Sen. Gordon Johnson

Maddy summaryThis bill equalizes retirement benefits for New Jersey teachers by removing tiered membership in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). It moves all current non-retired TPAF members to the same benefit tier as those who joined before July 2007, and requires enrollment of public school employees meeting salary but not hour requirements. Educators in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) can automatically transfer service credit to TPAF (without transferring contributions), with an opt-out option within six months. It also expands disability retirement eligibility for current long-term disability recipients, requiring applications within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryS 2866 requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator with expertise in dementia care. This coordinator will develop a master plan, coordinate existing state services (including the Alzheimer's and Dementia Care Advisory Commission), prevent service duplication, identify gaps, and improve access to quality dementia care for affected individuals and their families. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to fund this position and mandates all state departments to cooperate with the coordinator by providing necessary data and assistance. It directly affects people with dementia, caregivers, and state agencies delivering dementia-related services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2774) expands the ability of breweries holding a *limited brewery license* to sell beer off-premises. It allows these breweries to operate up to 15 retail salesrooms located away from their main brewery, where they can sell packaged beer and draft beer for off-premises consumption. Each salesroom requires a $250 fee, and beer must be delivered directly from the brewery to the salesroom using the brewery’s own vehicle. The change applies only to breweries producing under 300,000 barrels annually and does not affect existing on-premises sales rules or food service restrictions.

Maddy summaryS 616 provides New Jersey businesses with tax credits for installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and converting commercial vehicle fleets to zero-emission models. Businesses that purchase and install EV charging stations (capped at $1,000 per station) or buy qualifying zero-emission vehicles (with credits up to $100,000 based on vehicle weight) can claim a 50% credit against corporation business tax or gross income tax. To qualify, businesses must apply for certification from the Environmental Protection Commissioner, proving purchase dates, costs, and installation details, with decisions made within 90 days. The credits apply for five years starting after the bill’s effective date and require submitting certification with tax returns.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2776) requires certain firms that place caregivers for non-medical home services to register as "Health Care Service Firms" with New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs. It directly affects employment agencies and similar businesses that arrange companion, health care, or personal care services for people with disabilities or those aged 60+ in their homes - excluding licensed home health or hospice agencies. Key provisions include mandating accreditation within 12 months of registration, requiring annual financial reports, and imposing tiered audit requirements based on firm revenue (e.g., firms earning over $5 million in Medicaid funds must submit audits every three years). The bill aims to increase oversight of these providers through standardized financial and operational reporting.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2743) adds a penalty mechanism for planned real estate development associations (like homeowner, condo, and cooperative associations) that fail to provide members with executive board meeting minutes within the required timeframe. Under existing law, associations must make these minutes available before the next open meeting, but this bill authorizes the Commissioner of Community Affairs to impose fines of up to $2,000 per meeting where minutes weren't provided to one or more members. It directly affects associations governed by New Jersey's Planned Real Estate Development Full Disclosure Act and their members who are denied access to meeting records. The bill does not change the existing requirement for minute availability but adds enforceable consequences for noncompliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Wind Institute for Innovation and Training to support the state's offshore wind industry. The Institute will focus on workforce training, education, research, and innovation - prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion - to help New Jersey meet its goal of generating 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035. Governed by a nine-member board (including state agency heads and appointed public members with relevant expertise), the Institute will operate independently within the Department of the Treasury. It directly affects workers, educational institutions, and clean energy businesses in New Jersey by developing skills and resources for the growing offshore wind sector.

Maddy summaryS 1219 requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to create inspection procedures for mold hazards in residential buildings and school facilities, and to establish certification programs for mold inspectors and abatement workers. The bill mandates that inspectors must complete training in mold identification, sampling methods, moisture detection, and relevant laws, while abatement workers must learn safe removal techniques, cleaning protocols, and protective measures. These certification programs, to be implemented within 12 months of the bill's effective date, will require ongoing education and allow DCA to enforce standards through fees, examinations, and penalties for violations. The law directly affects residential property owners, school districts, and professionals working in mold inspection and remediation.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's definition of "veteran" to remove specific date and location requirements for qualifying for civil service jobs and pension benefits. Previously, veterans had to prove service during exact historical periods (like World War I: April 6, 1917-November 11, 1918) or in designated locations (such as Lebanon during specific missions). The bill amends N.J.S.11A:5-1 to eliminate these restrictions, allowing more veterans who served in approved conflicts to qualify. It directly affects veterans whose service dates or locations no longer align with the old criteria but still meet the broader definition of honorable military service.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Senate resolution (SR 50) urges Congress to pass the federal "Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act," a legislative package of 13 bills. The resolution highlights that Black women in the U.S. are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes than white women, with maternal mortality rates remaining highest among Black mothers. The Momnibus Act would allocate over $1 billion to address racial disparities by funding support for basic needs (like housing and transportation), expanding mental health and substance use services, improving data collection, and increasing access to care through telehealth. The resolution does not create new law but calls for federal action to reduce preventable maternal deaths.