Sen. Gordon Johnson

Maddy summaryS 1636 requires every New Jersey county to provide at least one drive-up ballot drop box (designed with accessible features like turning radius and curb cuts) available 24/7. County election boards must establish a minimum of 10 ballot drop boxes total, including locations at county government buildings, municipalities over 5,000 residents, and college campuses with over 5,000 students. The bill mandates ADA-compliant sites with security cameras, prohibits political displays within 100 feet, and requires all locations to be accessible. This directly affects county election boards’ operations and expands voter access to secure ballot drop options.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to inspect all traffic signs on state highways at least once yearly to ensure they are legible, visible, and properly maintained. NJDOT must also create a public awareness campaign explaining how residents can report missing, damaged, or illegible signs through specific channels. The law directly affects NJDOT (by mandating inspections and reporting) and the public (by providing a way to report sign issues). It establishes concrete procedures for maintenance checks and public engagement, with annual inspection records and reports submitted to the legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill replaces the terms "alien" and "illegal alien" with "noncitizen" and "undocumented noncitizen" throughout New Jersey state statutes and prohibits executive branch agencies from using the outdated terms. It directly affects all state laws and agency communications that currently reference these terms, including inheritance, estate, and lottery prize assignment provisions. The key mechanism is a straightforward language update to modernize terminology in existing statutes without creating new policies or requirements. The bill focuses solely on terminology, not on changing rights or responsibilities for noncitizens.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to give E-ZPass customers the ability to choose their automatic toll payment top-up amount. It mandates that contracts for electronic toll systems must include options for customers to select from preset top-up amounts or set their own custom amount, and change it anytime. The authorities must also publish clear instructions on their websites about this choice. This directly affects all NJ E-ZPass account holders by giving them more control over how their toll accounts are funded.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1296 amends the state's "Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act" to explicitly include fusion energy as a qualifying Class I renewable energy source. This change directly affects electric utilities and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, as it allows fusion power generation to count toward renewable energy requirements under existing law. The bill updates the legal definition of "Class I renewable energies" without altering other provisions or creating new programs. It does not change current incentives but ensures fusion projects can be recognized under the state's renewable energy framework. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's existing financial incentives for purchasing or leasing new plug-in electric vehicles to include hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. It amends the current incentive program (under P.L.2019, c.362) to define "eligible vehicle" as new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles meeting specific criteria, such as being registered in New Jersey and having an MSRP below $55,000. The change directly affects consumers who buy qualifying hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, making them eligible for the same state incentives previously available only for plug-in electric vehicles. The bill does not alter existing program requirements like the MSRP cap or registration rules, but expands the vehicle types covered under the incentive framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands eligibility for New Jersey's Transportation Infrastructure Financing Program, allowing the Palisades Interstate Park Commission (PIPC) to apply for state infrastructure funding. Previously, PIPC - responsible for managing parks along the Hudson River border between New Jersey and New York - was excluded from qualifying as a "local government unit" under the program. The bill amends existing law to explicitly include PIPC in the definition of eligible entities for transportation infrastructure projects. This change enables PIPC to access state funds for park-related transportation improvements like road maintenance, parking facilities, or visitor infrastructure. The bill does not create new projects but removes a barrier to existing funding opportunities for the agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2621, establishes the "Equitable Drug Pricing and Patient Access Act" to set minimum reimbursement rates for pharmacies providing prescription drugs to Medicaid beneficiaries in New Jersey. It mandates that pharmacies receive at least the national average drug acquisition cost plus a $10.92 dispensing fee, regardless of whether services are delivered through Medicaid’s fee-for-service or managed care systems. The bill requires Medicaid managed care organizations to include pharmacy choice as a mandatory benefit, ensuring enrollees can select any qualified pharmacy and preventing exclusion of pharmacies based on cost or other criteria. Additionally, it directs the State Auditor to audit pharmacy pricing practices and fund flows within Medicaid to identify potential state savings.

Maddy summarySJR 13 is a symbolic resolution commemorating the 71st anniversary of the Korean War armistice (July 27, 1953), specifically acknowledging the sacrifices of New Jersey residents who served. It directs the Adjutant General to distribute copies to New Jersey Korean War veteran associations. The bill does not create new laws or affect policy; it solely serves as a ceremonial recognition of the armistice and the state's veterans' service. This resolution is procedural and non-binding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2764) expands New Jersey's bias intimidation law to include creating false public alarms (e.g., fake bomb threats) as a form of bias intimidation. It directly affects individuals who make false alarms targeting people or groups based on race, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or ethnicity. The key mechanism adds N.J.S.2C:33-3 (false public alarms) to the list of underlying offenses that qualify as bias intimidation, with penalties one degree higher than the base offense (ranging from fourth-degree to first-degree crimes). The bill also removes a previously struck-down section that focused on victims' perceptions, aligning the law with a 2015 Supreme Court ruling.