Sen. Latham Tiver

Maddy summaryThis bill allows high school students in grades 11-12 at New Jersey public schools to miss up to three days per school year for college visits, visits to technical institutions, or military recruitment activities without penalty. Students must provide documentation to their school, and these absences will not appear on transcripts, job applications, or affect perfect attendance records. Military recruitment-related activities include required testing, medical evaluations, interviews, and fingerprinting for enlistment. The law aims to support students exploring college or military career paths while maintaining attendance accountability.

Maddy summaryThis bill, "Anthony Maruca’s Law," requires New Jersey law enforcement officers who have access to epinephrine auto-injectors to complete approved training on emergency administration. It allows police departments to provide these devices to officers for use during official duties, storing them in vehicles or medical kits per health department guidelines. The law directly affects officers employed by police departments and mandates certification of training completion for those using the devices. Key provisions include the training requirement and authorization for departments to maintain the injectors, with no new funding or cost mandates specified.

Maddy summaryS 585, "The Voter Convenience Act," allows voters in New Jersey municipalities to cast ballots at any polling place within their town or city on election day, rather than being restricted to their assigned polling location. The bill requires county election officials to create uniform guidelines enabling this system, using existing electronic poll books to verify voter eligibility and provide the correct ballot for their district. It amends election statutes to update sample ballots with websites listing all available polling places in the municipality. This change directly affects all registered voters in New Jersey municipalities by increasing voting location flexibility on election day.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's bias intimidation law to explicitly include Sikhs as a protected class, allowing law enforcement to prosecute hate crimes targeting individuals based on their Sikh identity. The legislation also appropriates $100,000 in funding, likely to support enforcement and community outreach efforts. By adding Sikhs to the state's existing bias intimidation protections, the bill aims to address incidents of discrimination and violence against Sikhs, who are often mistaken for Muslims and have faced increased hate crimes following the September 11 attacks. The measure reflects concerns about rising anti-Sikh prejudice and the need for legal safeguards for this community within New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a psychoactive compound found in Kratom, to New Jersey's Schedule I list of controlled substances. It directly affects anyone possessing, manufacturing, distributing, or using 7-OH in the state. Under the law, 7-OH would be classified as a substance with "high potential for abuse" and "no accepted medical use," making it illegal for non-medical purposes. Possession of 1 ounce or more would be a second-degree crime, while smaller amounts would be a third-degree crime under New Jersey's drug laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes a constitutional amendment to dedicate specific tax revenues to New Jersey's state transportation system, directly affecting how state funds are allocated for roads, bridges, and related infrastructure. The amendment would require certain amounts from motor fuel taxes, petroleum product taxes, and sales taxes to be credited to a special account in the General Fund, with minimum dollar amounts specified for various fiscal years. Additionally, any revenue from future taxes on electric vehicles would be added to this dedicated fund, which can only be used for planning, construction, repair, and rehabilitation of the state's transportation system. The bill would also prohibit the Legislature from borrowing, appropriating, or using these dedicated funds for any purpose other than transportation improvements. This change would require voter approval at a general election to become part of the state constitution.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Transit Corporation to hire an independent firm to conduct an audit of its financial management and budget reporting practices since the 2018 Executive Order assessment. The resulting report must cover financial practices, the impact of the pandemic on service demand, funding adequacy, and recommendations for governance, hiring, and customer experience improvements. New Jersey Transit must adopt recommended policies within six months of the report's release, though it can decline specific recommendations by providing a detailed explanation. The bill takes effect immediately and expires one year after the report is issued, without affecting any existing legal audit requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to create a toll exemption program for disabled veterans using the E-ZPass electronic toll collection system. To qualify, a disabled veteran must first obtain a special "Disabled Vet" license plate issued by the state, after which the toll authorities must automatically approve their application for toll waivers on vehicles registered in New Jersey. The exemption applies specifically to tolls collected through the electronic tolling system for vehicles owned or leased by disabled veterans who meet the license plate requirements.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 106) declares that the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's (DEP) "Protecting Against Climate Threats" rules - adopted January 20, 2026, and known as NJPACT-REAL - are inconsistent with legislative intent. The resolution argues the DEP overstepped its authority by adopting these rules without explicit legislative approval, as the DEP claimed authority under outdated laws that never intended to cover climate regulations. The rules significantly expand flood hazard areas, restrict development rights for property owners, and impact housing costs and property values. This resolution does not change the rules but formally states the Legislature’s position that the DEP must await future legislative action on climate policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3691) grants patients with developmental disabilities in New Jersey hospitals the right to have a designated caregiver - such as a family member, guardian, direct support professional (DSP), or other caregiver - accompany them throughout their entire hospital stay, except during active surgical procedures where safety concerns apply. It requires hospitals to provide patients or their legal representatives the opportunity to choose this caregiver at admission, document the choice in medical records, and ensure the designated person can remain with the patient. The law directly affects individuals with developmental disabilities receiving inpatient hospital care across New Jersey, ensuring their support network can be present during treatment. Key mechanisms include standardized definitions for terms like "developmental disability" and "DSP," mandatory hospital procedures for designation, and clear exceptions for surgical settings.