Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new criminal penalties for selling or buying marijuana from unlicensed businesses in New Jersey. It makes it a third-degree crime (up to 5 years in prison or $15,000 fine) for unlicensed business owners to manufacture, distribute, or dispense marijuana, and a second-degree crime (up to 10 years or $150,000 fine) for leaders of multi-location illegal networks. Purchasing from unlicensed sources becomes a disorderly persons offense (up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine). The New Jersey State Police can shut down violating businesses and seize illegal marijuana.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2392) requires New Jersey to replace the wheelchair symbol and the word "handicapped" with a new dynamic character logo and the word "accessible" on all public accessibility signage, placards, license plates, and markers. It applies only to new installations or replacements after the law takes effect (60 days post-enactment), not to existing signage. The new logo must be simple, identifiable, and provide equivalent accessibility to the current symbol. This affects all public facilities - like restrooms, ramps, and parking spaces - using such signage to indicate accessibility features. The change aligns with similar laws in New York and Connecticut and global adoption of the revised symbol.

Maddy summaryS 1982, the "Fentanyl and Xylazine Poisoning Awareness Act," requires New Jersey public school districts to include age-appropriate instruction on the dangers of fentanyl and xylazine in health and physical education curricula for students in grades 6-12. The bill mandates teaching about prevention, symptoms of poisoning, emergency response, and legal protections for seeking help, using resources from federal agencies like the CDC and DEA. School districts must provide this instruction as part of existing health standards, and the state education department must post related materials online for staff, students, and parents. The bill was withdrawn on January 13, 2026, after being approved as P.L.2025, c.278, and is no longer active.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes an independent Office of the Child Advocate within New Jersey's Executive Branch (allocated under the Department of Children and Families but operating autonomously). It directly affects children at risk of abuse or neglect, as well as state agencies and private entities providing child welfare services. Key provisions include appointing a Governor-selected attorney to investigate child welfare cases, access records (with limitations) to monitor agency responses, operate a 24-hour hotline for public reports, and issue subpoenas for investigations. The office will evaluate agency performance, review facilities like juvenile detention centers, and make recommendations to improve child protection systems.

Maddy summaryS 803 creates a program for New Jersey to acquire development easements on privately-owned woodlands, permanently restricting future development to protect land for farming, forestry, and conservation. Woodlands must be at least 20 acres, used for agriculture or forestry production, and managed under approved stewardship plans to qualify. The program will use existing farmland preservation funds and coordinate with federal agencies to access additional support, such as the federal Forest Legacy Program. Landowners who sell these easements retain ownership but lose development rights, with restrictions recorded to last indefinitely.

Maddy summaryThis bill lowers the minimum uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage required for transportation network company drivers (like Uber or Lyft drivers) and their companies when providing rides. It reduces the current $1.5 million coverage limit to $25,000 per person for injury/death (increasing to $35,000 after 2026), $50,000 total for multiple people (increasing to $70,000 after 2026), and $25,000 for property damage. The change applies to insurance plans issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2023, with gradual increases over time. This directly affects drivers and companies using personal vehicles for ride services in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThe "Energy Security and Affordability Act" (S 1900) requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to prioritize energy security, diversity, and affordability when updating the state's Energy Master Plan. It mandates the BPU to conduct detailed economic and ratepayer impact analyses for all energy generation projects and the Master Plan itself, including cost breakdowns, infrastructure expenses, and public comment periods. These analyses must be published online for 10 years using open-source modeling tools. The bill directly affects ratepayers (utility customers) and energy developers by ensuring decisions consider financial impacts and public input before project approvals.

Maddy summaryS 796 (New Jersey Senate Bill) allows school districts to use existing security categorical aid funding to hire school security personnel for both public and nonpublic schools within their district. The bill amends the "Secure Schools for All Children Act" to explicitly state that security services - including hiring security staff - can be paid for with this dedicated funding. Currently, school districts must provide security services to nonpublic school students, but this clarifies that hiring security personnel is an approved use of the existing security funding. The change makes current Department of Education guidance about allowable security expenditures consistent with the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently designates the 21.5-acre Caven Point Peninsula in Liberty State Park (Jersey City, Hudson County) as protected natural habitat. It preserves the area’s coastal wetland ecosystem, critical bird breeding grounds, and urban environmental education resource by overriding previous land use rules. The designation ensures the peninsula remains undisturbed for wildlife conservation and public education. The bill directly affects only this specific peninsula within Liberty State Park, with no broader geographic or policy implications.

Maddy summarySCR 30 proposes a constitutional amendment to limit most emergency orders, rules, or regulations issued by New Jersey's Governor to a 14-day period (ending on the 15th day after issuance), unless the Legislature approves a longer duration through a concurrent resolution. This would directly affect the Governor's emergency authority during declared states of emergency, requiring legislative review for extensions beyond 14 days. Key exceptions include orders rescinding prior emergency actions under disaster laws, federal compliance orders, executive branch-only directives, National Guard-related orders, and orders issued under other statutes with longer terms. The amendment does not change current practice for these exempted orders but would establish a fixed time limit for all other emergency measures.