Sen. Gordon Johnson

Maddy summaryS 843 requires New Jersey's Adjutant General (within the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs) to create a program helping veterans access evaluation and treatment for service-connected PTSD, total brain injury, or traumatic brain injury. The program must coordinate support services like transportation, assistance filing disability claims, updating discharge status, and connecting veterans to healthcare resources at local, state, and federal levels. It directly affects New Jersey veterans who served in the U.S. Armed Forces or Reserve components, including the National Guard. The bill amends state law to mandate this program, which will be developed in coordination with relevant state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights (DCR) for system upgrades to the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS). The funds specifically support updating the NJ BIAS system, which helps state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies consistently track and report bias crimes. The appropriation is supplemental to existing funding for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with any unspent balance carried forward for the same purpose. This directly affects the DCR and law enforcement agencies responsible for investigating bias-related incidents under New Jersey's civil rights laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds fusion energy to the definition of "Class I renewable energy" under New Jersey's Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act. It directly affects fusion energy developers and utilities by making fusion projects eligible for the same state incentives, tax credits, and regulatory benefits currently available to established Class I renewables like solar and wind. The key mechanism is amending the statutory definition to explicitly include fusion, aligning it with other qualifying renewable sources for purposes of state energy programs. This change enables fusion projects to participate in New Jersey's renewable energy market and benefit from existing support structures.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1610 requires all outdoor lighting fixtures installed or replaced by State agencies or on state-funded projects to meet strict energy and light pollution standards. The bill mandates fully shielded fixtures with a maximum 2% light emission above 80 degrees, a BUG rating of U0, and a color temperature no higher than 2,700 Kelvin (with limited exceptions for sports fields or nature preserves). It also requires motion sensors to automatically adjust lighting, limits unnecessary brightness, and prohibits light trespass beyond property lines. These changes directly affect State agencies, public projects, and contractors working with state funds, aiming to reduce energy use and protect night skies. The law takes effect three months after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 1560 creates a Farm Vitality Planning Reimbursement Grant Program administered by New Jersey's Department of Agriculture. It directly affects New Jersey farmers who develop or implement long-term business plans aimed at improving farm economic stability, diversification, ownership transfer, and operational expansion. The program reimburses up to 75% of eligible costs (capped at $7,500 per farm) for these plans, requiring applicants to submit documentation of costs paid within two years and verify they aren’t already covered by other grants. Funds are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis using state appropriations. This is a financial assistance program, not a regulatory change, focusing solely on reimbursing planning expenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans in New Jersey, including Medicaid, to cover treatment for stuttering without cost-sharing. It mandates coverage for both habilitative speech therapy (to help maintain or improve speech skills) and rehabilitative speech therapy (to restore speech skills that have been lost), whether provided in-person or through telehealth. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any deductibles, copayments, or annual limits. This applies to all health insurance policies delivered, issued, executed, or renewed in New Jersey on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding to examine New Jersey's higher education system, including how colleges and universities are governed, funded, and overseen. The task force, composed of 14 members representing universities, faculty, students, and state officials, will analyze current challenges and identify best practices to develop recommendations. The bill appropriates $200,000 to fund the task force's work and requires a final report with findings to be submitted to the Governor and Legislature within one year.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to appoint a State Dementia Services Coordinator within the Department of Human Services. The coordinator will develop a master plan to improve dementia care, coordinate existing state programs (like the Alzheimer's Advisory Commission), prevent service duplication, identify gaps in care, and increase access to quality dementia treatment. The bill appropriates $150,000 from the General Fund to fund this position and its activities. It directly affects people with Alzheimer's and dementia, their families, and state agencies providing related services by mandating better coordination and communication across the system.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Community Hazard Assistance Mitigation Program (CHAMP) at the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank to fund projects that reduce risks from natural disasters, such as floods and storms. The program provides loans and financial assistance to State agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations for hazard mitigation and resilience projects that align with the STORM Act (Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation Act). It includes provisions allowing local governments to provide loans to private property owners for hazard mitigation, with a graduated loan forgiveness program based on household income levels. The bill also makes technical changes to the bank's authority, extending the date by which the bank may not incur additional indebtedness to June 30, 2053.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency (DCPP) to consult with the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) when a court finds an individual with a developmental disability abused or neglected a child. It mandates DCPP to work with DDD to create a tailored services plan for that individual, considering their specific disability. The key mechanism ensures therapeutic services (like counseling or support programs) are designed around the person's disability needs, rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach. This directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities who are found to have abused or neglected a child and are eligible for DDD services.