Sen. Joe Cryan

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers to pay minors (under age 18) at least the state minimum wage and overtime pay (1.5 times regular rate) for hours worked beyond 40 in a week. It specifically applies to minor employees in covered jobs, codifying existing exemptions from overtime rules - such as farm work, certain sales roles, and mechanics paid on a flat rate with guaranteed minimum pay. The bill updates wage requirements to align with annual inflation adjustments and maintains current minimum wage rates for minors. It does not change general overtime rules for adult workers but clarifies protections for minor employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey high school and college graduates who attended in-state schools to deduct all their wage income from state taxes for two consecutive years after graduation. It applies to graduates of public or private high schools in New Jersey, or public/private colleges meeting specific accreditation standards (like Rutgers or Rowan University). To qualify, graduates must live in New Jersey for the entire tax year they claim the deduction. The deduction covers all wages earned during the two years following graduation, without limiting eligibility for multiple claims (e.g., after both high school and college graduation).

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies New Jersey's higher education credit transfer system by replacing the current "collective Statewide transfer agreement" and "collective Statewide reverse transfer agreement" with new standards established by the Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the New Jersey Presidents' Council. It creates the position of "New Jersey Transfer Ombudsman" within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education to resolve disputes between students and public institutions regarding credit transfer compliance. The Ombudsman will make final decisions on disputes, review institutions' credit transfer policies every three years, and prepare an annual report on transfer outcomes. Public institutions must also provide transfer students with data on program completion rates, directly affecting county colleges, four-year public universities, and students transferring between them.

Maddy summarySCR 116 is a procedural resolution establishing a "Joint Legislative Statesmanship Task Force" to promote civility in New Jersey schools. The 12-member task force, appointed equally from both legislative parties, will annually visit K-12 schools across urban, suburban, and rural areas to discuss practical civility - sharing examples of respectful disagreement and collaborative problem-solving in legislative work. It directly affects students by providing classroom discussions on applying civility in daily interactions, conflict resolution, and digital communication, using legislators' own experiences as real-world examples. The resolution does not create new curriculum requirements but focuses on experiential learning through direct engagement with students.

Maddy summaryS 4342 expands eligibility for compensation from New Jersey's Victims of Crime Compensation Office (VCCO) to include victims of motor vehicle crashes resulting in death or requiring ambulance removal from the scene. It establishes a "Traffic Crash Victim's Bill of Rights," granting victims the right to access police reports and crash evidence (including photos and recordings), receive notifications about court proceedings, take reasonable time off work for related hearings, and be free from intimidation by the other driver. Victims will also be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, counseling, and other costs under the existing Criminal Injuries Compensation Act. The bill requires law enforcement and the VCCO to provide victims with clear information about their rights and the compensation process.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2159) prohibits New Jersey's State Lottery Commission from selling lottery tickets online through its own website or mobile apps. It also prevents the Commission or its contractors from acting as online sales agents for lottery games. The bill specifically exempts licensed courier services (as permitted under existing law) from this restriction. It blocks the Commission's planned 2024 rollout of direct internet sales while allowing couriers to continue online lottery ticket sales.

Maddy summaryS 3807 establishes a Veterans Suicide Prevention Commission to coordinate state services and prevent veteran suicides. The commission, composed of 13 members including veterans, agency representatives, and experts in veteran care, will review state programs, develop strategies, and track progress to improve support for veterans, service members, and their families. It will issue annual reports to the Governor and Legislature, conduct research and training, and enhance coordination among state, county, and local agencies. The goal is to strengthen veterans' transition to civilian life through better-coordinated care and services.

Maddy summaryS 1518 establishes requirements for public agencies considering contracting out services previously provided by public employees. The bill mandates competitive bidding for contracts over $500,000 (for local agencies) or $1 million (for state agencies), requiring contractors to maintain current service quality, not increase public fees, and pay wages/benefits at least equal to those of displaced public employees. Agencies must demonstrate cost savings compared to public provision, provide quarterly reports on contractor compliance, and prepare transition plans for displaced workers. The Office of the State Comptroller reviews contracts for compliance, and the State Auditor conducts annual post-audits to verify actual cost savings and service quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3631, creates enrollment flexibility for military-connected students in New Jersey public schools. It directly affects students who are dependents of active-duty military personnel, veterans, National Guard members, military retirees, or civilian military employees (including school staff working near military installations). Key provisions require school districts to waive residency requirements for enrollment, grant enrollment preference to military-connected students, protect them from discrimination in admissions, and guarantee admission to any school under district agreements if military orders document a temporary transfer over 30 days. Parents or guardians can choose to keep children in their original district during relocation or enroll them in new districts, with special provisions for 11th graders and schools with low performance ratings.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund to clarify eligibility for volunteer EMTs seeking certification or recertification. It expands the definition of "public or private institution of higher education" to include out-of-state schools and clarifies that EMTs receiving length-of-service awards remain eligible for fund reimbursement. The bill also updates the requirement for maintaining "volunteer in good standing" status to 12 service calls or 150 duty hours annually during the initial three-year certification period. Training agencies providing certification or recertification for volunteer EMTs will continue to receive direct reimbursement from the fund.