Sen. Tony Bucco

Maddy summaryS 812 exempts medical alert devices and services from New Jersey's sales and use tax. The bill adds these items to the existing list of tax-exempt medical products, such as diabetic supplies and durable medical equipment. Medical alert devices are electronic devices that allow users to send signals to assistance operators during emergencies, while medical alert services provide these devices and operator access. This change directly benefits elderly and vulnerable residents who rely on these services by making them more affordable, as they will no longer pay tax on purchases.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts the sale of recreational safety helmets from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It directly affects consumers buying helmets for activities like biking, skateboarding, skiing, or snowboarding, and the businesses selling them. The exemption applies to helmets that meet existing safety standards for those activities or are specifically designed for them (e.g., bike helmets, ski helmets, or snowmobile helmets). The tax change takes effect three months after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 966) updates New Jersey's legal definition of "domestic violence" to explicitly include psychological abuse and economic abuse. It adds two new provisions: (1) any behavior causing fear or distress that disrupts daily life (psychological abuse), and (2) financial control tactics that prevent someone from accessing money, property, or essential goods/services (economic abuse). The change directly affects victims covered under the Domestic Violence Prevention Act, expanding legal protections to include these previously excluded forms of abuse. The bill revises Section 3 of the 1991 Domestic Violence Act without creating new enforcement mechanisms, solely clarifying the scope of existing protections.

Maddy summarySCR 61 creates a special 14-member joint committee of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly to investigate costs in public employee health care programs. The committee will examine recent premium increases, the state's contract with Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield, allegations about Governor's Office influence on contract disputes, and implementation of a 2019 law creating new funding structures. It will review all related decisions and documents, then issue a report with recommendations for policy changes. This procedural bill directly affects state health care program oversight and does not enact new policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse volunteer firefighters for cancer screenings not covered by their insurance. It applies to all volunteer firefighters who have served at least five years, mandating screenings every three years for 11 specific cancers (including colon, lung, prostate, and skin). The state covers up to $1,250 per three-year period (adjusted for inflation), with no out-of-pocket costs for firefighters. Volunteer firefighting is treated as a pre-existing condition for coverage purposes, and annual state funding must be appropriated to cover these reimbursements. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryS 888 ensures that children in New Jersey's NJ FamilyCare program transitioning from the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment (EPSDT) program to the Managed Long Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program automatically retain their previous weekly private duty nursing hours and can carry over unused hours. It requires managed care organizations to maintain private duty nursing coverage during appeals for reductions, extending the appeal window from 10 to 30 days and continuing benefits until 30 days after an appeal concludes. The bill also directs the state to review past transitions (within five years) to identify children who may qualify for increased private duty nursing hours. These provisions aim to prevent disruptions in critical nursing care during program changes for pediatric beneficiaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's school bus safety laws to authorize using school bus monitoring systems for enforcement. It changes penalties for drivers who illegally pass stopped school buses: violations captured by these systems will result in only a $250 civil penalty (instead of potential fines or jail time), with funds directed to municipalities and school districts for safety programs. The law applies to buses transporting children or individuals with developmental disabilities when stopped to load/unload. It does not create new monitoring systems but specifies how existing systems can be used to enforce stop laws through civil penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey domestic violence protection orders (TROs) and related victim notices to be available in multiple languages, not just English. Specifically, it mandates that court notices and temporary restraining order templates be prepared in English, Spanish, and up to 10 additional high-demand languages spoken in the state. The Administrative Office of the Courts must create these multilingual materials to ensure victims with limited English proficiency can understand their rights and legal options. This directly affects domestic violence victims who speak languages other than English, improving access to critical legal protections.