Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill allocates $17 million in supplemental funding for Fiscal Year 2024 to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide grants for lake management. The grants directly support qualified entities - including lake commissions (like Greenwood Lake and Lake Hopatcong), local governments, and nonprofit organizations focused on publicly-accessible lakes - to cover costs for maintaining lakes used for recreation and conservation. Key provisions require the DEP to prioritize projects improving water quality, increasing recreational access, and controlling nutrients to prevent harmful algal blooms. This builds on a prior $10 million appropriation for similar lake management efforts in 2020-2021.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2531) requires public schools and senior residential centers used as polling places to create election-day security plans. It allows police officers (in plain clothes) to be present at these locations if requested by the center or school, provided they do not interfere with voters. Schools must establish locked, separate voting areas from student zones during elections if the school is in session. The bill also mandates a notification chain: the center/school must inform the district board 7 days before an election, which then notifies county election officials and the Secretary of State.

Maddy summarySCR 104 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the New Jersey Senate condemning hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing the religion's global significance and Hindu Americans' contributions to society. The resolution defines hinduphobia as "antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes" toward Hinduism and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes. Copies will be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's Congress members, and the Hindu American Foundation. It has no legal effect beyond expressing the state's stance.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3138 allows emergency medical technicians (EMTs) to administer epinephrine using a standard needle and syringe (not just pre-filled auto-injectors), expanding their current authorization under state law. To use this method, EMTs must complete an approved training program and pass an exam on non-prefilled syringe administration, as set by the Commissioner of Health. The Commissioner will maintain a public registry of certified EMTs and may charge a fee for training/testing if not covered by existing funds. This change directly affects EMTs in New Jersey who provide emergency care for severe allergic reactions.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits individuals with four or more current motor vehicle points (from traffic violations) from obtaining or maintaining a school bus endorsement in New Jersey for one year. It directly affects school bus drivers whose driving records include these points, requiring the Motor Vehicle Commission to suspend their endorsement. The bill mandates that the Motor Vehicle Commission immediately notify the Commissioner of Education about suspensions, who must then inform the driver's school district or contractor. To regain their endorsement after the one-year suspension, drivers must pass both a knowledge test and skills test. (4 sentences)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all school bus drivers in New Jersey (including those working for public, private, and parochial schools) to undergo unannounced drug and alcohol testing twice each school year. Drivers who test positive or refuse testing become immediately ineligible to operate school buses. The law mandates an appeal process allowing drivers to challenge testing results before termination, and directs the Commissioner of Education to establish disqualification criteria and an appeals system. The testing must be documented and submitted annually to county superintendents before school transportation begins.

Maddy summaryS 3127 designates "New Jersey's For You and Me" by Kathleen Golden Murphy and Shannon Murphy Flannery as New Jersey's official state song. This procedural bill directly affects New Jersey's state identity by formally adopting the song, which was written by two residents in the 1990s. The bill contains no other provisions or mechanisms beyond this designation, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies and strengthens penalties for obstructing highways or public passages in New Jersey. It separates reckless obstruction (now a disorderly persons offense, punishable by up to 6 months jail or $1,000 fine) from purposeful obstruction that affects commerce (now a fourth-degree crime, punishable by up to 18 months jail or $10,000 fine). The bill specifically protects individuals gathering to hear speech or communicate without causing unreasonable obstruction. It also clarifies that police cannot require people to move solely if the obstruction could be resolved by controlling the gathering's size or location. The changes apply to anyone obstructing public pathways without legal permission.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires petition circulators and candidates for public office to swear an oath that they are conducting a "bona fide candidacy" in good faith and not attempting to "syphon" votes from other candidates. Violating this oath would be a third-degree crime punishable by up to 5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine. The bill also reinstates a requirement for independent expenditure committees (sometimes called "dark money" groups) to promptly report campaign contributions and expenditures within 72 hours (or 24 hours for the final week before election) rather than waiting until after the election. It affirms that the Superior Court has jurisdiction to enforce these campaign finance rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill restores state school aid for certain New Jersey school districts that faced funding reductions in the 2023-2024 school year and would face further cuts in 2024-2025. It shifts $64.9 million from existing appropriations and adds $145.2 million in new funding from the General Fund, totaling $210.1 million to cover the difference between prior aid levels and proposed 2024-2025 amounts. The funding specifically targets districts that received Supplemental Stabilization Aid under prior law (P.L.2023, c.32) or have a positive "State aid differential" under P.L.2018, c.67. This ensures affected districts receive aid equal to their 2023-2024 funding level, preventing further reductions.