Sen. Joe Lagana

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Human Services (in consultation with the Department of Health) to launch a three-year advertising campaign targeting certified home health aides, promoting healthcare careers as rewarding opportunities with available financial support like scholarships and student loan assistance. The campaign must specifically aim to recruit from underrepresented racial groups, senior care specialists, and high-demand healthcare fields. It appropriates $3 million from the state general fund to cover campaign costs and requires a final report on effectiveness to be submitted to the governor and legislature within six months of the campaign's end. The bill expires upon submission of this report.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 247, would eliminate New Jersey's statewide high school graduation proficiency test requirement. It directly affects all New Jersey public high school students, removing the mandate to pass a state-administered test in reading, writing, and math for graduation. The bill deletes references to the "High School Proficiency Test" from existing education laws and shifts responsibility to local school districts to establish their own graduation standards. Instead of a statewide test, districts would set their own criteria for student proficiency, with the State Board of Education no longer requiring the test as part of graduation standards. The bill is pending before the Senate Education Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's film and digital media tax credit program to require that all original music and musical scores for qualifying productions be created and recorded within the United States or its territories. It directly affects film and digital media producers seeking tax credits under the program by adding this domestic music requirement as a new eligibility condition. The key provision mandates that producers must ensure all original music for their projects is domestically produced, aligning with existing requirements for New Jersey spending and credits. This change applies to both film and digital media content tax credits, which currently offer 30-40% credits on qualified production expenses. The bill does not alter credit percentages or other existing criteria like New Jersey spending thresholds.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases mandatory personal injury protection (PIP) coverage for New Jersey auto insurance. It raises the basic PIP coverage from $15,000 to $20,000 per person per accident for standard auto insurance policies. Additionally, it sets a new minimum $50,000 PIP coverage requirement for standard automobile liability insurance policies. These changes directly affect all drivers in New Jersey who purchase auto insurance, ensuring higher coverage for medical bills, lost wages, and essential services after car accidents without requiring fault determination.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's school bus stop laws to authorize the use of school bus monitoring systems for enforcement. It directly affects drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses (including those transporting children or individuals with developmental disabilities) and school districts/municipalities that install such systems. Key provisions establish that violations captured by these systems result in a $250 civil penalty (instead of criminal penalties), with collected funds directed to municipal and school safety programs. The bill also clarifies that registered vehicle owners are presumed responsible for violations recorded by the systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires residential landlords in New Jersey to install durable guards or covers on all radiators exceeding 110°F surface temperature within 90 days of a tenant's written request. It updates previous law by removing the "steam radiator" restriction (applying to all radiator types) and replacing "insulating materials" with safety-focused guards. Landlords must provide annual written notice to tenants about this requirement and maintain it in common areas. Violations may lead to fines under the Uniform Fire Safety Act, and tenants injured due to non-compliance can seek legal remedies. The bill directly affects landlords of rental properties and their tenants.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1175 requires counties to establish independent crisis intervention programs providing mental health support for law enforcement officers, firefighters, and sheriff's officers after traumatic incidents. The programs must offer debriefing and counseling for issues like depression or stress stemming from critical events - such as shootings, hostage situations, or witnessing deaths - and cannot be housed at police or fire stations. Counties receive state reimbursement for program costs, and employers must allow officers to attend sessions without using paid leave. The law mandates participation in these services after critical incidents (defined as events involving weapons, injuries, or traumatic responses) before returning to duty, with pay protection for up to 30 days if deemed unfit for duty.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1364, provides New Jersey veterans with tuition-free education at their local county college for up to 60 credits. To qualify, veterans must be New Jersey residents who served honorably in the military and apply for all available state, federal, and VA benefits (including the Post-9/11 GI Bill) before receiving this tuition waiver. Military service credits earned at the college count toward the 60-credit limit. The benefit applies only to tuition, not other fees, and takes effect for the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryS 1398 (New Jersey) allows families or guardians of individuals up to age 21 with developmental disabilities to save unused after-school care hours provided by contracted agencies for use during holidays or weekends. The bill requires the Division of Children’s System of Care to permit this adjustment to existing family support services, specifically for "agency-after school care" - social/recreational activities offered by community agencies during after-school hours outside the home. It does not create new services but changes how existing authorized hours can be used. The bill was introduced in January 2026 but withdrawn the same day as it was incorporated into another enacted law (P.L.2025, c.360).

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in eligible New Jersey counties (population over 950,000) to fund nursing services for nonpublic schools. It redirects existing nursing aid funds directly to county-wide groups of nonpublic schools (called "county consortia") instead of school districts, requiring these consortia to provide all required nursing services to participating schools. The program mandates annual audits, an oversight committee with appointed members, and a report after two years to evaluate whether to expand statewide. It directly affects nonpublic schools in qualifying counties that currently receive nursing services through school districts.