Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryS 3976 requires New Jersey colleges and universities that already offer priority course registration to extend this benefit to student parents who are New Jersey residents and parents or legal guardians of children under 18. Institutions must use the same registration procedures they apply to other priority groups, such as student-athletes or veterans. Before each semester, schools must notify eligible student parents about this priority registration opportunity. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summary# Summary of New Jersey Legislative Bill This bill would: 1. **Withdraw New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)** - Directing the Commissioner of Environmental Protection to issue a Notice of Withdrawal to the RGGI Memorandum of Understanding. 2. **Repeal the "Global Warming Response Act"** (26 P.L.2007, c.112) and related implementing laws (27 P.L.2007, c.340), which established New Jersey's participation in RGGI. 3. **Retain certain non-regulatory provisions** that don't relate to greenhouse gas emissions regulation, including: - Section 13 of the RGGI implementing law - Subsections g. and h. of 33 P.L.1999, c.23 (C.48:3-87) 4. **Transfer funds** from the "Global Warming Solutions Fund" to the General Fund for ratepayer relief. 5. **Amend various statutes** to remove references to the repealed acts, including: - Laws establishing the State's Forest Stewardship Incentive Fund - Laws establishing the State's Plug-in Electric Vehicle Incentive Fund - Laws establishing the "Electric School Bus Program" 6. **Clarify that developers** operating under redevelopment incentive grant agreements will not be eligible for payments for charges paid in compliance with the Global Warming Response Act prior to the bill's effective date. The bill effectively terminates New Jersey's participation in RGGI and removes the legal framework for greenhouse gas regulation that was established under the Global Warming Response Act, while preserving certain energy efficiency and renewable energy program provisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to fund substance abuse prevention programs for eighth-grade students in New Jersey public school districts. School districts must demonstrate budget commitment (using district funds, private donations, or federal money) to apply for grants. The programs require two components: faculty/parent workshops on substance abuse awareness, and a four-phase student education approach featuring rehab residents, family speakers, correctional facility offenders, and celebrity role models. Parents may opt their child out of the student program if it conflicts with their conscience or religious beliefs, with no academic penalty.

Maddy summaryS 3249 creates an alternative way for employers to meet New Jersey's earned sick leave requirements for unionized employees. Instead of providing separate sick leave, employers can offer a paid time off (PTO) plan of at least 40 hours per benefit year (which employees can use for sick leave purposes) to workers covered by collective bargaining agreements. This provision applies only to unionized employees, not all workers, and is retroactive to the 2018 effective date of the original earned sick leave law.

Maddy summaryThe "Grid Reliability Protection Act" (S 4561) prohibits New Jersey state agencies from mandating or incentivizing the shutdown of existing power plants connected to the state's grid, except under specific conditions. It requires two key conditions before decommissioning: (1) PJM Interconnection’s written certification that the shutdown won’t harm grid reliability or increase energy costs, and (2) a public rate impact analysis by the Board of Public Utilities showing no material cost increase for ratepayers. The bill allows immediate shutdowns only if a plant poses an immediate public health or safety risk due to structural damage or hazardous conditions. It also mandates 12 months’ public notice before any proposed shutdown, ensuring transparency. The law directly affects current power plants, state agencies, and ratepayers by preventing premature closures that could threaten grid stability.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's juvenile justice law to require that any juvenile charged with a crime listed under the "No Early Release Act" (NERA) be tried as an adult in criminal court, regardless of the juvenile's age. Currently, juveniles 15 or older can be tried as adults for certain serious offenses, but this bill expands the requirement to all NERA crimes and removes the age requirement. The NERA crimes include serious offenses such as murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping, sexual assault, robbery, carjacking, and certain drug-related crimes. The bill also requires the Youth Justice Commission to collect and analyze data on these cases to monitor how the law is being applied. This policy change affects all juveniles in New Jersey who are charged with NERA crimes, shifting their cases from juvenile court to adult criminal court.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4422) requires health insurance carriers in New Jersey to automatically approve credentialing applications for physicians whose New Jersey medical licenses are in good standing. It directly affects physicians seeking to join or renew their participation in insurance provider networks, streamlining a process that previously required manual review. The key mechanism mandates that carriers must accept the universal physician application form and automatically approve it if the physician’s license status is verified as "good standing" by the State Board of Medical Examiners. This eliminates unnecessary delays for qualified physicians while allowing carriers to request non-duplicative additional information. The bill takes effect immediately for applications received on or after the effective date.

Maddy summaryS 4415, the "Stolen Vehicle Possession Accountability Act," increases penalties for repeat offenders who receive stolen motor vehicles. Adults convicted of this crime on two or more prior occasions within 15 years face a second-degree offense (previously third degree for lower-value vehicles), punishable by 5-10 years in prison, up to $150,000 in fines, and mandatory 85% of the sentence without parole eligibility. Juveniles adjudicated delinquent for two or more prior offenses must have their cases transferred to adult court, where they may receive up to 10 years in prison for subsequent violations. The bill directly affects repeat offenders in both adult and juvenile justice systems, focusing on enhancing sentencing for habitual stolen vehicle possession.

Maddy summaryS 4436 requires New Jersey's Legislature to formally approve the state's Energy Master Plan (EMP) and each three-year revision within six months for it to become official state policy. Currently, the EMP would automatically take effect after the Energy Master Plan Committee adopts it, but this bill mandates legislative approval as a mandatory step. The committee will continue preparing the plan, holding public hearings, and adopting it, but without the Legislature's approval, the plan remains non-binding. This change ensures the Legislature has a direct role in finalizing the state's energy strategy before it becomes policy.

Maddy summaryThis concurrent resolution (SCR 132) declares natural gas a "clean fuel" and recognizes its role in New Jersey's energy policy goals. It states natural gas has lower carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy compared to coal and oil (citing the Energy Information Administration) and supports its use in transportation, electricity, and heating to reduce emissions. The resolution does not change regulations but formally positions natural gas as part of the state's strategy for meeting greenhouse gas reduction targets. It directs copies to the Governor and the Board of Public Utilities for awareness. (Note: This is a symbolic declaration, not a binding law affecting regulations or funding.)