Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill allows new cigar lounges to open in New Jersey municipalities that adopt specific local ordinances permitting them. It requires these lounges to be registered with local health boards and prohibits the sale of food or alcohol, bans hookah use, mandates separate entrances, and requires proper ventilation systems. Existing lounges that generated at least 15% of their income from tobacco sales and humidors before 2004 may continue operating if they meet renewal requirements, while new establishments must adhere to strict operational standards. The law also exempts tobacco retail stores, manufacturing facilities, private homes, and designated areas within casinos from these restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to create and implement a plan ending veteran homelessness within three years, following federal benchmarks. It affects all New Jersey veterans (defined broadly as anyone who served in the U.S. military, regardless of service length or discharge type). Key mechanisms include establishing a statewide list of at-risk veterans, coordinating with service providers to share data, prioritizing veterans for housing benefits, connecting veterans to health/employment resources, and using "Housing First" principles to rapidly secure permanent housing. The DCA must submit progress reports to the Governor and Legislature after the initial three years and every three years thereafter, with the plan updated regularly to maintain housing stability. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) to create a program identifying and recruiting unemployed residents for healthcare jobs. It mandates that DOLWD evaluate whether training is practical for specific roles, considers job proximity and transportation options, and assesses barriers preventing immediate employment. The bill appropriates $250,000 from the state general fund to fund training programs and support resources for eligible individuals, leveraging existing DOLWD initiatives. The program would directly affect unemployed New Jersey residents seeking healthcare employment, but the bill is currently pending in the Senate Labor Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Maddy summaryS 3664 establishes a mandatory Customer Service Initiative for all New Jersey state agencies, requiring them to create written plans focused on improving public interactions. The bill mandates agencies to set response time standards, implement employee training, incorporate service goals into performance reviews, and display a public "Customer Service Promise" outlining five core principles: friendly service, timely responses, accuracy, accessibility, and transparency. Agencies must also collect public feedback through online comments and surveys, publish their plans and annual reports publicly, and measure progress using standardized performance metrics. This initiative directly affects state agencies and the public they serve, aiming to standardize and track improvements in government service quality.

Maddy summaryS 3661 requires youth camps, municipal recreation departments, and nonprofit youth organizations (like Little Leagues, Pop Warner, and Police Athletic Leagues) to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) available on-site at all youth athletic events and practices held on public fields. Organizations must comply within 180 days of the law's effective date, or prove a certified emergency responder with an AED is present. The bill also provides legal immunity for organizations and their staff (including coaches and volunteers) when acquiring or using AEDs. This directly affects youth sports groups organizing events on public property across New Jersey, aiming to improve emergency response for cardiac incidents during athletic activities.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a confidential registry for individuals who required medical assistance due to misusing controlled substances. Healthcare providers (including doctors and pharmacists) must check this registry before prescribing controlled substances, as data will be submitted by hospitals, emergency medical services, and police departments. The registry aims to inform prescribing decisions while protecting patient privacy under state and federal laws. It does not require disclosure of health information beyond what is permitted by law. The registry must be updated annually and reported to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3638 ("Justice for Vulnerable Residents Act"), creates a new independent Justice Center to investigate reports of abuse, neglect, and exploitation against individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) in New Jersey’s state-licensed or state-operated residential and day habilitation facilities. It directly affects people with IDD living in these settings and their caregivers, centralizing investigations currently handled by the Department of Human Services and Department of Children and Families. The Justice Center will operate under a model inspired by New York’s system, streamlining complaints and investigations to improve safety and accountability. The bill defines key terms like "abuse" and "caregiver" and mandates a Medical Review Board to address disability-related mortality and abuse prevention.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey businesses that hire released nonviolent offenders. Specifically, businesses can claim a 15% credit (up to $900 per employee) on wages paid to these individuals for both corporation business tax and gross income tax. To qualify, the offender must have committed a nonviolent crime (excluding certain offenses involving force), served time or alternative sentencing, and been released into community supervision. Unused credits can be carried forward for up to seven years, but total credits cannot exceed 50% of a business's tax liability. The bill directly affects employers in New Jersey who hire eligible individuals, aiming to incentivize their reemployment.

Maddy summaryThe "Road to Relief Act" (S 3675) creates a $1 million grant program administered by New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to reimburse increased transportation costs for specific groups affected by highway projects. It directly assists commuters, full-time retail business employees, and retail businesses operating within areas blocked by highway construction (like the ongoing Interstate 80 project), during the project's active period. Applicants must document their regular pre-project transportation expenses and prove increased costs during the "relief period" caused by the project. Grants cover the difference between these costs, paid as a reimbursement based on submitted evidence. The program is limited to $1 million in total funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3666, expands New Jersey's Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program to include physical therapists as eligible participants. Currently, the program helps healthcare professionals like doctors, dentists, and nurse practitioners reduce student loan debt by working in underserved areas, but physical therapists were previously excluded. The bill amends eligibility requirements to explicitly add "physical therapist" to the list of qualifying professionals under the program. This change allows physical therapists working in designated underserved areas to access the same loan redemption benefits - up to $120,000 in repayment - without altering existing program rules like the service location requirements or funding limits.