Sen. Vince Polistina

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits paid to eligible retired members of New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It requires the PFRS board of trustees to restore these COLAs to their previous statutory level without requiring additional contributions from retirees, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't increase employer costs or jeopardize the system's long-term financial health. The policy directly affects retired police officers and firefighters who receive benefits under the PFRS. The change reverses a prior reduction to these automatic inflation adjustments for this specific retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2412, removes restrictions preventing police officers from being near polling places under specific circumstances. It allows police officers to travel to, remain at, or return from a police station located within 100 feet of a polling place for official duties. It also permits Class Three special law enforcement officers (defined for school security) to be assigned to polling places at public schools to maintain order during elections. These changes apply to all polling places in New Jersey, directly affecting law enforcement officers, polling locations, and election security protocols. The bill does not alter voting procedures or ballot handling.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the New Jersey State Board of Education from setting limits on how many semester-hour credits earned at regionally accredited two-year colleges in professional education can count toward teacher certification requirements. It directly affects prospective teachers seeking certification who attend two-year colleges, ensuring their credits are fully counted if accepted by a state-approved four-year college program. The key provision removes any restriction the Board might impose on these credits, requiring them to be accepted as part of certification without arbitrary caps. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryS 2058 would amend New Jersey's tax code to exclude tips from gross income tax calculations. The bill removes tips from the list of taxable income categories in the state's definition of gross income, meaning tips earned by workers would no longer be subject to state income tax. This change would directly affect individuals who rely on tips for income, such as restaurant servers, bartenders, and hospitality workers. As a result, these workers would have a lower taxable income and potentially pay less in state income tax.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2061) creates a voluntary training and registration program for commercial businesses that apply snow/ice removal substances (like salt or chemicals) for hire on private property. It requires these "commercial applicators" to complete certified training on effective, water-quality-protective methods, pass an exam, and register with the Environmental Protection Department. Registered applicators gain limited liability protection for snow/ice removal work if they follow the training methods, while non-registered or non-compliant applicators face liability. The program also mandates record-keeping of application methods and amounts, annual reporting to the department, and public posting of registered providers and applicators.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to study how temporary employment affects the state's workforce. The study must examine impacts on workers, wages, businesses, and the overall economy, while reviewing relevant state and federal laws. DOLWD must consult with employers, temporary worker organizations, academics, and legal experts, and report findings and potential policy recommendations to the legislature within 12 months. The bill does not change current laws but mandates this specific study to inform future decisions about temporary work arrangements.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey to help 12th-grade students navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Participating school districts must provide classroom instruction on FAFSA requirements, including documentation needs, key terms, eligibility, and deadlines, before students enter 12th grade. Districts must also share FAFSA information with parents/guardians via written or electronic means and provide paper copies upon request. The program will select four districts per region (southern, central, northern) and require a final report on feasibility for statewide implementation.

Maddy summaryS 1973 exempts local utilities - including sewerage authorities, municipal utilities, and other local government entities providing electricity, gas, sewer, or water services - from certain reporting requirements under New Jersey law. Specifically, it removes "local utility" from the list of entities required to submit detailed pandemic-impact reports to the Board of Public Utilities. The bill amends existing law to exclude these local entities from submitting quarterly reports on customer disconnections, arrears, assistance programs, and financial impacts related to the coronavirus pandemic. This change directly affects local utility providers not regulated by the Board of Public Utilities, reducing their administrative reporting burden.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides two tax benefits: it exempts retail sales of certain school supplies, art supplies, instructional materials, computers under $3,000, and school computer supplies under $1,000 from New Jersey's sales tax when purchased by individuals for non-business use year-round (replacing a temporary back-to-school holiday). It also creates a $500 annual deduction for eligible teachers' unreimbursed classroom expenses, including items like books, pencils, computers, and lab equipment. The tax exemption applies to sales after the fourth month following enactment, while the deduction applies to taxable years starting after the next January 1. These provisions directly affect students purchasing supplies, parents buying school items, and teachers covering classroom costs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill establishes a default presumption that joint legal and physical custody - where children spend roughly equal time with both parents and parents share major decisions about health, education, and welfare - is in a child's best interest. Courts must assume this arrangement unless a parent provides clear, convincing evidence that it would harm the child, requiring documented findings if the presumption is rebutted. The bill directly affects all parents involved in child custody cases and judges making custody rulings in New Jersey. It modifies existing law to prioritize shared parenting as the standard, while still allowing courts to order alternative arrangements like sole custody if justified by the child's specific needs.