Sen. Joe Cryan

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $1,000 temporary benefit enhancements in fiscal years 2025 and 2026 for retirees and beneficiaries in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS) whose monthly benefits are at or below 450% of the federal poverty level (for a single-person household). The payments would be added to existing benefits or issued as separate checks, directly supporting low-income retirees and survivors. The state would fund this through a new appropriation from the General Fund, with administrative costs handled by the PFRS board.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of parking structures in New Jersey to hire a licensed professional engineer to inspect structural integrity at least once every five years. The engineer must provide a report to the owner within 30 days, and the owner must submit a copy to the Department of Community Affairs (DCA) within 14 days. The DCA will identify affected structures, notify non-compliant owners, and may close a structure if inspections fail or reports aren’t submitted on time. Owners can reopen closed structures after passing a new inspection. The law takes effect after the DCA adopts implementing rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires employers to pay minors (under age 18) the state minimum wage and overtime pay (1.5x regular rate) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week, directly affecting minor workers in most non-exempt jobs. It establishes a minimum wage schedule that increases annually (with specific rates for 2019-2028) and formalizes existing exemptions to overtime requirements, such as for farm labor, certain seasonal work, and employees in executive roles. Key provisions include mandatory overtime pay for minors (except in exempted categories like agricultural work or specific professional roles) and maintaining minimum wage rates for small employers and seasonal workers. The bill does not change overtime exemptions for adult workers but explicitly extends overtime protections to minors in covered positions.

Maddy summaryS 1801 requires proprietary colleges that convert to nonprofit status to submit their IRS Form 990 annually to New Jersey's Higher Education Secretary for five years after conversion. The Secretary must review these forms to ensure no transactions improperly benefit private individuals (private inurement), and may recommend revoking the institution's nonprofit status if violations are found. This bill directly affects institutions transitioning from for-profit to nonprofit status, establishing a monitoring process to protect charitable purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill redirects 1% of the Workforce Development Partnership Fund to provide permanent, dedicated annual funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research. It replaces the previous $1 million annual allocation from cigarette tax receipts (which had been diverted to other budget needs in recent years). The Commission, established in 1983, uses this funding to support cancer research projects and advance cancer prevention, treatment, and palliation efforts across New Jersey. The bill ensures consistent funding for the Commission without affecting other existing sources like "Conquer Cancer" license plate revenue.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2191 would make individual owners, managers, and officers of LLCs and corporations personally liable for unpaid housing, building, or health code violations when acting as residential landlords. It applies if three or more charges remain unpaid 13 months after the first due date, after proper notice is sent to all relevant parties (including mortgage holders). The bill requires the individual to hold at least a 10% ownership stake in a member-managed LLC or serve as a director/officer, with a defense available if they couldn't influence payment. This expands liability beyond the entity itself to specific individuals under defined conditions. The bill is currently pending in the Senate (introduced January 13, 2026).

Maddy summaryS 1486 establishes an independent Office of Inspector General for Prosecutorial Review within New Jersey's Department of Law and Public Safety (though not under its control). This office investigates complaints about misconduct by prosecutors or their teams (including detectives), with authority to subpoena witnesses and documents, and ensures confidentiality for complainants. It directly affects prosecutors, law enforcement personnel working on cases, and the public who can file complaints. The inspector general must have dual experience as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, and cannot be blocked by legal privileges once a case is closed.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2229 requires school districts receiving preschool education aid to place at least half of preschool students in licensed child care programs, rather than in district-run programs or Head Start. This directly affects school districts funded through the state's preschool aid program, mandating they secure sufficient placements at licensed providers. Districts may apply for a Department of Education waiver if licensed child care options are unavailable locally, providing justification for the request. The bill aims to increase access to licensed early childhood education settings while allowing flexibility for districts facing limited provider capacity.

Maddy summaryS 1438 requires governing board members of New Jersey's public colleges and universities to complete training within six months of appointment (shortened from one year), covering governance roles, ethics, financial management, and legal requirements like the Open Public Meetings Act. The Secretary of Higher Education, not the institutions, will now set the training content and arrange delivery, including for boards with state monitors. Members who miss deadlines face a 30-day grace period, with failure potentially causing resignation and a two-year disqualification from serving on any public higher education board. The bill appropriates $350,000 annually for implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's state holiday "Juneteenth Day" from the third Friday in June to June 19 each year, aligning it with the federal Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday. It directly affects state government employees (who receive paid time off) and businesses (which must observe the holiday for public office closures and financial transactions). The change modifies two state laws: P.L.2008, c.89 (defining state employee holidays) and R.S.36:1-1 (defining public holidays for business purposes). The bill does not create new benefits or obligations but corrects the existing date to match the federal observance.