Sen. Joe Lagana

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey municipalities to provide basic life support (BLS) services - including CPR, wound care, and emergency stabilization - to meet community needs. It designates BLS as an "essential service," mandating that each municipality arrange for it through one of five methods: licensing private providers, contracting with public/private entities, creating mutual aid agreements with other towns, partnering with hospitals, or using existing fire/EMS departments. The law applies statewide and takes immediate effect, ensuring consistent access to critical pre-hospital care.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Consumer Affairs to create and maintain an online open data portal on its website. The portal must provide public access to specific non-confidential datasets, including licensing application volumes, processing times, active license counts by county, exam pass rates, and consumer complaint statistics. Data must be sortable by profession/occupation and include year-by-year comparisons, while complying with privacy and public records laws. The portal will be updated annually, directly affecting professionals seeking licenses and consumers filing complaints with the division.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows registered courier services to sell instant lottery tickets electronically to New Jersey residents, requiring them to undergo background checks, display gambling warnings, protect customer data, and not charge fees from winnings. It defines "instant lottery tickets" as physical tickets with revealed symbols (not digital), with couriers storing tickets electronically only with customer consent and providing electronic receipts. The bill also requires the State Lottery Enterprise to contribute additional funds to retirement systems in Fiscal Year 2026 if they are underfunded. These changes aim to regulate courier-based lottery sales while maintaining existing funding for state retirement programs.

Maddy summary# New Jersey Hemp-Derived Consumable Products Regulation: Summary This bill establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for hemp-derived consumable products (including hemp-derived beverages) in New Jersey, administered primarily by the Department of Agriculture with some provisions for the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). ## Key Provisions ### Licensing Requirements - Businesses must obtain a license from the Department of Agriculture before operating - Existing ABC license holders (10 types including plenary retail consumption, brewery, winery, and wholesale licenses) can sell hemp products by paying an annual fee and maintaining ABC registration - All licensees must undergo inspections, product sampling, and background checks ### Sales Restrictions - Prohibits sales to anyone under 21 years of age - Bans distributing samples in public spaces (streets, sidewalks, parks) - Requires products to be behind a physical counter or barrier (except for licensed hemp-derived beverages) - Limits THC concentration to 0.3% on dry weight basis - Requires proper packaging (exit package) with specific labeling requirements ### Testing & Safety Requirements - Manufacturers must test products before distribution - Distributors must test if they open packages or receive products not in exit packaging - Requires child-resistant packaging - Mandates specific labeling including: - Ingredient list and allergen information - Warnings about pregnancy/breastfeeding - Statements about impaired driving - THC content per serving and total package - Expiration date ### Penalties & Enforcement - Civil penalties for violations (increasing for repeat offenses) - License suspension/revocation for serious violations - Criminal penalties for repeat offenses: - Second violation: disorderly persons offense ($1,000 fine, up to 6 months imprisonment) - Third violation: fourth degree crime ($10,000 fine, up to 18 months imprisonment) - Allows payment-in-lieu of license suspension/revocation ($3,000 for first violation, $8,000 for manufacturing/distribution violations) ### Taxation - 6% tax on retail sales (1% designated for social equity programs) - Revenue split equally between Department of Treasury and Department of Agriculture - Municipalities may impose up to 2% local excise tax ### Additional Provisions - Prohibits sales within 1,000 feet of schools or playgrounds (with exceptions for existing businesses) - Requires schools to adopt policies banning use in school buildings, facilities, and on transportation - Establishes "safe harbor" provisions for products intended for export only - Explicitly states the bill doesn't permit: - Operating vehicles while impaired - Require employers to accommodate workplace use - Legalize controlled substances ### Repeals - Repeals previous legislation (P.L.2024, c.73) related to intoxicating hemp products This bill represents a significant regulatory framework for hemp-derived products, balancing consumer safety with business opportunities while maintaining strict enforcement of age restrictions and product safety standards.

Maddy summaryS 4376 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey, creating a dedicated state agency focused exclusively on veterans' needs. The bill transfers all existing veterans' programs, services, and personnel from the current Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to this new department. The new department will manage veterans' memorial homes, cemeteries, benefits programs, and other services, with a Commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran. This change makes New Jersey one of the few states without a separate department for veterans' affairs, aiming to provide more efficient and focused support for veterans.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey employers from requiring employees to attend or listen to workplace communications about political matters, including discussions about political parties, elections, labor organizations, or community activities. It expands existing law by explicitly adding labor organizations and activities to the definition of "political matters" and mandates employers to post a clear notice of these rights in visible workplace areas. Employees who face violations can sue within 90 days for remedies like reinstatement, back pay, or fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenses. The law directly affects all employers in New Jersey - such as businesses, state agencies, and local governments - and their employees.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers of first responders (law enforcement officers and paid firefighters) to cover workers' compensation for up to 12 hours of confidential mental health counseling after a "critical incident," such as witnessing violence, serious injury, or trauma during duty. Additional up to 24 hours of counseling may be covered if a mental health professional deems it necessary for the responder's well-being. The law also mandates confidentiality for mental health communications between first responders and peer support teams or resiliency program officers, with limited exceptions if a responder poses a risk to themselves or others. All counseling must be completed within one year of the first session and cannot require use of the responder's accrued paid leave.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that businesses using employee leasing services (client companies) must handle and report separations from employment for leased workers, not the staffing agencies (employee leasing companies). It requires client companies to comply with state reporting rules under R.S. 43:21-6 and bear full liability for penalties if they fail to report separations. The law shifts responsibility from staffing agencies to the businesses directly employing the workers through leasing arrangements. This change specifically applies to reporting requirements for separations, not other aspects of employment. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 4439 allows student-athletes at four-year colleges offering athletic scholarships to earn compensation for the use of their name, image, or likeness (NIL), while prohibiting schools from blocking such deals. It specifically bans under-21 student-athletes from NIL agreements involving alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis products. The bill requires institutions to provide annual NIL education on financial literacy and brand management, and ensures NIL contracts remain private under public records law. It also prohibits athletic associations like the NCAA from penalizing schools or athletes for engaging in permitted NIL activities. The bill repeals New Jersey's previous "Fair Play Act" to align with updated national standards.

Maddy summaryS 3302 prohibits New Jersey employers from requiring employees to attend or listen to communications about political matters, such as political parties, elections, or joining political organizations. It expands the definition of "political matters" to include labor organizations and community activities, and mandates that employers post clear notices of employee rights in visible workplace areas. Employees who face violations can sue within 90 days for remedies like reinstatement, lost wages, or fines against employers (up to $5,000 per violation). The law aims to protect workers' freedom to focus on job duties without political pressure.