Sen. Latham Tiver

Maddy summaryS 2458 requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to allow individuals to schedule unemployment benefits appointments at One Stop Career Centers by phone or online, rather than only online as currently required. The bill defines an "unemployment service appointment" as a meeting specifically for applying for or receiving unemployment benefits. This change adds phone scheduling as a new option, making it easier for job seekers and unemployment claimants to set up appointments without needing internet access. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 66) urges the Governor to safely resume in-person services at New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD), which have been closed since March 2020 due to the pandemic. It specifically targets vulnerable groups - such as elderly, low-income, and disabled residents - who face challenges using remote services for unemployment claims and career support. The resolution cites declining COVID-19 cases and the need to restore access to One-Stop Career Centers and unemployment claim processing, noting that 54% of pandemic-related job losses remained unrecovered as of March 2021. It also calls for DOLWD to fully staff all public-facing offices. As a non-binding resolution, it requests action but does not create new law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Volunteer Fire Company Assistance Program" in New Jersey's Division of Fire Safety, appropriating $10 million annually to support volunteer fire companies. It creates a grant program allowing these companies to apply for funding to cover emergency equipment (like protective gear, tools, and maintenance) and operational costs - excluding new vehicles or buildings. To receive funds, fire companies must submit detailed applications outlining how they'll use the money, and must report back within a year on expenditures and impacts. The program directly affects all volunteer fire departments statewide, aiming to improve their operational sustainability through targeted financial assistance.

Maddy summaryS 2408 requires New Jersey to appropriate up to $200,000 annually from the General Fund to the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs (DMVA) to help preserve military installations if the federal government pursues base realignment or closure. The bill mandates that the DMVA submit a public annual report by July 15th detailing all expenditures from these funds, including receipts and vendor information, which must be posted online. It also requires competitive bidding every two years for any contracts involving lobbyists or governmental affairs agents related to installation preservation. This bill directly affects the DMVA and military installations in New Jersey, with no substantive policy changes beyond funding and transparency requirements.

Maddy summaryBill S 1410 eliminates the use of U.S. Census data in calculating state funding for special education. The bill changes New Jersey's school funding law to remove census-based metrics from the formula determining special education aid. Instead, funding will be based on projected pupil counts from prior years, not current Census data. This directly affects all school districts receiving special education aid by altering how their state funding is calculated.

Maddy summaryS 628 requires New Jersey state employers (like government departments) and contracted service providers (e.g., childcare organizations) to conduct background checks on applicants for jobs involving regular contact with children. Applicants must disclose any history of child abuse or sexual misconduct investigations, disciplinary actions, or license issues related to such allegations, and provide a list of past employers (from the last 20 years) for verification. Employers must contact previous employers within 20 days to confirm this information, and false disclosures can lead to termination, criminal penalties, or a $500 fine. The bill directly affects all individuals seeking or holding child-contact positions in state-employing or state-contracted roles.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 636) reduces the supervised counseling experience required for professional counselor licensure in New Jersey from three years (3,000 hours) to two years (2,000 hours) in a professional counseling setting. It maintains the option to substitute 30 graduate semester hours beyond a master's degree for one year of experience, while requiring at least one year (1,500 hours) of supervised counseling after earning a master's degree. The change directly affects individuals seeking to become licensed professional counselors by lowering the experience threshold. The bill preserves existing educational and examination requirements, including passing the National Counselor Examination. It was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and referred to the Health Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes how vacancies on school boards in limited purpose regional school districts are filled. Specifically, it requires that vacancies on such boards be filled by a majority vote of the members from the constituent district (the town or area that originally elected the board member), rather than by the remaining members of the school board itself. The bill amends New Jersey law to clarify this process for these specific school districts. This change directly affects the governance of limited purpose regional school districts across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 643) creates a $3,000 annual deduction against gross income tax for surviving spouses of veterans who died while on active duty, were honorably discharged, or were released under honorable circumstances from active duty. It directly affects widows and widowers who were married to qualifying veterans at the time of death and have not remarried. The deduction is added to New Jersey’s tax code (amending N.J.S.54A:3-1) as a new personal exemption for these surviving spouses. The bill does not change existing tax benefits for veterans themselves but extends similar relief to their spouses after the veteran’s death.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates inheritance taxes for siblings who inherit property from a deceased person. It directly affects brothers and sisters who receive assets through a decedent's estate, removing a tax that previously applied to such transfers. The law amends New Jersey's tax code to exempt sibling inheritances from the tax rates that were previously in effect (including 11% on amounts up to $1.1 million). This change applies to all sibling inheritances occurring on or after January 1, 2022, and takes effect immediately upon passage.