Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryS 2576 establishes a grant program within New Jersey's Department of State to fund the preservation and management of Revolutionary War battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites threatened by development. Local governments and qualified non-profit organizations can apply for competitive grants based on specific preservation plans, public benefit, and demonstrated management capabilities. The bill appropriates $50 million from the state's General Fund to support this initiative, aiming to protect these historically significant sites for future generations.

Maddy summaryS 2575 suspends automatic voter registration at New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission and other state agencies until new standards are implemented to ensure voter roll accuracy. The bill requires counties, with the Secretary of State, to develop and adopt standards preventing duplicate registrations, removing inactive/deceased/non-resident voters, and cross-checking voter data with state databases. County officials must report their progress and any needed legislative changes to the Governor and Legislature within six months. Until these standards are in place, voter registration at these agencies will return to paper-based forms as required by current law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2578) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to deploy mobile units at physical agencies when they become overcrowded and cause service delays. It directly affects MVC customers needing in-person services at busy locations and the MVC itself, which must prioritize mobile unit use to maximize service capacity during these delays. The key provision mandates that if mobile units are insufficient for all overcrowded agencies, the MVC must allocate them to serve the most people or reduce delays the most. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to let customers schedule appointments online through its website. If a customer schedules an appointment to renew a document (like a driver's license or registration) but the earliest available slot is after the document's current expiration date, the document's expiration is automatically extended to the appointment date. The MVC must provide written confirmation of this extension. This directly affects New Jersey drivers needing to renew documents who face scheduling delays, ensuring their documents remain valid until their scheduled appointment.

Maddy summaryThis bill caps the tax on cigars at $0.50 per cigar, replacing the current 30% tax on wholesale price. It applies to all cigar sales, use, or distribution in New Jersey, directly affecting cigar retailers and distributors. The key change limits the tax amount per cigar regardless of wholesale price, while clarifying tax payment responsibilities for businesses. This policy adjustment aims to address competitive challenges faced by local brick-and-mortar retailers from out-of-state online sellers. The bill takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR 86) urges the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to revise a federal rule requiring college students to work 20 hours weekly to qualify for SNAP benefits. It directly affects low-income college students at institutions of higher education who face food insecurity but are barred from SNAP due to this work requirement. The resolution asks the USDA to approve changes and for Congress to pass legislation allowing states to waive the 20-hour rule (as specified in 7 CFR 273.5(b)(5)), which currently prevents many eligible students from accessing nutrition assistance. The bill highlights that nearly half of eligible students do not receive SNAP due to complex eligibility barriers, including this work requirement.

Maddy summaryThe New Jersey Bleacher Safety Act requires all entities operating public bleachers - including schools, stadiums, parks, and community facilities - to upgrade or retrofit existing bleachers to meet new safety standards within specific deadlines. Governmental entities (like school districts) must comply within one year if funding is available, while private and nonprofit entities have two years. Unapproved bleachers must display prominent warning notices and cannot be used after deadlines. The law mandates certification by the Commissioner of Community Affairs, using standards based on U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines, to prevent falls and injuries from unsafe seating structures.

Maddy summaryS 2625 expands eligibility for the Body Armor Replacement Fund to include any state department or agency that appoints law enforcement officers, such as the Department of Environmental Protection for conservation officers and State Park Police. Currently, the fund covers local law enforcement, the State Police, the Division of Criminal Justice, the courts, and the Department of Corrections; this bill adds new eligible agencies without changing the existing five-year vest replacement cycle. The bill clarifies the definition of "law enforcement officer" to determine who qualifies for grants and requires the Attorney General to distribute funds based on this expanded eligibility. The grant program will now extend to more officers across additional state agencies while maintaining the same administrative structure and replacement schedule.

Maddy summaryS 2573 directs New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to end veteran homelessness within three years by creating a statewide plan. The bill requires DCA to coordinate with state agencies, local governments, and community organizations to track veterans at risk of homelessness through a centralized "by-name" list, share data across service providers, and prioritize veterans for housing and support programs. Key provisions include implementing a "Housing First" approach (providing permanent housing quickly without requiring prior services), connecting veterans to health, job training, and mental health resources, and identifying funding from private and foundation sources. DCA must update the plan every three years and report progress to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a temporary tax relief for qualifying New Jersey food and beverage businesses. It allows restaurants (excluding fast food), bars/breweries, and mobile food services (like food trucks) to deduct up to $70,000 in collected sales tax per business location monthly during a four-month relief period. Businesses can claim this deduction for up to five locations or vehicles, but the deduction cannot exceed taxes actually collected at that location. The relief applies only to tax remittances during the specified period and requires businesses to retain the deducted tax amounts. It expires 8 months after enactment.