Sen. Gordon Johnson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Children's System of Care to change how family support and respite care services are provided to youth under 21 with developmental disabilities. It establishes a 12-month authorization period for services (replacing the current 90-day renewal), creates a separate "bank" of respite care hours for families (in addition to existing hours), and mandates an annual reevaluation of service needs. Families or guardians will receive a dedicated respite hour bank for agency-hired, agency-weekend, or self-hired care based on the individual's needs. The bill explicitly prohibits reducing existing respite care hours authorized under previous policies.

Maddy summaryS 2350 provides an additional $3 million in state funding specifically for the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS) within the Division on Civil Rights (DCR). This supplemental appropriation directly affects the DCR and all state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies that use the NJ BIAS system to track bias crimes. The funds are required to update the system's technology to ensure consistent and uniform tracking of bias incidents across all law enforcement levels. The bill mandates that any unspent funds at year-end carry forward for the same purpose, with no change to existing civil rights enforcement authority.

Maddy summaryS 2731 grants civil service status to police officers employed in Rutgers University's Division of Administration and Public Safety, placing them under New Jersey's civil service system (Title 11A of the statutes). Officers with at least one year of service before the bill's effective date will receive permanent career status and retroactive seniority from their original hire date. The bill takes effect three months after enactment, applying to all current and future officers in this division.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to create a program for gas utilities to gradually increase renewable natural gas (RNG) in their supply, starting at 5% by 2024 and reaching 30% by 2050. Gas utilities can make qualifying investments in RNG infrastructure and purchase RNG from third parties to meet these targets, with costs recoverable through regulated customer rate increases. The bill establishes a rate recovery mechanism allowing utilities to pass on approved costs to customers, while capping annual incremental costs at 5% of the utility's total revenue to protect ratepayers. It directly affects gas utilities and their customers by structuring a transition toward lower-carbon energy use through a regulated cost-recovery system.

Maddy summaryS 652 requires rail companies transporting large volumes of hazardous materials (like 200,000+ gallons of petroleum or 20,000+ gallons of other hazardous substances) to create and maintain emergency response, cleanup, and contingency plans. It directly affects rail operators of "high hazard trains" carrying these materials. The bill also mandates the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to request bridge inspection reports from the U.S. Department of Transportation to assess safety risks. These requirements aim to improve preparedness and safety for potential rail spills involving hazardous materials.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3006) would require New Jersey Medicaid to cover fertility preservation services (like egg or sperm freezing) for individuals who develop infertility as a direct result of medically necessary treatments, such as cancer therapy. It would specifically apply to New Jersey Medicaid beneficiaries who experience iatrogenic infertility (infertility caused by medical care) due to treatments deemed necessary by their healthcare providers. The bill amends existing Medicaid coverage rules to add these fertility preservation services to the list of covered medical benefits under the program. The bill was introduced on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Senate Health Committee for review.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Real Estate Appraiser Board to adopt the Appraisal Foundation's Practical Applications of Real Estate Appraisal (PAREA) program as an alternative option for meeting hands-on experience requirements. Currently, aspiring appraisers must find a licensed supervisor to oversee their training, which can be difficult with no formal matching process. The PAREA program allows prospective appraisers to fulfill all experience requirements through virtual simulations combining appraisal theory with mentorship, eliminating the need to secure a supervisor. This change directly affects individuals seeking real estate appraiser licensure or certification in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 46) is a symbolic legislative statement condemning all forms of anti-Semitism and rejecting justifications for anti-Jewish hatred. It specifically references rising anti-Semitic incidents in New Jersey - including 370 reported cases in 2021, including 44 at Jewish institutions and 82 in schools - to underscore the urgency of protecting Jewish communities. The resolution does not create new laws or funding but formally expresses the New Jersey Legislature’s opposition to anti-Semitism, citing historical context and recent violence (like the Pittsburgh synagogue attack). It applies broadly to all residents and institutions in New Jersey, emphasizing that anti-Semitism violates constitutional principles of tolerance and religious freedom.

Maddy summaryS 210 changes New Jersey's homestead property tax freeze benefit program to apply the benefit as a direct credit on property tax bills instead of issuing separate reimbursements. Eligible seniors (65+), disabled persons meeting Social Security criteria, and those meeting income and residency requirements will have the benefit amount deducted from their annual property tax bill. This eliminates the need for taxpayers to file for a separate reimbursement after paying taxes. The bill amends the existing "homestead property tax reimbursement freeze" program (P.L.1997, c.348) to implement this direct credit system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appropriate at least $10 million annually from the state General Fund to the Department of Health for Public Health Priority Funding, starting July 1 after the bill takes effect. It directly affects local health departments by restoring a dedicated, unrestricted state funding source they previously relied on (before it was eliminated in 2011), which previously covered about 15% of their total funding. The bill reinstates the "Public Health Priority Funding Act of 1977," allowing local health departments to use these funds flexibly to address community health needs, emerging threats, and other priorities - unlike current funding, which is often restricted to specific purposes like vaccines. This policy change would shift funding away from reliance on property taxes and narrowly designated federal/state grants.