Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThe Hotel Franchisee Fairness and Market Access Act aims to protect hotel franchisees in New Jersey from restrictive practices imposed by brand owners. It prohibits franchisors from forcing franchisees to buy non-essential goods, mandates transparency regarding vendor rebates, and requires compensation for stays booked through loyalty programs. The bill also restricts the opening of competing hotels within a franchisee's protected territory and limits unilateral changes to contracts unless they relate to health or safety. These provisions are designed to ensure fairer business conditions while maintaining necessary brand standards for guest safety and quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Hope Card Program in New Jersey to provide victims of domestic violence with a free, wallet-sized card containing essential information about their restraining orders. The program will be administered by the Administrative Office of the Courts, which must issue these cards within 10 business days of a final restraining order and maintain them online and in printed form at all Superior Courts. Courts will update the central registry to allow protected individuals to access their records through the Hope Card, while law enforcement and other agencies must verify card information against the registry when investigating domestic violence cases. The bill also amends existing laws to clarify who can access domestic violence registry records and establishes penalties for unauthorized disclosure of this confidential information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires youth and sports organizations in New Jersey to obtain criminal history background checks for all employees, volunteers, and organizers working with individuals under 18 years of age. Organizations must request these checks through the State Bureau of Identification, and individuals must provide written consent before a check is conducted. The bill establishes that organizations bear the cost of the checks, mandates annual checks unless a valid check from the same year was already completed, and imposes civil penalties of up to $1,000 for organizations that fail to comply. Additionally, it creates criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly participate in youth organizations despite being disqualified based on their criminal history or for organizers who ignore background check results.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault law to create a new category of "aggravated assault" for attacks on specific professionals. It adds subsection (b)(5) to define aggravated assault when someone commits simple assault (as defined in subsection a) against: teachers, school staff, emergency medical personnel, firefighters, healthcare workers providing direct patient care, or other designated public safety or service workers while they are clearly performing their duties. The law increases penalties for these attacks by classifying them as aggravated assault rather than simple assault. The bill does not specifically target elderly or disabled victims, as the title incorrectly states; it focuses on protecting designated public service workers. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.

Maddy summaryS 3016 requires youth and sports organizations (like teams, leagues, and activity providers for people under 18) to conduct annual criminal history background checks on all employees, volunteers, and organizers. Organizations must submit names, addresses, and fingerprints to the state for checks, covering convictions for violent crimes, crimes against children, theft, or drug offenses. Organizations bear the cost (capped at actual expenses), and failure to comply risks fines up to $1,000 per violation. Public and nonpublic schools are excluded, as are staff who already have required background checks through other programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's existing laws regarding search warrants to require law enforcement to act more quickly when investigating domestic violence and stalking cases. It specifically updates legal definitions for terms like "wire communication," "electronic communication," and "intercept" to ensure they cover modern technology such as cordless phones and electronic storage. By clarifying these definitions, the legislation aims to streamline the process for investigators to obtain and execute warrants related to digital and electronic evidence in these specific types of cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program within the New Jersey Department of Transportation to identify and address abandoned mines that threaten roads, bridges, and public utilities. It requires the department to develop a comprehensive plan that maps at-risk mines, prioritizes them by danger level, and outlines specific steps to stabilize or reclaim them. The legislation grants state employees the right to enter private property to conduct necessary safety investigations, provided they give proper notice and do not force owners to pay for the work. Once the plan is complete, the department can either perform the reclamation projects directly or hire private contractors to carry them out.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a grant program within the New Jersey Department of State to help local governments and non-profit organizations preserve Revolutionary War sites that are at risk due to development. The program will provide funding for the maintenance and expansion of battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites, with awards given competitively based on applicants' specific preservation plans and administrative capabilities. To support this initiative, the legislation appropriates $50 million from the state's General Fund and requires the department to establish rules for applying for and managing these grants within 90 days of the law's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 3-year pilot program in New Jersey's public elementary schools to test the use of therapy dogs in wellness initiatives. Participating school districts must apply with details about their schools, student wellness programs, and their specific plans for incorporating therapy dogs. The Department of Education will select two districts from each of the state's three regions (southern, central, northern), ensuring representation across urban, suburban, and rural areas. The program requires the DOE to provide guidance on therapy dog activities, handler training, dog health monitoring, and insurance, and mandates a final report evaluating the program's impact on student academic performance and health outcomes by June 2029.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2064) changes New Jersey law to allow soil conservation districts to have more than five supervisors. Currently, each district must have exactly five supervisors appointed by the State Soil Conservation Committee. The bill authorizes the Committee to set the maximum number of supervisors for each district based on local needs, rather than requiring a fixed five. This change directly affects soil conservation districts across the state, giving them flexibility in local governance.