Sen. Joe Lagana

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2091) gives New Jersey electric utility customers the right to refuse smart meter installation at their home or business. Utilities must provide 90 days' written notice before installing a smart meter and cannot charge fees for declining installation. Customers who decline within 30 days of notice face no fees, while those declining between 30-90 days may be charged up to $100 total. The bill applies to all residential and commercial customers of electric utilities in New Jersey and takes effect immediately (pending a 60-day delay).

Maddy summaryS 194 clarifies jurisdiction for regional municipal courts established under New Jersey's 2021 pilot program. It specifies that these courts no longer must handle cases filed by State Police or county law enforcement agencies when the incidents originate from municipalities *not* participating in the regional court program - those cases will now go to the local municipal court where the incident occurred. Counties may still choose by ordinance to grant regional courts additional jurisdiction over such cases. The bill ensures regional courts retain jurisdiction over cases pending before its effective date. This change aims to reduce caseloads and costs for regional courts while allowing counties flexibility in jurisdictional assignments.

Maddy summaryS 1479 allows independent health care providers (like doctors and dentists) in New Jersey to jointly negotiate with insurance carriers on non-payment issues affecting patient care. The bill authorizes groups of providers to collectively discuss matters such as medical necessity definitions, referral standards, drug formulary rules, and utilization management policies - without addressing payment rates directly. This aims to balance negotiating power between providers and insurers, which the bill states is currently skewed toward insurers. The legislation is still pending, having been introduced in January 2024 and referred to the Senate Commerce Committee. It does not change how insurance companies set reimbursement rates but focuses on improving access to care and provider autonomy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires automatic machine recounts within 48 hours for tied races in local or state elections (excluding primaries and school elections). If the machine recount still results in a tie, a hand recount occurs within 48 hours. If the hand recount also produces a tie, a special election between the tied candidates must be held within 60 days. The state covers all costs for these recounts and the special election.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of books at school book fairs from New Jersey's state sales tax. It specifically applies to events held at elementary or secondary schools where books are sold exclusively to students at that school and their parents or guardians. The exemption covers all book sales at these defined fairs, removing the standard tax obligation for such transactions. The policy change directly affects schools hosting book fairs and the vendors selling books at those events.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates two tax credits for New Jersey residents and employers related to student loan payments. Individuals who earned an associate's, bachelor's, or graduate degree from an accredited school and worked in New Jersey during the tax year can claim a credit equal to a portion of their qualifying student loan payments (capped by a standard benchmark amount). Employers can also claim a credit for paying employees' qualifying student loans, with part-time employees counting at 50% of the credit. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to seven years, and STEM degree holders who pay no tax may receive a refund for excess credit.

Maddy summaryS 1453 provides tax credits to New Jersey small businesses during their first three years of operation. It directly affects qualifying businesses registered in New Jersey with no more than 50 employees and $100,000 or less in net income during their first taxable year. The bill offers tiered credits: 75% of gross income tax liability in year one, 50% in year two, and 25% in year three. Businesses must apply for authorization from the state director to claim these credits, ensuring they operate independently from other businesses owned by the same taxpayer. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Economic Growth Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1482) expands New Jersey’s tax credit for child and dependent care expenses by raising income limits and increasing credit amounts. It raises the income cap from $150,000 to $250,000 for married couples filing jointly, heads of household, or surviving spouses, while keeping the $150,000 limit for other filers. The credit percentage for all income brackets increases by 10 points (e.g., from 50% to 60% for under $30,000 income). It also adds eligibility for married individuals filing separately who meet federal credit requirements except for the joint filing rule. The changes apply to taxable years beginning after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how New Jersey school districts distribute state funds for nursing services provided to students at nonpublic schools. It allows districts to pay individual registered nurses directly (instead of using district funds) if the nonpublic school provides proof the nurse is licensed, documents actual hours worked, and signs an agreement accepting liability if the nurse's credentials are later disputed. The new process applies to agreements renewed or created for the 2021-2022 school year and beyond, but not to existing agreements from 2020-2021. It does not affect a district's ability to use these funds for administrative costs.

Maddy summaryS 1466 creates a Train the Trainer Program within New Jersey's Department of Education to improve student mental health support in public schools. The program trains school staff to lead evidence-based workshops for teachers on topics like trauma-informed approaches, recognizing behavioral health challenges, restorative practices, and crisis de-escalation. It appropriates $1 million from the General Fund for implementation and requires annual evaluations, with a legislative report due after three years. Participation by school districts is voluntary, and the program focuses on providing staff with tools to foster positive school climates and support student wellbeing.