Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state, county, private, and juvenile correctional facilities to provide free voice calls, video calls, and email services for incarcerated people. It eliminates all costs for both inmates and their families by banning per-minute charges (previously up to 11 cents), surcharges, commissions, or fees on these services. Facilities must maintain current access levels and transfer any remaining prepaid funds to inmates' commissary accounts. The bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to cover implementation costs and takes effect six months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health insurance plans in New Jersey to cover prescription drugs for "serious mental illness" (including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and PTSD) without prior authorization or step therapy protocols. It directly affects individuals with these diagnoses who rely on insurance for mental health medications. Key provisions ban insurers from forcing patients to try lower-cost treatments first (step therapy) or requiring pre-approval for covered medications. The bill also mandates insurers to report how they apply medical necessity standards for mental health coverage to ensure parity with physical health benefits. This creates immediate, concrete changes to medication access for covered mental health conditions.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2046) expands the Family Leave Act to provide up to 21 days of protected leave for employees experiencing specific bereavement events, including the death of a child (including stillbirth), miscarriage, or failed fertility treatment. It directly affects employees working for employers with 30+ staff (down from 50 under previous rules), covering situations like pregnancy loss or a child’s death, whether through birth, adoption, or gestational carrier arrangements. The leave is available through the existing Temporary Disability Benefits system, with 21 days for cases not covered by other leave types (like miscarriage) and 7 days when other leave applies (like stillbirth). This change ensures employees can take time off without job loss for these deeply personal losses, aligning with New Jersey’s broader family leave protections.

Maddy summaryS 2923 requires online ticket resale websites and brokers to clearly disclose key information to consumers before transactions. It mandates notices stating that the site sells secondary tickets (not primary sales), that primary tickets may still be available, that resale prices can exceed face value, and the refund policy for event cancellations. Websites must also display the venue's printed ticket price and require buyers to confirm reading these disclosures. Additionally, the bill requires a prominent 12-point bold notice when redirecting users to a resale site, clarifying that such redirection doesn't mean primary tickets are sold out or cheaper. The law directly affects ticket brokers, resale websites, and consumers purchasing event tickets online.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that ultrasounds performed on pregnant women at "limited service pregnancy centers" must be conducted by a licensed health care professional. It directly affects organizations that provide pregnancy counseling or information without performing abortions, making referrals to abortion providers, or being state-licensed medical facilities. The key provision mandates that only individuals licensed under New Jersey's health care statutes (Titles 45 or 52) can perform these ultrasounds at such centers. The bill defines "limited service pregnancy centers" to exclude hospitals, abortion clinics, and family planning clinics that offer medical services or contraception.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education to create a public awareness campaign about social media risks for minors, using $500,000 in state funds. The campaign will target parents and guardians, drawing on the U.S. Surgeon General’s 2023 findings about youth mental health impacts, and will launch within 180 days of the bill’s enactment. It will use statewide media - including TV ads, radio, social media, and newspapers - to share research-based safety guidance. The Department must report on the campaign’s progress to the Governor and Legislature within 24 months.

Maddy summaryS 614, the "Packaging Product Stewardship Act," requires manufacturers and sellers of packaging products sold in New Jersey to create and implement plans for managing packaging waste. These plans must cover the full lifecycle of discarded packaging - ensuring collection, reuse, recycling, and proper disposal through environmentally sound methods, while reducing waste and increasing recycled content in packaging. Producers must submit these plans to the Environmental Protection Department within 180 days of the law taking effect, prioritizing existing recycling infrastructure and consumer convenience. The bill is currently pending review by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee after its January 2026 introduction.

Maddy summaryS 2940 establishes the Office of Cybersecurity Infrastructure within New Jersey's Executive Branch to manage state cybersecurity policies and infrastructure. The office, led by a Governor-appointed Director reporting directly to the Governor (not the Treasury Department), will create cybersecurity policies for all state agencies, secure digital systems for public-private interactions, and develop AI integration guidelines for public and private institutions. It affects all state departments, agencies, and entities interacting with residents digitally, requiring them to coordinate with the new office. The office must publish annual reports on cybersecurity operations and maintain a public website with operational details.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands school staff's ability to administer epinephrine auto-injectors to students experiencing severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) in New Jersey schools, colleges, and youth camps. It allows trained school nurses or designated staff to give epinephrine without prior parental consent if they believe a student is having an anaphylactic reaction, even if the student hasn't been identified as needing it or parental forms are incomplete. Schools must store epinephrine securely but accessibly, train staff, maintain backup supplies, and follow specific protocols for emergency use and hospital transport. The law requires parental written authorization for routine use, but streamlines emergency administration to save critical time during allergic emergencies. It directly affects all New Jersey public and nonpublic schools, colleges, and youth camps with students at risk of anaphylaxis.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to make a good faith effort to increase contracts awarded to minority- and women-owned businesses for small purchases that don't require public advertising (typically under $150,000-$250,000). It sets a specific goal of achieving a 30% aggregate increase in such contracts within five years of the bill's effective date. Agencies must submit monthly reports to the State Treasurer detailing progress, while the Treasurer will develop guidelines and provide biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature on implementation. The bill directly affects all state agencies managing these small, non-advertised contracts and aims to expand opportunities for certified minority- and women-owned businesses.