Sen. Latham Tiver

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey counties from purchasing or installing entirely new voting systems (including machines, tabulators, and software) in the same calendar year as a U.S. presidential election. It directly affects county election officials (county clerks) and election administration. The law allows counties to replace broken, outdated, or defective equipment but bans entirely new systems during presidential election years. The intent is to prevent potential logistical disruptions during high-turnout elections. Exceptions explicitly permit equipment upgrades to maintain existing systems.

Maddy summaryThis bill prevents New Jersey's standard 6% annual growth limit on state school aid from applying to specific school districts during the 2025-2026 school year. It directly affects districts that saw a net decrease in their total state school aid between the 2017-2018 and 2024-2025 school years. The key provision ensures these districts receive their full calculated state aid amount (including equalization, special education, security, and transportation aid) without the growth cap being applied to increases in that total. The policy change applies immediately to the 2025-2026 school year's state aid allocations.

Maddy summaryThis bill suspends two specific charges on residential electricity and gas utility bills in New Jersey from June 1 to September 30, 2025. It exempts customers from the sales and use tax (under the Sales and Use Tax Act) and removes the societal benefits charge (per P.L.1999, c.23) during this period. The policy directly affects residential utility customers by preventing these fees from being added to their monthly bills. The suspension applies only to electric and gas public utilities serving end users, as defined in state law, and expires October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Abandoned Mine Reclamation Program within New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to address safety and environmental risks from abandoned mines. The DEP must develop a comprehensive state plan mapping all abandoned mines, identifying the most dangerous sites (like those threatening structures or water quality), and ranking reclamation projects by priority and cost. The program will use a dedicated fund - supported by state, federal, and private funds - to finance reclamation work, which can be carried out by the DEP, contractors, or through grants to local governments and landowners. Property owners must be notified before DEP entry for reclamation, though the DEP retains authority to act if owners are unavailable or refuse permission, without it being considered trespass.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts nonprofit historic educational programs operating steam locomotive railroads from being regulated as amusement parks or rides. It applies to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations or government entities that meet three requirements: (1) personnel must be trained per railroad standards, (2) all maintenance and boiler inspections must follow state regulations, and (3) they cannot charge public admission for train rides. The exemption ensures these educational museum programs - like replica train experiences - avoid unnecessary amusement park regulations while maintaining safety standards. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey legislative internship program specifically for veterans. It allows state legislators to hire veterans as interns in their district offices, with priority given to New Jersey residents. To qualify, veterans must be honorably discharged, released within five years, at or below E-5/O-3 pay grade, and have a 20% service-connected disability rating (or be Purple Heart recipients); those receiving 20-year retirement are excluded. Interns complete a work period in a legislator's office, with possible extension, performing legislative tasks under the legislator's direction. The program may seek federal grants under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to support implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey local governments - including municipalities, counties, school districts, and public agencies - from naming public property (such as roads, parks, schools, or buildings) after a foreign terrorist organization designated by the federal government. It requires these entities to remove all existing signs, plaques, or displays referencing such groups within 30 days of the law taking effect and to rename the property within 90 days. The state will reimburse local governments for the costs of removal and renaming, and violations will trigger daily deductions from state aid. The Division of Local Government Services must maintain an annual list of designated foreign terrorist organizations and lands they control, excluding sovereign nations.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for time spent in military service academies (such as West Point or the Naval Academy), in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or as a class two special law enforcement officer before joining the police force. It amends existing law to permit purchasing credit for these specific service periods by paying into the retirement system's annuity savings fund, with options for installment payments over up to 10 years. The bill specifies that credit purchased for military academy enrollment, police academy training, or special law enforcement officer employment will be treated the same as actual police service for retirement benefit calculations. This applies to current and future SPRS members who want to count these pre-service periods toward their retirement eligibility and benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows members of New Jersey's State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to purchase retirement credit for specific prior service. It permits purchasing credit for time enrolled in military service academies (like West Point or Annapolis), time in the New Jersey State Police Academy, or employment as a "class two special law enforcement officer" before joining the police force. Members can pay for this credit through installments (at least half the normal contribution) over up to 10 years, with the credit counting equally toward retirement benefits as actual police service. The bill specifically requires that the break between such prior service and joining SPRS must be less than 365 days for the credit purchase to be eligible.

Maddy summaryThis bill triples the maximum property tax exemption amounts for improvements to single-family homes over 20 years old under New Jersey's Five-Year Exemption and Abatement Law. It increases the statutorily allowed exemption thresholds from $5,000/$15,000/$25,000 to $15,000/$45,000/$75,000 per dwelling unit for the first five years after improvements. Homeowners making qualifying renovations to eligible older single-family homes would benefit from reduced property tax assessments during this period. The law maintains a 30% annual abatement limit on the exemption amount but does not change the five-year exemption duration or apply to multi-unit buildings.