Sen. Gordon Johnson

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2951 authorizes the Director of Taxation to pay whistleblowers 15% to 30% of recovered taxes, penalties, or interest when they report construction industry employers violating state tax laws. Whistleblowers must provide specific, credible information that leads to an enforcement action, with awards capped at 10% if the information came from public sources like media or government reports. Employees of the Department of Treasury and those who planned the violations are ineligible, and whistleblowers convicted of related crimes forfeit any award. The bill also protects whistleblowers from retaliation under New Jersey's Conscientious Employee Protection Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3052) expands academic flexibility for New Jersey public college students who are active-duty service members or their dependents (spouses/children) unable to finish a course due to unplanned military obligations like deployment. It changes the attendance threshold from 8 weeks to 55% of a course’s duration to qualify for grade options, adding temporary grades and online course transfers as choices. Students who complete 55% of a course can select a letter grade, pass/fail, incomplete, withdrawal, or online transfer (with approval), while those under 55% can choose incomplete or withdrawal. It also clarifies that pass/fail grades can later be converted to letter grades within a year by completing missed work, and ensures full tuition refunds for withdrawals. The law applies to all public institutions of higher education in New Jersey and takes effect immediately for the next academic year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to teach labor history as part of the social studies curriculum for students in grades 6-12. It mandates the State Board of Education to adopt specific learning standards covering organized labor history, notable strikes, unionization efforts, and collective bargaining processes in both U.S. and New Jersey contexts. School districts must integrate this content into their curriculum, using inclusive instructional materials that highlight labor movement contributions. The bill does not specify funding or assessment methods but requires implementation concurrent with future updates to existing social studies standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates an independent Office of the Veteran Advocate within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA), with the position appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. The Veteran Advocate will investigate complaints about veteran services, monitor care in state facilities, and ensure veterans receive proper treatment, with authority to conduct site visits, issue subpoenas, and establish a 24-hour hotline. The office will report annually to the Governor and Legislature on issues affecting veterans and make recommendations for improving services. The bill appropriates funds from the General Fund to support this new office, which will serve as an ombudsman for veterans and their families receiving services from state entities or state-funded private providers.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) rules to include pay for extracurricular activities in teachers' compensation calculations. Currently, additional pay for activities like coaching sports teams, directing school plays, or advising clubs isn't counted toward pension benefits. The bill would require that such additional pay be included when calculating a teacher's final compensation for pension purposes. It specifically defines extracurricular duties to include preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. This change would directly affect teachers who receive extra pay for these activities, potentially increasing their future pension benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey to disclose lead water hazards to tenants before lease agreements. It mandates written disclosure statements for properties built before 1986 or served by lead service lines (or unknown pipe composition), including health risks and testing information. Landlords must provide educational materials about lead exposure risks, such as flushing water before use or certified filters, and cannot block replacement of lead pipes. The law excludes newer buildings (constructed after 1986) and seasonal rentals from disclosure requirements. It aims to protect tenants in residential units by increasing transparency about lead in drinking water systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill would have modified New Jersey's reimbursement for Medicare premiums under the School Employees' Health Benefits Program. It would have covered Medicare Part B and Part D costs for qualified school retirees (teachers and county college employees with 25+ years of service) and their spouses, excluding income-related surcharges starting January 2025. Retirees hired after 2010 would have paid 1.5% of their monthly retirement allowance (via payroll deduction), with the state covering the remainder. The bill was introduced in the Senate on June 23, 2025, but withdrawn the following day.

Maddy summaryThis resolution designates June 23 of each year as "International Widows' Day" to raise awareness about the challenges faced by widows. It requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day through activities that highlight widows' experiences. The bill does not create new policies, funding, or legal changes - it serves solely as a symbolic recognition of widows' issues, citing statistics like 260 million widows globally and 1 million U.S. widows annually. It passed unanimously in the New Jersey Assembly and became law (P.L.2025, JR-10).

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts nonresident military spouses from New Jersey's residency requirement for public employees under the "New Jersey First Act." It specifically applies to spouses of active-duty military members who have been transferred to New Jersey for service, are legally domiciled here, or moved on a permanent change-of-station basis. The law amends existing statute (R.S.52:14-7) to explicitly exclude these spouses from the requirement that most state employees must reside in New Jersey. This change directly affects military spouses working in state government positions who maintain out-of-state residency due to their partner's military assignment.

Maddy summaryS 4392 amends New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program to require that all original music and musical scores for qualifying productions be produced and recorded domestically within the United States. This change applies to film and digital media content producers seeking tax credits under the program. To qualify for the tax credit, producers must now ensure all original music and musical scores are created within the U.S. or its territories, in addition to other existing requirements. The bill specifically adds this requirement to the eligibility criteria for tax credit qualification under Sections 1(a)(f) and 1(b)(e) of the amended law. This is a new condition for eligibility that must be met for producers to receive tax credit benefits.