Sen. Latham Tiver

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 824) amends New Jersey law to grant civil immunity for individuals using bear spray to repel aggressive bears. It specifically allows people possessing bear spray for bear defense to avoid civil lawsuits if they reasonably believe its use was necessary for self-defense, provided they did not act willfully, wantonly, or with gross negligence. The law updates existing self-defense protections under N.J.S.2C:39-6 to explicitly include bear spray as a defensive tool in bear encounters. It directly affects residents and visitors in bear-populated areas who may need to use bear spray for safety. The bill does not change possession laws but clarifies legal protections when bear spray is used appropriately.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to small business employers (defined as having fewer than 25 employees and under $1 million annual revenue) and farm employers (hiring workers on farms) for increased costs of mandatory insurance. It allows a credit equal to the difference between current-year and prior-year payments for workers’ compensation, temporary disability, and unemployment insurance, capped at $12,000 annually per business. The credit reduces tax liability for corporation business tax and gross income tax, but cannot exceed 50% of the tax due or lower it below the statutory minimum. The credit applies to tax periods starting January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey farm employers with tax credits for offering lodging or transportation benefits to farmworkers. Employers can claim up to $250 per employee for qualifying lodging (must be on-site, required for employment, and provided for six continuous weeks) and up to $500 per employee for transportation benefits (reimbursing actual commute costs like transit or fuel). Credits apply to both corporation business tax and gross income tax, but cannot exceed 50% of tax liability or overlap with other credits. The bill specifically targets farm employers who engage workers on hourly or piece-rate pay for farm labor.

Maddy summarySJR 23 is a New Jersey joint resolution urging the federal government to create a student loan forgiveness program for teachers. It specifically calls for canceling up to $17,500 in federal student loans after five consecutive years of teaching in schools within communities where at least 20% of students have a parent on active military duty. The resolution emphasizes that this program would help attract and retain qualified teachers in military-impacted communities to support military-connected students during school transitions. It does not create a new law but formally requests action from the President and Congress. The resolution was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey's Historical Commission to create a website program promoting historic sites and organizations' projects while collecting donations for them. It establishes a platform where the Commission will feature projects on its website, allowing visitors to donate directly to specific historic sites or projects. The Commission sets eligibility criteria, reviews projects for promotion, and handles donations - but the historic sites retain full control over how funds are used for their designated projects. This affects all New Jersey historic sites, museums, societies, and organizations seeking public exposure and funding support. The program does not involve financial returns, equity, or project management by the Commission.

Maddy summaryS 1986 establishes a 7-member School Funding Formula Evaluation Task Force to study New Jersey's current school funding system under the 2008 School Funding Reform Act. The task force, including the Commissioner of Education and six public members with education/finance expertise, will evaluate specific aspects like how school district budgets and local shares are calculated, weighting for at-risk students, special education funding methods, and geographic cost adjustments. It must hold public meetings across the state and issue a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within one year. This bill creates a procedural mechanism for reviewing the existing funding formula, directly affecting how state school aid is distributed to districts.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 596) requires New Jersey public utilities (like gas, electric, water, and sewer providers) to mail customers a detailed explanation of any proposed rate increase before the final vote by the Board of Public Utilities (BPU). The notification must include a clear justification for the settlement agreement that would raise individual rates, tolls, or charges. It directly affects customers in the service area impacted by the rate change. The bill takes immediate effect upon passage, aiming to increase transparency before rate adjustments are finalized.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 611) upgrades certain domestic violence-related assaults to aggravated assault under New Jersey law. It specifically makes simple assault committed against a domestic partner (or in a domestic violence context) automatically qualify as aggravated assault, raising the legal penalties. The change applies when a person assaults someone they have a domestic relationship with, treating such cases as more severe than standard simple assault. This adjustment aims to strengthen legal consequences for domestic violence incidents without altering the definition of domestic violence itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that when a dwelling unit in an age-restricted community (like a retirement community) is resold, the new owner must certify that the unit will be occupied by someone meeting federal "housing for older persons" standards (typically age 55+). It clarifies that "resale" includes foreclosure, tax, or bankruptcy sales, not just standard purchases. The law directly affects owners selling units in these communities and the communities themselves, ensuring they maintain their legal status under federal fair housing law. This prevents units from being occupied by non-older adults even if sold for affordable housing purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to promote community supported agriculture (CSA) programs, which connect consumers with local farms through subscription-based shares of seasonal produce. Specifically, the department must create an online directory of all CSAs, advertise their benefits through media and signage, develop special farm product labels identifying CSA sales, and establish an annual "Community Supported Agriculture Week" in February. The bill also updates existing funding for the "Jersey Fresh" program to include CSA promotion, allowing the department to collect and use funds for these efforts. These actions directly affect New Jersey farmers operating CSAs, consumers seeking local food options, and state agencies managing agricultural promotion.