Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 861) exempts volunteer fire companies in New Jersey from paying the annual charitable registration fee required under state law. Currently, non-profits pay fees ranging from $30 to $250 yearly based on revenue, but volunteer fire companies are not automatically exempt. The bill amends the Charitable Registration Act to specifically remove this fee obligation for volunteer fire companies while maintaining their requirement to register as non-profits. This is a direct policy change affecting volunteer fire companies' annual administrative costs.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 679 requires all public school districts to add water safety instruction to health classes for students in grades K-12, starting with the 2023-2024 school year. The curriculum must cover specific topics: proper flotation device use, recognizing water conditions, responding to rip currents, and swimming near lifeguarded areas. This directly affects every public school student and district in New Jersey by integrating these safety practices into existing health education standards. The bill aims to address drowning risks, noting it is the fifth leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., though it does not mandate new programs or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to provide public boat access to State-owned lakes where boats are permitted, within two years of enactment. It mandates the DEP to build access points, contract with private marinas (via public bidding), or take other actions to enable public boating. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund specifically for this purpose. If access cannot be provided due to funding shortages, the DEP must report the affected lakes and required funding to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of State and county voter registration officials to conduct a comprehensive audit of the Statewide Voter Registration System within 90 days of the law taking effect. The audit must specifically check for: (1) eligible voters who successfully registered despite being ineligible, (2) attempts by ineligible individuals to register (even if unsuccessful), and (3) whether current procedures effectively remove ineligible registrants as required by law. Officials must jointly develop uniform audit methods and submit a detailed report to the Governor and Legislature within 30 days of completing the audit, including findings and recommendations. The bill focuses solely on establishing this audit process and reporting requirement, with no additional policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement agencies to provide victims of domestic violence, or their legal representatives, with copies of specific records (including photos, bodycam footage, 911 transcripts, and police reports) within 10 calendar days of a request, at no cost. If records cannot be provided within that timeframe due to ongoing investigations or safety concerns, agencies must redact the records or obtain a court-issued protective order, or provide copies within 24 hours once available. The Family Part of the Superior Court has authority to enforce these requests and issue protective orders to limit disclosure, with violations subject to criminal penalties. The law applies to records related to incidents covered under New Jersey’s Domestic Violence Act (P.L.1991, c.261).

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 940 ("Parents Bill of Rights Act"), grants New Jersey parents and guardians specific rights regarding their child's education in public schools. It requires schools to provide parents with a curriculum summary, allow them to review classroom materials (including textbooks and media), and permits opting a child out of any curriculum conflicting with the parent's conscience or religious beliefs - without academic penalties for credit or graduation. The bill explicitly bars school districts from interfering with these rights or denying parent requests for educational information. It directly affects parents/guardians of K-12 students and school districts across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's annual payment to eligible veterans and their surviving spouses from $750 to $3,000. It applies to veterans with specific service-connected disabilities, including total sight loss, paraplegia, permanent leg paralysis, amputations, or loss of limb function due to military service injuries, accidents, or diseases. Surviving spouses of qualifying veterans will continue receiving the same increased payment after the veteran's death. Currently, 207 veterans and spouses receive this benefit, and the change takes effect January 1 following the bill's passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $70 million in federal pandemic relief funds to New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EDA will award $50 million in grants for general financial recovery (including $10 million specifically for arts education programs in schools and after-school settings) and $20 million for placemaking projects that beautify public spaces like sidewalks and parks with art installations. Qualifying groups include both for-profit and nonprofit arts organizations that experienced pandemic-related revenue losses. The funds come directly from New Jersey's allocation of federal "Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund" money under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain New Jersey veterans from the state's gross income tax if they meet two conditions: they must have an honorable military discharge (from active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, reserves, or New Jersey National Guard) and have total income of $50,000 or less. The exemption applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date (January 1, 2025). It directly affects low-income veterans who served honorably, reducing their state tax burden. The policy change takes effect immediately upon enactment for future tax years.

Maddy summaryS 866 suspends fines for first-time paperwork violations committed by small businesses in New Jersey. A "small business" is defined as one with 50 or fewer full-time employees or meeting federal small business criteria. The suspension does not apply if the violation could cause serious harm, involves tax/revenue collection, wasn't corrected within six months, or poses a public safety risk (though for safety risks, a fine may be avoided if the violation is corrected within 24 hours). This bill directly affects small businesses and state agencies enforcing paperwork compliance.