Asm. Dawn Fantasia

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Bill A 3135, titled the "Parents' Bill of Rights," establishes specific rights for parents of minors (under 18) regarding their children's education, health care, and school records. It requires schools and health care providers to notify parents about their children's health and well-being, grants parents the right to direct education and health care decisions (including reviewing school and medical records), and prohibits institutions from interfering with these rights without a compelling state interest. The bill also mandates school districts to create policies promoting parental involvement, such as procedures for parents to learn about curricula and object to instructional materials based on moral, religious, or sexual content. It explicitly states parents cannot override child welfare protections or court orders, and does not apply to decisions that would harm a child.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new exclusion from New Jersey's gross income tax and corporation business tax for certain small business income. It directly affects qualifying small businesses by allowing them to exclude specific income from their taxable base under these two tax codes. The key mechanism establishes a defined exclusion for small business income while revising statutory definitions related to tax calculations, such as "net worth" and "taxpayer." The bill does not specify exact income thresholds but provides the framework for excluding qualifying small business revenue from state taxation.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 203) renames the "Blue Star Memorial Highway Council" to "Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway Council" and the "Blue Star Memorial Highway system" to "Blue and Gold Star Memorial Highway system." It recognizes Gold Star families - immediate relatives of service members killed in combat - by updating the official names. The bill requires the New Jersey Department of Transportation to update all state highway signage within 90 days of the bill's effective date to reflect the new names. This is a procedural change with no new funding or policy requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1243) allows New Jersey municipal courts to charge court costs for traffic violations (Title 39) dismissed through plea agreements. It directly affects people charged with traffic offenses who resolve cases via such agreements. The key provision permits courts to assess specific fees: $2 per violation (to the Automated Traffic System Fund), $0.50 per fine (to the Emergency Medical Technician Training Fund), and $3 per violation (to the Automated Traffic System Modernization Fund), up to a $33 total. These fees, previously only applied to unresolved cases, are now extendable to dismissed charges under the court's discretion. The change shifts some court funding responsibility from local taxpayers to those with dismissed traffic violations.

Maddy summaryThis resolution (ACR 23) expresses the New Jersey Legislature's support for H.R. 7109, the "Equal Representation Act," a federal bill that would require a citizenship question on the U.S. census and change how congressional seats and electoral votes are apportioned. The proposed bill aims to base representation on the U.S. citizen population only, rather than the current method that counts all residents - including noncitizens like undocumented immigrants. Currently, census data used for apportionment includes all people living in the U.S., which supporters argue dilutes representation for citizens in areas with larger noncitizen populations. The resolution itself has no legal effect but formally urges the U.S. Senate to pass H.R. 7109, which the House approved in May 2024.

Maddy summaryThe "Restoring the Representation of Legal Residents Act" requires New Jersey's Secretary of State to adjust census data used for redistricting by excluding undocumented immigrants. It mandates using specific datasets - including U.S. Census citizenship data and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission records - to create an adjusted population count for determining congressional, state legislative, county, municipal, and school district boundaries. This adjustment would apply to all districting processes in the state, replacing the standard census count that includes all residents. The bill specifies that if the federal Census Bureau provides a legal-resident-only count, that data would be used instead of the state-adjusted version.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts fuel used to operate school buses for transporting students to and from school or school activities from two state taxes: the petroleum products gross receipts tax and the motor fuel tax. It specifically applies to school buses operated by public school districts, religious or charitable organizations, or contractors working with government agencies. The bill also clarifies how certain dyed fuel (used for non-highway purposes) is taxed and updates rules for determining taxable estates of some residents. These changes directly affect school districts, nonprofit organizations, and contractors managing student transportation services in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 946), now law as P.L.2025, c.177, requires mental health services to be provided in the communication method preferred by each deaf or hard of hearing individual - such as sign language or oral communication - based on their assessment. It mandates that mental health professionals be fluent in that method, trained in cultural needs, and able to collaborate with interpreters. The law also requires a state resource guide listing specialized mental health services and ensures individuals can help shape their own care plans. It directly affects all deaf or hard of hearing residents seeking mental health support in New Jersey, addressing long-standing barriers in access and care quality.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's gross income tax credit for family caregivers of veterans with service-connected disabilities. It allows caregivers to qualify if the veteran has any service-connected disability (not limited to post-9/11 conflicts), provided the veteran meets other existing requirements like honorable discharge, VA disability rating, and six months of residency with the caregiver in New Jersey. The credit equals 100% of the veteran's federal disability compensation, up to $675 per year, and is refundable if it reduces tax liability to zero. It directly affects New Jersey family caregivers (with income limits of $50,000 single/$100,000 joint filers) who support veterans with disabilities from any military service.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to publicly post on its website details of federal safety violations it receives and associated fines. Specifically, NJT must publish quarterly information about violations from the previous quarter (with data remaining online for five years) and also post all violations from the five years prior to the bill's effective date (with the same five-year retention). Additionally, NJT must establish a confidential toll-free hotline and email system for the public to report safety concerns that could endanger public health or safety. These provisions aim to increase transparency about NJT's safety record and provide accessible channels for public safety reporting.