Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey school buses transporting students with special needs to install two specific safety features. First, buses must have an electronic seat belt alert system with weight sensors that audibly and visually alerts drivers if seat belts are unfastened while moving. Second, buses must display unique barcodes (both inside and outside) that drivers scan during post-trip inspections to confirm no students were left behind. The Commissioner of Education will establish rules for these systems, with implementation required six months after the bill takes effect. The law directly affects school bus operators serving students with special needs under New Jersey's existing transportation regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners of low-speed electric bicycles and scooters in New Jersey to register these devices with the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) and maintain specific insurance coverage. Owners must complete a safety training module developed by the MVC before registration, and devices must display a registration label. The bill establishes an $8 registration fee for initial registration and annual renewals, and prohibits operation without proper registration. Owners must maintain liability insurance, pedestrian personal injury protection coverage, and uninsured motorist coverage for these devices.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county election boards to have bipartisan representation (from both major political parties) when opening and canvassing mail-in ballots. It mandates secure storage of mail-in ballots using specific security measures like dual-key locks requiring input from both party representatives, video surveillance, or access logs. The bill also upgrades penalties for certain election crimes, raising them from third-degree to second-degree offenses with punishments including up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $150,000. These changes apply to all counties in New Jersey handling mail-in ballots, aiming to enhance election security and transparency.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the deadline for New Jersey taxpayers to file amended tax returns and claim refunds for overpayments related to military pension or survivor benefit payments. Currently, taxpayers must file within 3 years of filing their return or paying tax; this bill changes that to a 10-year window for these specific errors. It directly affects military retirees or survivors who mistakenly reported exempt military benefits as taxable income on their New Jersey returns. The key change allows taxpayers to correct these reporting errors and recover overpaid taxes up to 10 years after the original filing or payment date.

Maddy summaryS 4727 requires background checks for all employees, volunteers, and organizers of youth sports and recreational organizations (including for-profit groups) serving children under 18, such as sports teams, leagues, and activity providers. Organizations must conduct annual background checks through the state, with individuals providing consent and covering costs (capped at actual expense), while school staff with existing checks (from school or national associations) in the same year are exempt if they provide proof. Failure to request checks incurs civil penalties up to $1,000 per offense, and knowingly participating as a disqualified person or ignoring check results is a fourth-degree crime punishable by up to 18 months in prison or a $10,000 fine. The bill excludes public and nonpublic schools from direct coverage but requires them to provide proof of existing checks to affiliated youth organizations.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 137) urges New Jersey to formally recognize September 22, 2025, as "National Family Day" through a symbolic gesture. It does not create new laws, allocate funding, or impose requirements - it simply encourages the state to acknowledge an existing annual observance that highlights the importance of family bonds. The resolution asks the state to promote awareness of family stability and encourage residents to spend quality time with loved ones on that date. As a procedural resolution, it has no binding effect on policy or spending.

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 862, now P.L.2025, c.11) requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to include significantly more detailed information in its annual report on road conditions. Specifically, the report must now list numerical rankings of roads needing repair, detail completed maintenance projects (including pothole repairs), provide cost estimates for each project, track material usage (tonnage), and include data on pothole damage claims and associated costs from the Treasury Department. The report must be made publicly available on the DOT's website. This affects the DOT directly by expanding its reporting duties and provides the public with more transparency about road maintenance spending and road conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires school bus personnel working with students with disabilities to call 911 during potential life-threatening emergencies and report these calls to the Office of Special Education. It mandates that school buses transporting students with disabilities be equipped with interior video cameras, real-time GPS tracking, and two-way communication devices. School bus drivers and aides must receive specialized training on emergency procedures and interacting with students with disabilities, with school districts and contractors required to maintain records of emergency calls. Failure to comply with the 911 reporting requirement can result in civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation. The bill applies specifically to school buses transporting students with disabilities, affecting school bus personnel, school districts, and bus contractors.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the filing deadline for members and retirees of New Jersey's Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), and State Police Retirement System (SPRS) to qualify for accidental disability retirement benefits related to 9/11 World Trade Center rescue, recovery, or cleanup operations. It allows for a two-year filing period after the bill's effective date (with potential two-year extensions) and replaces the requirement for a pre-employment physical examination with evidence of medical examinations that failed to disclose qualifying health conditions. The bill also permits retirees previously denied due to late filing to petition for reconsideration or resubmit their eligibility forms. Retirement systems must notify all affected members within 60 days of enactment about these provisions using clear language explaining filing requirements and time limits.