Sen. Joe Lagana

Maddy summaryS 1416 allows registered courier services to sell instant lottery tickets electronically within New Jersey, directly affecting couriers, lottery players, and the State Lottery Commission. The bill requires couriers to undergo background checks, display fraud and gambling addiction warnings on their websites, safeguard customer data, and cannot charge fees on winnings. It also establishes a voluntary self-exclusion list for problem gamblers, enabling them to block access to lottery games and requiring couriers to remove self-excluded individuals from promotions. The State Lottery Commission must create rules for managing the self-exclusion list and overseeing courier services to maintain lottery integrity.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey's Department of Human Services to directly hire qualified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters when standard civil service hiring processes cause delays. Specifically, if the Civil Service Commission doesn't provide an eligible list within 60 days or no suitable candidates are selected from the list, the department may appoint a qualified candidate after obtaining written authorization from the Commissioner. The appointed candidate must complete a working test period to gain civil service status, and the department won't need to replace them if a new eligible list is later issued. This change aims to reduce unfilled interpreter positions within the department.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Domestic Workers' Bill of Rights Act to exclude full-time students and au pairs from the legal definition of "domestic worker." It removes these groups from the law's coverage, meaning they will no longer be protected under the bill's wage, scheduling, and working condition provisions. The bill also deletes a provision that held employers jointly liable for violations, meaning employers will no longer face shared financial responsibility for unpaid wages or other breaches. These changes directly affect domestic workers who are full-time students or au pairs by removing their legal protections under this law.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense for committing domestic violence in the presence of a child under 16 years old, specifically when the perpetrator knows the child is present. It applies to individuals committing acts of domestic violence (like assault or harassment) where the child is a parent, guardian, or resource family parent. The law requires a separate conviction and sentence for this new offense alongside the underlying domestic violence charge, rather than merging the two. This change ensures offenders face distinct legal consequences for exposing children to violence, regardless of whether they're convicted of the original domestic violence act. The severity of the new charge depends on the underlying offense (e.g., fourth degree if the original was a minor offense).

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 904, the "Naturopathic Doctors Licensing Act," establishes a state licensing system for naturopathic doctors. It creates the State Board of Naturopathic Examiners to set licensure standards, review applicants, issue licenses, and enforce rules for practitioners. The bill prohibits unlicensed practice or using titles like "naturopathic doctor" without a valid license, directly affecting naturopathic doctors seeking to practice in New Jersey and consumers relying on their services. Key provisions include requiring board members to be licensed naturopathic doctors with five years of practice, setting continuing education standards, and defining naturopathic medicine as a primary health care system.

Maddy summaryS 1359 requires health insurance companies in New Jersey to cover lead screenings for children 16 years of age or younger. The bill mandates that physicians, nurses, and healthcare facilities perform lead screenings for eligible children unless parents object in writing, and requires providers to notify parents of elevated lead levels in plain language. It also directs the Department of Health to establish regulations based on CDC guidelines, including screening schedules, follow-up protocols for high lead levels, and a public education campaign about lead poisoning risks. This policy directly affects health insurers, healthcare providers, and families with children under 16.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities, calculated proportionally to their disability rating (e.g., 50% disability = 50% exemption). It directly affects veterans declared by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability of at least 30% (or deemed unemployable due to such disability), and their surviving spouses under specific conditions. The state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax revenue lost from these exemptions, with a $10,000 cap for partial exemptions (below 100% disability).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to conduct a comprehensive study of residential burglaries and issue annual reports to the Governor and Legislature. The study must track detailed statistics since 2018 - including burglary times, weapon use, injuries, property values, and prosecution rates - by county. It also mandates a summary of current law enforcement efforts and recommendations to reduce burglaries, including potential legislative changes. The initial report is due within six months of the bill's enactment, with annual updates thereafter.

Maddy summaryS 1390 requires New Jersey's Division of Highway Traffic Safety to create a public awareness campaign about bicyclist and pedestrian safety. The campaign must explain current state laws, including rules for cyclists keeping to the right side of roads (C.39:4-14.2) and rules for motorists safely passing pedestrians or cyclists (C.39:4-92.4), along with the penalties for breaking these rules. It directly affects drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians by providing clear information about existing safety regulations. The bill mandates this campaign without changing any current laws, focusing on education rather than new restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts to create an evidence-based training program on implicit bias for all judges and judicial personnel. It mandates initial training within 90 days of appointment or transfer, plus annual refresher sessions, with the program reviewed every two years for updates. The training addresses unconscious biases - such as those based on race or gender - that influence judgment without conscious awareness, as defined in the bill. The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.