Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the duties of Class Three special law enforcement officers to include providing security at religious worship locations like churches, mosques, and synagogues. It also requires school districts to approve nonpublic schools' requests to use their allocated security funds for hiring these officers, rather than using funds for other security measures. The change applies specifically to nonpublic schools (e.g., private religious schools) within public school districts. The bill modifies existing laws to clarify these officer classifications and funding procedures for school security.

Maddy summaryS 2601 ("Stephanie's Law") requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly accessible domestic violence registry. The registry includes individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, those with final restraining orders against them, or those found in contempt of such orders. It will contain detailed personal information (name, aliases, photo, vehicle details, address) for public search, with a process for removal if someone was wrongly listed. Law enforcement must search both this new public registry and the existing non-public central registry during arrests to check for active restraining orders. This bill aims to enhance public safety by providing accessible information about individuals with domestic violence histories.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1367) requires New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) to develop a mobile application providing veterans and their families with accessible guidance on state and federal benefits and resources. It directly affects veterans, military families, and service members in New Jersey by creating a centralized tool to navigate programs like healthcare, housing, education, and transition support. The key mechanism is mandating the DMVA to create and maintain this app, building on existing requirements to provide public information about veterans' programs. The bill was withdrawn after being enacted as P.L.2025, c.292, meaning the mobile app requirement is now law.

Maddy summarySCR 65 is a symbolic resolution passed by New Jersey's Senate condemning Hinduphobia - defined as prejudice or hatred against Hinduism and Hindus - and anti-Hindu bigotry. It declares New Jersey a welcoming state for Hindu Americans, recognizing their contributions to U.S. society and citing documented hate crimes against the community. The resolution has no binding legal effect but directs copies to the governor, New Jersey's congressional delegation, and the Hindu American Foundation. It serves as a formal statement of support, not a policy change.

Maddy summaryS 2380 removes a requirement that certain special law enforcement officers (specifically Class Two and Class Three officers meeting residency, hours worked, and training criteria) turn in their firearms at the end of each shift. Instead, these officers may carry permitted firearms off-duty if they have completed required training (280 hours of instruction plus annual qualification) and hold a permit from their chief of police or county sheriff. The bill maintains that officers must use only locally supplied firearms during shifts and retain permits on their person when carrying weapons off-duty. This change directly affects special officers employed full-time by municipalities over 300,000 population who meet the training and permit conditions. The policy modifies existing firearm-handling rules without altering officer duties or supervision requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill suspends fines for first-time paperwork violations by small businesses (defined as entities with 50 or fewer employees) when interacting with New Jersey state agencies. It automatically waives fines for minor, non-harmful errors, unless the violation involves tax collection, poses public safety risks, could interfere with criminal investigations, or remains uncorrected within six months. For safety-related violations, agencies may still impose fines but allow a 24-hour correction window if the business acts promptly. Exceptions ensure fines apply for serious risks, tax issues, or repeated offenses.

Maddy summaryS 1754 increases annual payments from New Jersey's Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund to municipalities over two years. It directly affects all municipalities receiving these state funds, requiring them to reduce their property tax levies by the full amount of the increased aid. The bill mandates that any additional aid distributed under this fund must be subtracted from the municipality's annual property tax levy, preventing local governments from using the extra funds to raise taxes. This policy change ensures that state aid directly lowers the property tax burden on residents and businesses in affected municipalities.

Maddy summaryS 1150 expands New Jersey's legal definition of domestic violence to include psychological abuse and economic abuse. It directly affects individuals protected under the Prevention of Domestic Violence Act of 1991 by adding two new categories: (1) psychological abuse (behavior causing fear or distress that disrupts daily life), and (2) economic abuse (behavior limiting a person's ability to manage money, property, or access goods/services). The bill amends the statute to explicitly list these as forms of domestic violence, ensuring victims experiencing these harms can seek legal protection under the same framework as physical or sexual abuse. This change does not alter existing protections for victims but broadens the scope of what qualifies as abuse under state law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2420) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide in-person vehicle and licensing services at every MVC agency location for two specific groups: individuals aged 65 or older and people with disabilities. It defines "vehicle and licensing services" to include common transactions like driver's license renewals, ID cards, registration, and disability-related permits (e.g., wheelchair plates). The law mandates that MVC must offer these services in person at all locations, reversing a pandemic-era practice that limited services to online or specific centers. This change directly affects seniors and individuals with disabilities who previously faced barriers accessing in-person help. The bill takes effect four months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows people with disabilities to request exemption from civil service examinations when applying for state jobs, if they can perform the job duties. It directly affects qualified job seekers with disabilities who would otherwise need to pass standard exams. Key provisions require hiring agencies to accept medical professional letters or proof of participation in specific disability programs (like Social Security Disability or vocational rehabilitation) as verification. Disability records related to the exemption request must remain confidential, except for administrative or statistical purposes. The policy removes a barrier to employment while ensuring applicants meet job requirements.