Sen. Latham Tiver

Maddy summarySCR 31 proposes a constitutional amendment requiring New Jersey's Legislature to make all bills and joint resolutions publicly available on its website for at least seven full calendar days after their second reading before the final vote. This would extend the current one-day waiting period between the second and third readings to seven days, ensuring the public has more time to review legislation. The exception allowing immediate final passage for "emergency" measures remains, requiring a three-fourths vote in each chamber to bypass the seven-day requirement. This change directly affects the public's access to legislative texts and the Legislature's procedural timeline for passing bills.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey restaurant owners to help cover increased labor costs from the state's minimum wage hike. It allows a credit equal to the difference between the new minimum wage (post-2019 law) and the previous rate, multiplied by employee hours worked (or $3/hour for tipped staff), excluding delivery employees. The credit is capped at $12,500 per employee and only applies to restaurants with five or fewer locations. It covers both the business privilege tax and gross income tax for ten tax periods following the law's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires companies and research facilities in New Jersey that use cats, dogs, or ferrets for product testing or research to assess these animals for adoption suitability after testing ends. If deemed suitable, they must offer the animals to animal rescue organizations or private individuals for adoption, following specific procedures. Facilities must report details like animal numbers, assessment results, and adoption outcomes to the Department of Health, with penalties of up to $50,000 for noncompliance. The law directly affects testing facilities, research institutions, and animal rescue organizations, aiming to provide a pathway for animals used in testing to find new homes.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes veterans' benefits from income calculations when determining how much a veteran must pay for psychiatric facility care in New Jersey. It directly affects veterans aged 18 or older receiving treatment at state or county psychiatric facilities. The key change modifies existing law to ensure veterans' benefits (like VA pensions or disability payments) are not counted toward their income for payment calculations, potentially lowering their out-of-pocket costs. This adjustment applies to the sliding-scale fee system used for psychiatric facility payments, making veterans' benefits exempt from the financial assessment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey military members on active duty for the entire taxable year to deduct $250 from their gross income when calculating state income tax. It directly affects active-duty service members stationed in New Jersey who serve the full tax year. The deduction reduces their New Jersey tax bill by $250 annually, applying to tax years starting after the bill's enactment date. The provision takes effect immediately upon signing and applies to future tax years.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 622) requires New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission to create a program helping young drivers (typically under 25) obtain commercial driver's licenses (CDLs). The program will assist young drivers in getting CDLs, promote awareness of CDL benefits, and connect them with trucking industry job opportunities. The Commission must report annually on participation, CDL completions, and employment outcomes under the program. The bill aims to address driver shortages in the commercial trucking sector by expanding the pipeline of young, licensed drivers.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey would join the Counseling Compact, allowing licensed professional counselors from other member states to provide services to New Jersey residents without needing a separate New Jersey license. The bill enables counselors to practice across state lines under the rules of the client's location (e.g., a counselor licensed in Pennsylvania could serve a New Jersey client via telehealth), while preserving each state's authority to regulate practice and protect public safety. Key provisions include mutual recognition of licenses, sharing of disciplinary information between states, and support for telehealth services. This directly affects licensed counselors seeking to practice across state lines and clients in New Jersey who gain easier access to out-of-state counseling services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 623) establishes a "reasonableness standard" for individuals legally transporting firearms who temporarily deviate from their normal travel route. It directly affects all lawful firearm carriers (not just specific exemptions listed in the existing law) who need to take an alternate path for a reasonable purpose, such as a brief detour. The key provision clarifies that such deviations do not violate firearm transportation laws if they are reasonable under the circumstances. This changes the legal standard from strict route adherence to a flexible "reasonableness" test for lawful transport. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to automatically permit steer and other designated pack animals for riding in any state park where horseback riding is already authorized. It does not create new park activities but mandates that when DEP approves horseback riding in a specific park, it must also approve steer and other pack animals designated by the department. The law applies directly to state park visitors and the DEP, which must implement this change without additional review. It modifies existing recreational activity definitions to include "steer and other designated pack animal riding" alongside current permitted uses like horseback riding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 645) raises the threshold for property tax refunds or cancellations that municipal employees can process without further approval from a town's governing body, from $10 to $20. It directly affects local government staff and taxpayers receiving small refunds (under $20), streamlining administrative processing. The key mechanism allows municipalities to adopt a resolution authorizing designated staff to handle these transactions immediately, eliminating the need for separate governing body approvals. This change updates a 1983 law and aims to reduce bureaucratic delays for minor financial adjustments.