Sen. Gordon Johnson

Maddy summaryThis bill modifies eligibility rules for New Jersey's state small business set-aside program, which helps direct state contracts to qualifying small businesses. It changes how gross revenue is calculated for eligibility: businesses must now use a five-year average (instead of three years) of revenue, with specific formulas for newer businesses or those with short fiscal years. The bill also clarifies that employee count requirements apply only to businesses without an applicable federal revenue standard. These changes directly affect businesses seeking state contracts under the set-aside program.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3877 requires all subscription service providers (like streaming, fitness, or software services) to offer consumers an easy way to cancel using the same method they signed up (e.g., online, phone, or email). It mandates a prominent cancellation button on websites and prohibits "negative option" tactics - where silence is treated as agreement - by requiring clear disclosures, express consent before charging, and immediate cancellation of charges. The law applies to all subscription services sold to New Jersey residents and makes violations punishable by fines up to $20,000 per offense. This replaces current rules that only covered health clubs, expanding consumer protections to all recurring payment services.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 756 (SAFER APP), authorizes New Jersey's Attorney General to direct navigation apps (like Google Maps or Waze) to reroute traffic during sustained emergencies that delay emergency vehicles. It applies when apps cause dangerous congestion on residential roads, leading to slower police/fire response times or increased accidents. The Attorney General can order rerouting for up to 12 months (renewable annually), with fines of $1,000-$5,000 per day for non-compliant apps. Crucially, it does not affect navigation to hospitals or police stations. The bill aims to temporarily prioritize emergency access without restricting physical road access.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of New Americans within New Jersey's Department of Human Services to support immigrants, refugees, and their families (referred to as "New Americans"). It formalizes an existing office created in 2019, directing it to administer refugee resettlement services, health screenings, legal aid for low-income New Americans, and workforce development programs. The office will serve as a central hub for data and expertise, providing training to other state agencies on equitable engagement with immigrant communities and ensuring language access services. Crucially, the bill prohibits using collected data for immigration enforcement purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill raises the daily vehicle traffic threshold for local governments to install certain speed humps without New Jersey Department of Transportation (DOT) approval from 3,000 to 4,000 vehicles per day. It specifically applies to two-lane residential streets, one-way residential streets, and streets within 500 feet of schools during road repairs - provided the speed hump has a flat top of at least 10 feet (like a speed table). Municipalities and counties can now install these traffic-calming measures on streets with posted speeds of 30 mph or less, without DOT consent, under these conditions. The bill does not affect installations on state roads (which still require DOT approval) or streets exceeding the traffic thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts foreign-licensed healthcare professionals from New Jersey's standard licensing requirements when providing medical services exclusively to athletes or team personnel of international soccer teams participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It applies only during the tournament period (June 1-July 31, 2026), covering all related activities including pre-tournament training. The exemption is limited to services for team members affiliated with foreign nations competing in the event, not general public healthcare. It does not alter New Jersey's regular licensing rules for healthcare professionals outside this specific timeframe and scope.

Maddy summarySCR 140 is a non-binding resolution urging the U.S. Department of Education to include nursing degree programs in the federal list of "professional degree programs" for student loan eligibility. Currently, nursing programs are excluded from this category, meaning nursing students would face lower federal loan limits ($20,500/year maximum) compared to other professional degrees ($50,000/year maximum) under proposed rules. The resolution directly affects nursing students nationwide, particularly in New Jersey where a projected 24,000-nurse shortage is expected by 2036. It seeks to change the Department of Education’s definition to allow nursing students access to higher borrowing limits for their education.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent New Jersey-India Commission to strengthen economic, cultural, and educational ties between New Jersey and India. It formalizes a commission previously created by Governor Murphy’s 2024 executive order, requiring the Governor to appoint 35-45 members: eight recommended by legislative leaders (with party balance rules), and the rest as public members serving three-year terms. The commission will foster trade, investment, and exchanges, directly supporting New Jersey’s Indian-American community (approximately 400,000 people) and India’s status as the state’s second-largest foreign investor. The bill does not create new programs but ensures ongoing coordination through a structured, permanent body.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases criminal penalties for identity theft when the victim is a senior citizen (62+ years old) or a veteran. It amends New Jersey law to elevate the severity of identity theft offenses targeting these groups: a first offense against a senior or veteran becomes a third-degree crime (instead of fourth-degree), and repeat offenses become second-degree crimes. The bill specifically defines "senior citizen" and "veteran" for legal clarity and ensures penalties rise based on victim status, regardless of the financial amount stolen. It directly affects seniors and veterans who are victims of identity theft, making such crimes punishable more severely.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a permanent "Civil Air Patrol Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs, requiring an annual $100,000 appropriation from the state General Fund. The fund supports New Jersey's Civil Air Patrol Wing by financing specific programs like cadet STEM/aviation training, search and rescue readiness, disaster relief equipment (including a Redbird Simulator), and volunteer training. Unspent funds carry forward annually, and the fund may also accept federal grants and public donations. The bill directly affects the Civil Air Patrol's operations in New Jersey, providing dedicated state funding for its community and emergency services programs.