Sen. Gordon Johnson

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to implement a contactless payment system for all rail and light-rail passenger services within 18 months. It mandates that customers can tap credit/debit cards or mobile wallets at entry/exit points, load digital cards onto mobile apps, or use reusable physical cards - without needing physical tickets. NJT may charge a fee for physical cards but must waive it for disabled riders and senior citizens. The bill also requires NJT to consider employee impacts during the transition and study similar systems used in other states. This directly affects NJT operations and all rail passengers using New Jersey’s transit system.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2754) would allow registered nurses to obtain special license plates displaying "Registered Nurse" and the caduceus symbol. It requires applicants to pay a $50 fee (in addition to standard registration fees) and specifies that the Motor Vehicle Commission must design the plates and monitor costs. Implementation depends on the state securing funding for initial design, production, and publicizing the program before the plates can be issued. The bill affects licensed nurses who own or lease vehicles registered in New Jersey and is contingent on budget approval before becoming active.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that the minimum number of firefighters assigned to each fire vehicle (such as fire engines) be included as a mandatory term in collective bargaining agreements for New Jersey fire departments. The staffing levels must be based on safety considerations for both firefighters and the public. Public employers and firefighter unions must negotiate these minimum staffing requirements as part of their agreements. This change ensures safety-related staffing decisions are directly addressed through the bargaining process.

Maddy summaryS 1379 (New Jersey) creates a presumption that illnesses or injuries suffered by public safety workers (firefighters, police, EMTs) who responded to the September 11, 2001 attacks are compensable under workers' compensation law, regardless of when a claim is filed. It requires workers to participate in the federal World Trade Center Health Program to qualify for benefits. The bill also specifies that benefits paid through federal programs (like the WTC Health Program) will be credited against future state benefits, preventing double payment. This directly affects New Jersey public safety workers exposed to 9/11 hazards who later developed related illnesses or injuries.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts stipends paid to volunteer first responders (such as firefighters or EMTs who serve without regular pay) from state payroll and income taxes. It specifically excludes these stipends from gross income calculations under New Jersey's tax laws. Volunteer first responders may still receive nominal fees, expense reimbursements, or reasonable benefits without losing their tax-exempt status. The bill clarifies that this exemption applies to payments made for emergency services, as long as volunteers receive no regular remuneration for their service.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Bear Smart Fund" within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to finance the distribution of bear-proof garbage cans. The fund will be supported by civil penalties from existing bear-feeding violations, state/federal appropriations, and investment earnings. The DEP will prioritize distributing these cans in counties with high bear populations - Sussex, Warren, Morris, and Passaic - to reduce human-bear conflicts, potentially charging residents a small fee or partnering with local governments for cost efficiency. The bill also updates the state's bear-feeding law to clarify prohibited actions (like leaving food accessible to bears) and directs penalty collections into the new fund.

Maddy summaryS 2181 establishes the "New Economy Opportunity Skills System Pilot Program" to improve collaboration between local workforce development boards, community colleges, and county vocational school districts in New Jersey. The pilot program, operating for three years, requires joint development of workforce training with industry credentials, coordinated marketing, integrated funding planning, and performance tracking using metrics like employment rates and credential attainment. It designates community colleges and vocational schools as preferred providers for workforce training and adult literacy programs, targeting job seekers, workers, and public assistance recipients. The bill appropriates state funds from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund and Supplemental Workforce Fund to support the pilot, with annual progress reports required to the Governor and Legislature. (Note: This bill was withdrawn as approved under P.L.2025, c.375.)

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies and extends temporary authorization for out-of-state healthcare practitioners and recent graduates to practice in New Jersey. It specifically clarifies and extends "provisional authorization to practice" and "temporary graduate licenses" for professions like physicians, nurses, counselors, and therapists while they await full state licensure. The bill maintains existing requirements that practitioners must be licensed in their home state, comply with New Jersey regulations, and carry liability insurance. It directly affects healthcare professionals from other states seeking temporary practice opportunities in New Jersey, particularly those recently graduated from training programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to specifically classify sexual penetration or contact by transportation network company or taxicab drivers against passengers as aggravated sexual assault or aggravated criminal sexual contact, respectively. It directly affects drivers of ride-hailing services (like Uber/Lyft) and traditional taxis, and their passengers, when coercion or lack of consent is involved. The key mechanism adds a new subsection (8) to the aggravated sexual assault statute, making such acts a first-degree crime punishable by 25 years to life imprisonment (with 25 years parole-ineligible), while sexual contact under similar circumstances becomes a third-degree crime with 3-5 years imprisonment. The bill focuses solely on defining these acts as aggravated offenses based on the driver-passenger relationship, without altering existing consent standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's residency requirement law (R.S.52:14-7) to exempt nonresident military spouses from the rule that state employees must maintain a principal residence in New Jersey. Specifically, it adds a new exemption for spouses of active-duty military members who have been transferred to New Jersey, are legally domiciled there, or moved there permanently for their spouse's service. The exemption applies to all state offices, employment, or positions covered by the residency requirement, removing a barrier for military families relocating due to service. The law does not change other existing exemptions or create new programs - it simply expands the list of eligible exemptions under current state employment rules.