Sen. Raj Mukherji

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 24/7 mobile crisis response system for adults with disabilities experiencing behavioral health emergencies. It requires mobile teams of mental health professionals to provide immediate in-home support during an initial 72-hour period, with possible short-term placement in specialized stabilization units if needed. The system mandates individualized crisis stabilization plans and extends ongoing support for up to eight weeks after the initial response to prevent recurring crises. It directly affects adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities or mental illness in crisis, their caregivers, and mobile response agencies approved under the law.

Maddy summaryS 1161 creates the New Jersey Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient Regulatory Commission to oversee the manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) within the state. The commission, composed of 17 members including pharmaceutical industry experts, state health and economic development representatives, and non-voting legislative members, will establish manufacturing standards, promote the API industry's growth using federal resources, and serve as a liaison for industry access to federal funding. It will operate independently within the Department of the Treasury but must comply with federal law regarding API quality. This bill directly affects pharmaceutical manufacturers in New Jersey and aims to strengthen the state's regulatory framework for this sector.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students at New Jersey's public colleges and universities to voluntarily donate unused meal plan funds at the end of a semester to a new state emergency meal fund. Public institutions must create policies to verify unused funds (including leftover cash or unused meal points) and transfer donations directly to the fund. The fund then provides all donated money to the New Jersey Federation of Food Banks, which distributes it to food banks across the state. The policy applies to all public higher education institutions starting with the first full academic year after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey craft distilleries to sell mixed drinks (like cocktails) and cocktail ingredients for off-premises consumption (e.g., take-home sales), and to ship directly to consumers. It specifically amends licensing rules to expand what craft distilleries can offer, moving beyond current restrictions that limit sales to on-site consumption or specific retail channels. The change directly affects licensed craft distilleries by giving them new sales and shipping flexibility. The bill does not alter existing brewery license rules but creates new provisions for distillery operations under the state’s alcohol licensing framework.

Maddy summaryS 1420 establishes New Jersey's "VETeach Pilot Program" to help veterans become public school teachers. The program targets veterans who served after September 11, 2001, by enrolling them in a 36-month teacher preparation track at up to four selected public universities. Upon completion, participants earn a teaching certification (with advanced standing) allowing them to teach in grades K-8 and certain secondary subjects. The pilot requires participating universities to design the program, with the Department of Education reporting on outcomes like veteran enrollment and hiring rates after four years.

Maddy summaryS 1160 requires landlords to obtain written approval from New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) before taking actions like evicting hospital operators or terminating leases at hospitals. This directly affects hospital landlords, operators (the entities running hospitals), and their successors. The bill prohibits such actions without DOH approval - deeming them invalid - and imposes penalties including up to $1 million civil fines, license suspensions, and potential criminal charges if violations cause hospital closures. Landlords must justify "just cause" for requests, and operators can seek financial recovery for revenue losses from unauthorized actions. The law aims to prevent disruptions to hospital operations and patient care.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1152 creates a statewide database tracking real-time occupancy of shelter beds for homeless individuals, managed through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). Shelter operators (excluding domestic violence shelters) must update bed availability within one hour of changes, enabling referral providers and shelters to quickly locate open beds in nearby facilities. This requirement applies to shelters seeking state funding from the Departments of Community Affairs and Human Services, making database cooperation a condition of eligibility. The bill aims to improve coordination in connecting homeless individuals with available shelter space across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1170) amends New Jersey law to explicitly permit voters to take photographs of their own voted ballots inside polling booths and share those photos on internet-based social media platforms. It directly affects all New Jersey voters by clarifying that existing prohibitions against showing voted ballots do not apply to this personal sharing activity. The key provision adds a specific exception to Section 19:34-7, stating voters may "voluntarily take a photograph of the voter’s own voted ballot and share that photograph on Internet-based social media." This does not change other existing rules about ballot secrecy or prohibit others from requesting to see ballots. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for New Jersey's Residential Community Release Programs (RCRPs) by adjusting release timelines and adding new criteria. Inmates scheduled for release within 30 months (previously 18-24 months) may qualify if the Department of Corrections deems participation appropriate, or those needing substance use treatment may qualify between 12-30 months. It also requires the Department to certify monthly to both the Legislature and Budget Office that RCRP beds are filled with inmates 30-36 months from release. Additionally, the bill prohibits returning inmates to correctional facilities or imposing punitive measures solely for medical conditions, pregnancy, or treatment needs during program participation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJT) to create guidelines for on-demand micro transit pilot programs - shared rides via mobile app or phone that pick up and drop off users at their selected times. The guidelines must ensure affordability for residents in "transit deserts" (areas with limited public transit), incentivize unionized driver employment, and specify vehicle types (including those requiring commercial driver licenses). NJT must prioritize expanding these services to Bergen, Mercer, and Middlesex counties, focusing on densely populated areas and locations with no current transit options. The bill takes effect seven months after enactment, setting operational standards for pilot programs without providing new funding.