{ "id": "epcbzpvmee", "slug": "joe-lagana", "title": "Joe Lagana", "updated": "2026-09-29", "topic_path": [ { "id": "society", "label": "Society and history", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society" }, { "id": "society.politics", "label": "Politics and government", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions", "label": "Government and public administration", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders", "label": "Politicians and government officeholders (biographies)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders" }, { "id": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials", "label": "US governors and state officials", "api_url": 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General Assembly.", "node": "society.politics.institutions.politicians_and_officeholders.us-governors-and-state-officials.state-legislators.northeastern-state-legislators.alpha-k-to-m", "markdown": "# Joe Lagana\n\nJoe Lagana is an American politician and attorney. A Democrat, he is a member of the New Jersey Senate, representing the 38th district, where he has served since 2018.[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/) • [2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) He previously represented the same district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2014 to 2018.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/)\n\n| Fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Party | Democratic[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/) |\n| Current office | Member, New Jersey Senate, District 38 (since 2018)[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) |\n| Previous offices | Member, New Jersey General Assembly, District 38 (2014–2018); Deputy Parliamentarian, New Jersey General Assembly (2016–2017); President, Paramus Borough Council (2012–2013); Member, Paramus Borough Council[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) |\n| Education | B.A. in history, Fordham University; J.D., cum laude, Thomas M. Cooley Law School[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) |\n\n## Party affiliation\n\nLagana is a Democrat.[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/) He was appointed to his Senate seat by district Democratic Committee members in April 2018 to fill a vacancy.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/)\n\n## Early life and education\n\nLagana received a bachelor's degree in history from [Fordham University](https://www.edgepedia.org/fordham-university) and a juris doctorate, cum laude, from Thomas M. Cooley Law School.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) He and his wife, Jamie, have two daughters.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) He practices law in the areas of civil litigation, healthcare, PIP arbitration, and land use and redevelopment, and is a principal partner at Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs Lagana LLC.[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/) He has served as past president of the Bergen County Bar Association Young Lawyer Section.[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/)\n\n## Career\n\nBefore his legislative tenure, Lagana was a member of the Paramus Borough Council, serving as its president from 2012 to 2013.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) His law firm biography states that as council president he sat as chairman of the Budget Committee and Labor Negotiations.[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/)\n\nLagana represented the 38th district in the New Jersey General Assembly from 2014 to 2018, and served as Deputy Parliamentarian of the Assembly from 2016 to 2017.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) His law firm biography states that in the Assembly he served on the Financial Institutions and [Insurance](https://www.edgepedia.org/insurance), Judiciary, and Appropriations committees.[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/)\n\nIn April 2018, Lagana was appointed by district Democratic Committee members to fill a vacancy in the New Jersey Senate, representing the 38th district.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/) His law firm biography states that he is a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.[1](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/) Lagana serves as Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee and Vice Chair of the Senate Labor Committee for the 2025-2026 session.[2](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/)\n\n## Positions and legislative record\n\n### Real estate regulation\n\nLegislation sponsored by Lagana revises continuing education requirements for real estate licensees and the regulation of certain real estate continuing education providers, instructors, and courses. The bill updates the rules for the continuing education that real estate licensees in New Jersey must complete to maintain their licenses, introduces stricter oversight for the companies and instructors that provide the training, requires brokers and salespeople to finish specific educational hours, and ensures that training providers meet new standards set by the state commission.[3](https://myreptracker.com/new-jersey/legislators/nj-senate-38-joe-lagana/sponsored-bills)\n\n## References\n\n1. [Joseph A. Lagana, Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs Lagana LLC](http://cgajlaw.com/joseph-lagana/)\n2. [Senator Joseph A. Lagana, New Jersey Senate Democrats](https://njsdm.org/senators/joseph-a-lagana/)\n3. [Joe Lagana Sponsored Bills, MyRepTracker](https://myreptracker.com/new-jersey/legislators/nj-senate-38-joe-lagana/sponsored-bills)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Politics and government › Government and public administration › Politicians and government officeholders (biographies) › US governors and state officials › State legislators › Northeastern state legislators › Surnames K to M*\n\n*Initially written Sep 27, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 29, 2026 · Edited: Sep 29, 2026 · Last review: Sep 29, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-lagana", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-lagana.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"Joe Lagana\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-lagana. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[Joe Lagana](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-lagana)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-lagana](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-lagana). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"Joe Lagana\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-lagana. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "Joe Lagana is an American Democratic politician and attorney who has represented New Jersey's 38th district in the State Senate since 2018, after serving in the General Assembly." }