Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual state payment to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses from $750 to $3,000. It affects veterans with specific service-connected disabilities, including total loss of sight, paraplegia, amputations, or permanent loss of limb function due to military service, as well as their surviving spouses. The payment will be made in monthly installments starting January 1 after the bill's effective date, with retroactive payments available for applications made within one year of discharge. Currently, 207 individuals receive this benefit under the existing $750 rate.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to create a grant program for veterans purchasing franchises. It provides up to $10,000 in one-time funding to "qualified veterans" (veterans approved by the EDA) who become franchisees operating in New Jersey. The EDA will establish application rules, prioritize veterans applying within six months of the bill's effective date, and require grantees to report how the funds were used within one year. The program aims to support veterans entering franchise ownership through financial assistance, with funding sourced from state appropriations or private donations.

Maddy summaryS 1011 establishes "gang shoplifting" as a third-degree crime in New Jersey, targeting coordinated group actions at retail stores. It applies when two or more people enter a store openly and either steal items without paying full retail value or tamper with property to endanger people or damage the store. The law mandates a minimum one-year prison term with no parole eligibility for offenders, in addition to potential fines up to $15,000. This bill specifically addresses incidents involving organized groups, such as flash mobs, engaging in visible theft or property damage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1194) changes New Jersey's tax law to expand a $6,000 gross income tax exemption for veterans. Currently, only veterans of the "Armed Forces" (military branches) qualify. The bill updates the definition to include all "Uniformed Services of the United States," as defined federally, which now covers veterans of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) in addition to military veterans. This change directly affects eligible veterans from these additional service branches by allowing them to deduct $6,000 from their New Jersey taxable income. The amendment applies to all qualifying veterans regardless of which uniformed service they served in.

Maddy summaryS 2527 directs New Jersey's Attorney General to create a program allowing anonymous reporting of potential school safety threats. It enables students, parents, staff, and community members to report unsafe activities via accessible methods like a phone tip line or mobile app, with strict privacy protections ensuring reporters' identities remain confidential unless voluntarily disclosed. The program requires automatic forwarding of reports to law enforcement or school officials, along with mandatory training for schools and law enforcement on handling tips. Annual reports must track total reports, usage patterns, misuse instances, and outcomes, to be submitted to the Governor and legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires petition circulators and candidates for public office in New Jersey to swear an oath affirming their candidacy is "bona fide" (in good faith) and not designed to undermine other candidates' campaigns. Violating this oath would be a third-degree crime. It also reinstates pre-election reporting for independent expenditure committees and clarifies that courts have jurisdiction over campaign finance law enforcement. The law directly affects anyone circulating petitions or running for office, with penalties for false oaths and new transparency requirements for campaign spending.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Government Efficiency and Regulatory Review Commission to evaluate New Jersey's existing rules, regulations, and executive orders. The commission, composed of nine members including state agency heads and legislative leaders, will assess how these rules impact the state's economy and whether their costs to businesses, workers, and local governments outweigh benefits. It must review all relevant rules annually, solicit public input through hearings, and provide the Governor with non-binding recommendations for changes. The commission's reports are advisory only and cannot be used to challenge state agencies in court.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2406) updates New Jersey's mail-in voting procedures. It requires mail-in ballot envelopes to include a "Do Not Forward. Return to Sender. Return Postage Guaranteed" label, helping voters return ballots sent to outdated addresses. It also allows voters to "cure" ballots with missing or detached certificates (e.g., by submitting corrected documents) and mandates that county clerks enter voter data into records within 30 days when ballots are returned. These changes directly affect voters who cast mail-in ballots and election officials managing ballot processing.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1644 establishes a loan program through the Economic Development Authority (EDA) to provide low-interest loans to small businesses (under 50 employees) for climate resiliency projects. The program targets businesses implementing projects like flood protection, water system upgrades, broadband expansion, or climate adaptation measures to reduce damage from events like hurricanes or sea-level rise. Loans will be issued from a dedicated revolving fund, replenished by repayments, with priority given to projects benefiting communities with climate vulnerability plans. Businesses must submit applications proving eligibility and outlining how funds will be used, and must provide annual financial reports until loans are repaid.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of Inspector General specifically for New Jersey's veterans' facilities, including state-run nursing homes and long-term care facilities serving veterans. The inspector general - appointed by the governor with Senate approval - will investigate complaints about care quality, conduct facility inspections, and subpoena witnesses or documents to ensure safety and standards. The office must operate independently from the Department of Law and Public Safety and can refer criminal matters to prosecutors. It directly affects veterans receiving care in these facilities, as well as facility staff and administrators through enhanced oversight.