Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryS 1184 establishes a $2 billion "School Property Tax Relief Trust Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Education, funded by state general funds and eligible federal pandemic recovery money. The bill creates a grant program allowing school districts to receive one-time funding - payable as a lump sum or over five years - to cover capital projects, hire teachers, or absorb wage/benefit increases. School districts accepting grants must freeze property tax rate increases for five years and cannot reapply for another grant until five years later. The fund must be invested to maintain long-term viability, and preference is given to districts with plans to reduce spending through consolidation or cost-saving measures.

Maddy summaryS 1158 prohibits drug manufacturers, pharmacies, wholesalers, and healthcare practitioners from using devices, kiosks, or systems to steer patients to specific pharmacies or limit their pharmacy choice when dispensing prescription drugs or samples. It requires that any transmission of patient information to a pharmacy must be voluntary or accompanied by full disclosure of the patient's right to choose their pharmacy. Violations carry civil penalties: $100,000+ for companies and $250+ for practitioners per offense, collected by local health agencies. The bill directly affects healthcare providers, drug suppliers, and pharmacy systems that use technology for drug dispensing. It aims to protect patient autonomy in pharmacy selection while preventing misuse of patient data for marketing.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 1185 requires all public high school districts to include voting education in the grade 12 Social Studies curriculum as part of the state’s learning standards. The instruction must cover the importance of voting, voter eligibility and registration processes (including pre-registration), and practical steps like locating polling places or requesting absentee ballots. School districts may partner with election officials or local boards of elections to develop the curriculum and provide registration forms. This policy directly affects all 12th-grade students in New Jersey public high schools starting in the first full school year after the bill’s enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every New Jersey county to install at least one drive-up ballot drop box accessible 24/7, with security cameras and ADA-compliant access. It mandates specific locations for all ballot drop boxes, including county government buildings, municipalities over 5,000 residents, and large colleges/universities, while ensuring at least one box serves areas with lower median incomes. The bill also prohibits boxes within 100 feet of police station entrances (unless pre-approved), bans political materials near boxes, and requires county boards to establish a minimum of 10 secure drop locations per county. These changes directly affect all New Jersey voters who use mail-in ballots, ensuring accessible and secure drop-off options statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New Jersey credit unions regulated under the 1984 Credit Union Act from paying state sales and use taxes on their operations. It directly affects eligible credit unions by removing a tax burden on their typical business activities, though the exemption expires if federally chartered credit unions lose their federal tax exemption. The key mechanism adds credit unions to the list of entities already exempt under Section 9 of New Jersey's Sales and Use Tax Act, with a specific exception for credit unions purchasing property to lease. The exemption does not apply if a credit union uses property as a lessor.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to create a public education campaign about real estate rental scams. The campaign will provide materials (like websites, booklets, and pamphlets in English and Spanish) to help consumers recognize and report scams, including a toll-free hotline for inquiries. It directly affects renters and prospective tenants in New Jersey who may encounter fraudulent rental listings. The bill mandates these specific outreach tools but does not change existing laws or create new penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows restaurants without liquor licenses to advertise that patrons may bring and consume their own alcohol (BYOB) on the premises, which was previously prohibited. It also permits these restaurants to charge fees for bringing wine, beer, cider, or mead, and explicitly includes cider and mead as permitted beverages (beyond just wine and beer). The change removes an unconstitutional advertising ban that was challenged in court under the First Amendment. This directly affects casual dining establishments that serve food without a liquor license but wish to accommodate BYOB customers.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes eligibility for Work First New Jersey general assistance benefits for individuals convicted of drug-related offenses. It removes automatic disqualification for people convicted of offenses involving controlled substances (possession, use, or distribution) if they enroll in and participate in a licensed drug treatment program. Benefits are paid directly to the treatment provider during participation and upon completion, with a 60-day post-treatment drug test period (excluding prescription medications). This applies specifically to those convicted on or after August 22, 1996, who would otherwise qualify for benefits.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1182) prohibits sewerage authorities from charging interest on unpaid sewer fees owed by the State, local governments, or their agencies (including housing authorities). It amends existing law to explicitly state that no interest shall be charged on these specific unpaid fees, directly affecting government entities that own or operate properties subject to sewer service. The key provision removes the requirement for authorities to impose monthly interest (previously 1.5%) on delinquent payments from these governmental entities, while maintaining other collection mechanisms like liens for non-governmental accounts. This changes the existing statutory requirement under Section 21 of P.L.1946, c.138.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $70 million in federal pandemic relief funds to New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EDA will award $50 million in grants for general financial recovery (including $10 million specifically for arts education programs in schools and after-school settings) and $20 million for placemaking projects that beautify public spaces like sidewalks and parks with art installations. Qualifying groups include both for-profit and nonprofit arts organizations that experienced pandemic-related revenue losses. The funds come directly from New Jersey's allocation of federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" money under the American Rescue Plan Act.