Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a refundable sales tax credit for small businesses and a sales tax holiday during the COVID-19 emergency period. Small businesses (defined as independently owned, under 100 employees) can claim a credit equal to their Q1 2020 sales tax remittance minus property tax remittance, receiving a refund from the state. The sales tax holiday exempts taxable sales by these businesses from tax from March 9, 2020 (when the state of emergency began) until the Governor ends the emergency, effective 7 days after the bill's enactment. The credit applies retroactively to Q1 2020, while the holiday covers sales during the declared emergency period.

Maddy summaryS 2592 creates two alternate voting members on New Jersey's County Agriculture Development Boards (CADBs), directly affecting county boards that manage agricultural land retention and development. The bill adds one alternate member actively engaged in farming (to replace absent farming voting members) and one alternate representing the general public (to replace absent public representatives), both serving four-year terms. Alternates may vote only when a regular member is absent or disqualified, helping CADBs maintain quorum and reduce conflicts of interest that previously hindered operations. This structural change amends the Agriculture Retention and Development Act without altering the boards' core functions or funding.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 2635 requires colleges and universities to review the employment history of job applicants who will have regular contact with students, specifically to identify past allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct. The bill mandates that applicants list employers from the past 20 years (including institutions of higher education, schools, or roles with student contact) and provide written authorization for institutions to contact those employers. Institutions must then verify disclosures about whether applicants faced investigations, disciplinary action, or license issues related to child abuse or sexual misconduct during their prior employment. This applies to all higher education positions involving student interaction, with penalties for false disclosures or failure to conduct the review.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Labor and Workforce Development (DOLWD) and Department of Human Services (DHS) to assess employment opportunities offered through community rehabilitation programs and businesses - including work crews, call centers, AbilityOne contracts, and Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside Act programs - to determine if they meet the federal definition of "competitive integrated employment" under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). It specifically prohibits DOLWD and DHS from disqualifying such programs solely because they operate under AbilityOne or Rehabilitation Facilities Set-Aside contracts. The assessment applies to job offers for individuals with disabilities who have been found eligible for employment. This directly affects New Jersey residents with disabilities seeking employment through these specific community-based programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create roadside signs and an online website promoting tourism attractions, historic sites, and historic districts. Qualifying attractions must meet specific criteria to participate, including being within 15 miles of a highway, open to the public for 30+ hours weekly, and offering cultural/historical value. The Department of Transportation will update signage rules to include these locations, while the Department of State will develop a searchable website with maps, driving directions, photos, and contact information for visitors. These resources aim to make it easier for tourists to find and visit these sites across the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a one-year pilot program in New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to help homeowners and businesses convert lawns into bee-friendly habitats using native plants. Homeowners can receive up to $250 in reimbursement, while businesses can get up to $500, funded by a $1 million appropriation. The program requires the Department to create application guidelines, a list of approved plants, and an informational website, and to report on participation and effectiveness within six months. The policy directly supports bee populations by incentivizing habitat creation through financial reimbursement.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to use school bus video camera footage to enforce laws against illegally passing stopped school buses. It requires law enforcement to review footage within 90 days and issue fines ($100 for first offense, $250 for subsequent offenses) if violations are confirmed, with footage purged after 60 days if no ticket is issued. The law applies to drivers passing buses while children or individuals with developmental disabilities are boarding or exiting, and holds vehicle owners/operators jointly liable for fines unless the owner proves the vehicle was used without consent. Footage cannot be accessed as public records except in specific legal proceedings, and fines cannot affect driver's license points or insurance eligibility.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2581 increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for residential behavioral health services to match Medicare Part B rates starting July 1, 2024, directly affecting providers and Medicaid beneficiaries. It establishes a fund for facility maintenance grants and a competitive grant program to train behavioral health professionals through internship compensation and program expansion. The bill also mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments for residential providers based on the Consumer Price Index and relaxes clinical supervision requirements for licensure in social work, counseling, and marriage therapy. These changes aim to improve provider stability, workforce capacity, and access to care within the state's Medicaid system.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the use of constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues to provide grants for preventing and mitigating harmful algal blooms in New Jersey's lakes and reservoirs. It specifically allocates up to 20% of funds from the Preserve New Jersey Green Acres Fund for local government projects that manage and maintain water bodies to prevent algal blooms through sewer and stormwater infrastructure improvements. The grants can be used as matching funds for other state or federal grants, with the bill designating approximately 0.17% of annual CBT revenues for these specific water quality projects. This measure directly affects local governments and communities facing water quality challenges from harmful algal blooms.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create statewide uniform rules for licensing and operating mobile food vendors (like food trucks). A single DOH-issued license would be valid across all counties, eliminating the need for vendors to obtain separate local licenses. Local governments may still set rules about where and when food trucks operate, but these must align with the DOH's statewide standards. The law directly affects food truck businesses and local authorities, streamlining operations while maintaining local regulatory flexibility.