Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new criminal offense called "gang shoplifting" for groups acting together to steal from stores or damage property in a visible way. It directly affects individuals participating in coordinated thefts or vandalism at retail locations, such as organized "flash mobs" targeting stores. The law makes this a third-degree crime punishable by 3-5 years in prison, with a mandatory minimum of one year (no parole eligibility) and a $15,000 fine. It also ensures this charge doesn’t merge with other criminal convictions, requiring separate sentencing.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 870, provides tuition-free enrollment at New Jersey public colleges and universities for dependent children of veterans who died, were missing in action, or are totally and permanently disabled due to service-related injuries or illnesses (as certified by the VA). It covers up to 60 credit hours for associate degrees or 120 credit hours for bachelor's degrees, but only if the student is a New Jersey resident, meets the institution's academic standards, has no federal veterans benefits covering tuition, and has applied for all other available grants and scholarships. The state will reimburse public institutions for waived tuition costs. The policy applies to veterans who served from New Jersey or were NJ residents when entering the military.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to offer residents and businesses the option to receive property tax bills, construction permits, and payment receipts via email instead of paper mail. Municipalities must adopt an ordinance to enable this service but cannot require it or eliminate paper delivery. Taxpayers and permit applicants may continue to receive all documents by regular mail at no extra cost, ensuring no one is forced to use electronic delivery. The bill establishes a state procedure for implementation but does not mandate email use for any documents. It directly affects local governments and their constituents who interact with municipal billing or permitting systems.

Maddy summaryS 850 allows qualified members of New Jersey's Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to direct traffic during emergencies or disasters. To qualify, CERT members must pass a physical exam, complete approved training, and take an oath. Once certified, they can direct traffic at roadways until police arrive or at public events with law enforcement approval, wearing required safety gear. The bill protects these volunteers from liability when acting in good faith within their training. This directly affects CERT volunteers who meet the requirements and enhances emergency response capacity during crises.

Maddy summaryS 840 adjusts New Jersey's income tax brackets for married couples filing jointly by raising the threshold for the lowest tax rate from $20,000 to $40,000 annually. This change directly affects middle-income married couples in New Jersey with taxable incomes between $20,000 and $40,000, reducing their tax burden on that income range. The bill is designated as the "Marriage Penalty Elimination Act" to address a situation where married couples sometimes paid higher taxes than single filers with similar incomes. The revised tax brackets apply to tax years beginning in 2022 and beyond.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to promote manufacturing career pathways for students through higher education. It creates a $10 million annual grant program for colleges, universities, and vocational schools to establish or expand manufacturing programs (with 50% of funds going to county colleges, 25% to four-year schools/private colleges, and 25% to vocational districts). The bill also directs a state liaison to assist manufacturing businesses with marketing, referrals to support services, and workforce reskilling initiatives. These provisions directly affect students seeking manufacturing careers, educational institutions developing relevant programs, and manufacturing businesses statewide.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 813 requires the Commissioner of Human Services to create a public awareness campaign targeting first responders, healthcare workers, other frontline workers, and their families experiencing pandemic-related mental health challenges like PTSD, anxiety, or depression. The campaign must inform the public about available mental health resources, including state programs, federal/local services, a dedicated helpline, and stress management strategies. It will use multiple channels - TV, radio, print, websites, and NJ Transit ads in English/Spanish - to share this information. The bill directly affects frontline workers and their families by improving access to existing mental health support services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 852) amends New Jersey’s unemployment tax law (R.S.43:21-7) to reduce the taxable wage base for employers. It changes the calculation method for determining wages subject to unemployment contributions, lowering the base from 28 times the statewide average weekly wage (prior to 2022) to 14 times for calendar years beginning January 1, 2022, and forward. This means employers pay unemployment taxes on a smaller portion of wages, directly reducing their tax burden for most employees. The change affects all non-governmental employers in New Jersey required to pay state unemployment taxes under the existing law.

Maddy summaryS 885 protects domestic violence victims from being harassed through abusive legal tactics by defining "abusive and controlling litigation" as lawsuits filed in bad faith to delay, harm, or maintain contact with a victim. It directly affects victims of domestic violence who face lawsuits initiated by their abusers in court. The bill gives courts power to dismiss such cases, award attorney fees, and block future lawsuits against the victim if the court finds the abuser met three criteria: a prior domestic violence act, bad-faith litigation, and claims without legal or factual support. The law also creates a rebuttable presumption of abuse if the abuser has a recent history of similar conduct in court.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students aged 16-18 to earn high school graduation credits in health, safety, and physical education by completing a county fire academy course. To qualify, students must pass a junior firefighter exam (or equivalent) and commit to two years of volunteer service at their local fire department. The credits apply only toward specific graduation requirements under existing regulations (N.J.A.C.6A:8-5.1), and the bill does not replace requirements for the Junior Firefighter’s Auxiliary. The policy would take effect immediately upon enactment for the next full school year.