Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2407) changes retirement eligibility for local government business administrators in New Jersey. It makes these administrators eligible to join the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) instead of remaining in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program. Specifically, it allows business administrators who were previously enrolled in the Defined Contribution Program to transfer their membership to PERS. This applies to individuals holding this role in local government positions as defined by the bill. The policy change directly affects local government business administrators by altering their retirement system enrollment.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's existing military leave policy to include members of the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Currently, public employees (state, county, school district, or municipal staff) serving in the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps Reserves receive up to 30 paid workdays annually for federal active duty. The bill amends state law to add "Coast Guard Reserve" to the list of qualifying military branches, ensuring Coast Guard Reserve members receive the same benefit. It does not change the 30-day limit or payment terms already applied to other reserve branches.

Maddy summaryS 1348 would have established a Farmland Assessment Review Commission within New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to annually review the state's farmland assessment program. The commission would have evaluated program eligibility (affecting over 37,000 farmland properties), benefits distribution, inspection requirements, and potential fee structures for landowners. It aimed to ensure fair, uniform statewide application and address issues like benefit allocation based on farm sales data. This bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, as it was superseded by enacted legislation (P.L.2025, c.274).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to allow customers to schedule appointments online for agency services. It directly affects drivers needing to renew licenses, registrations, or other MVC-issued documents that are expiring. If the earliest available appointment is after a document's expiration date, the document's expiration is automatically extended to match the appointment time, and the MVC must provide written confirmation of this extension. The bill aims to prevent documents from expiring prematurely due to scheduling delays.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse volunteer firefighters for cancer screenings not covered by their insurance. It mandates coverage for 11 specific cancer types (including colon, lung, breast, and prostate) starting five years after beginning service, then every three years thereafter. The state will cover up to $1,250 per three-year period (adjusted for inflation), with no out-of-pocket costs for firefighters. Volunteer firefighting status is treated as a pre-existing condition for coverage, and annual state funding must be appropriated to support reimbursements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2463 bill withdraws the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multi-state program targeting carbon emissions, and repeals the "Global Warming Response Act" along with related climate laws. It directs the Environmental Protection Commissioner to notify RGGI officials of New Jersey's withdrawal 30 days after the bill takes effect. All unencumbered funds previously held in the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" are transferred to the General Fund for ratepayer relief. This bill directly affects New Jersey's climate policy framework by ending its participation in RGGI and redirecting climate-related funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state-funded counseling program for family members of New Jersey's active-duty military members and disabled veterans. It requires the Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to reimburse licensed mental health professionals for up to 10 counseling sessions per year (in-person or via telehealth) for eligible family members. Eligible family members include spouses, domestic partners, civil union partners, or children of active-duty service members or disabled veterans who are New Jersey residents. The program will maintain a statewide list of participating providers, set reimbursement rates, and conduct outreach to inform eligible individuals about the service.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 1906) exempts sales of pet food and certain veterinary medications from the state's sales and use tax. It applies specifically to food and medications for "qualified pets" - domesticated animals kept primarily for companionship (not for business or research) - and defines "qualified pet medication" as drugs recognized by state boards, prescribed by licensed vets, or intended to affect a pet's health. The exemption covers purchases made by pet owners for their companion animals, removing tax from these recurring costs. The policy change takes effect in the first full calendar quarter after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a third-degree crime to deliberately damage or deface military monuments in New Jersey. It specifically targets monuments erected to honor military personnel or commemorate battles, defining "desecrate" as defacing, damaging, or polluting such sites. The law elevates penalties for harming these monuments from a disorderly persons offense to a criminal offense, with third-degree crimes carrying potential jail time. It directly affects anyone who intentionally damages these specific types of monuments, which include war memorials and military cemeteries.

Maddy summaryS 1595 exempts volunteer fire companies, nonprofit emergency medical/rescue services, and qualified veteran organizations from paying registration fees under New Jersey's Charitable Registration and Investigation Act. Currently, charitable groups raising over $10,000 annually must register with the Division of Consumer Affairs and pay a fee; this bill removes that requirement for the specified volunteer organizations. The exemption applies to fire companies (including part-paid), emergency service providers, and veteran groups meeting IRS 501(c)(3)/501(c)(19 criteria, provided they operate entirely on volunteer basis. This changes the policy by eliminating a financial burden for these community service groups without altering their charitable status.