of care remotely. The legislation also mandates that providers disclose their credentials, offer patients the option to see a physician specifically, and ensure proper follow-up care is arranged. By amending existing state laws, the bill expands access to specific controlled medications for patients using virtual healthcare services while maintaining regulatory oversight.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands protections for victims of human trafficking and other sexual crimes by removing the statute of limitations for prosecuting these offenses. It establishes specialized human trafficking response teams and increases training requirements for professionals who may encounter trafficking situations. The legislation also appropriates $1 million to the Commission on Human Trafficking to support these initiatives. Additionally, the bill includes provisions to allow victims to testify via closed-circuit television in court to reduce trauma during legal proceedings.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey law to allow soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors on their leadership teams. Currently, districts are limited to exactly five supervisors appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee. The bill authorizes the State Soil Conservation Committee to set the maximum number of supervisors for each district, replacing the fixed limit. This change directly affects local soil conservation districts and their governance structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors working on New Jersey public works projects to verify that each craft worker meets specific qualifications. Contractors must register electronically and confirm workers either completed a federally compliant apprenticeship program or have four years of documented work experience in their craft. Workers covered by union collective bargaining agreements (which determine prevailing wages) are exempt from these requirements. The law directly affects contractors and craft workers on state-funded construction projects by setting clear, verifiable standards for employment.