Sen. Joe Cryan

Maddy summaryS 2137 requires New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to add test questions to entry-level law enforcement exams that identify implicit racial bias in candidates. This applies to all applicants for municipal and county police, correctional officers (adult and juvenile), and sheriff's positions. The bill mandates the Commission, working with testing experts, to include these questions starting four months after enactment. The goal is to assess unconscious biases that could affect officer behavior, as defined in the bill's statement. The change directly affects all new law enforcement hires across New Jersey's public safety agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill streamlines EMT-Basic certification for veterans with specific military medical experience. It directly affects veterans who served as Combat Army Medics, Navy Hospital Corpsmen, or equivalent roles in the Armed Forces or National Guard, provided they hold current National Registry certification. To qualify, applicants must complete a criminal background check and meet the three defined criteria (military role, NREMT certification, background check). The bill requires the Department of Health to publish clear online instructions about this process for public access.

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.

Maddy summaryS 2158 requires all commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) registered in New Jersey to be equipped with underride protection systems - devices on the front, rear, and sides that prevent other vehicles from sliding under trucks during collisions. This directly affects CMV operators (like trucking companies and delivery services) registered in the state, with fines of $50-$100 for first violations and $100-$200 for repeat offenses. The bill also mandates the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to launch a public awareness campaign about underride crash risks and safe driving practices, using printed and digital materials. The goal is to reduce injuries and fatalities from underride collisions, which caused 4,195 U.S. deaths between 1994-2015.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new principal department within New Jersey's Executive Branch called the Department of Early Childhood, led by a Commissioner appointed by the Governor. The department would consolidate early childhood responsibilities currently held by the Departments of Education and Human Services, covering programs for children from pregnancy through age eight. Key provisions include establishing the Commissioner's authority to hire staff, create rules, conduct investigations, and manage federal or private grants for early childhood services. The legislation also transfers specific programs like preschool education, child care subsidies, and teacher licensing to this new department, centralizing oversight for young children.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to expand eligibility for accidental disability benefits. It allows state employees who worked at a psychiatric institution or correctional facility immediately before joining PERS to apply for benefits if they sustained a work-related injury after January 2003 - even if the injury occurred before they became a PERS member. The key change deems such injuries as happening during membership, making the employee eligible for the benefit. This adjustment specifically applies to injuries from duties at these facilities, without altering the requirement that injuries must be work-related and reported within five years (with exceptions for delayed symptoms).

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 974 requires public school districts to appoint a mental health specialist for student-athletes participating in school sports programs. The specialist must conduct three annual mental health screenings per season using research-based tools, with parental consent required, and provide resources to athletes, coaches, and staff. School districts must also develop a mental health policy covering symptom recognition, stress reduction, emergency protocols, and transition care, and submit only aggregated, non-identifiable data to the state. This bill directly affects all public school student-athletes in New Jersey and mandates concrete changes to support their mental wellness through structured screening and policy requirements.

Maddy summaryS 776 requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to offer healthcare providers (like doctors, dentists, and hospitals) multiple payment options - such as electronic transfers, checks, or credit cards - for reimbursement, rather than mandating just one method. It prohibits carriers from restricting out-of-network providers to a single payment method and mandates that carriers disclose any fees for specific payment methods before the first payment or when changing methods. The bill also requires carriers to implement provider-requested payment method changes within 30 business days and bans using a provider’s preferred payment method as a factor in credentialing decisions. Violations could result in civil penalties and reimbursement for providers’ documented fees.

Maddy summaryS 857 extends the required public notice period for certain land use applications from 10 to 21 days before hearings. It applies to major developments like subdivisions, site plans, and outdoor advertising signs on public land, affecting developers and municipalities handling approvals. Applicants must publish notices in local newspapers and provide written notice to property owners within 200 feet of the project site. This change modifies existing notice requirements under New Jersey's land use law (P.L.1975, c.291) without altering application eligibility or exceptions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable New Jersey state tax credit for residents who make extra payments toward the principal of their primary residence mortgage. Taxpayers can claim 50% of "excess" principal payments (beyond required monthly amounts), capped at $1,000 annually, for mortgages that meet specific criteria: they must be for a primary residence, have a 15-30 year term with consistent payments, and be a "traditional mortgage." The credit phases down for single filers earning $125,000-$135,000 and married couples filing jointly earning $250,000-$270,000, and cannot be claimed for more than 10 years. It applies to taxable years starting after the bill’s enactment date.