Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. It provides a proportional exemption based on disability percentage (up to 100%), covering veterans with conditions like paralysis, amputations, or total blindness, and caps partial exemptions at $10,000. Surviving spouses of eligible veterans or those who died in service also qualify for similar exemptions. Crucially, the state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the lost tax revenue from these exemptions to offset costs. The law amends existing veteran property tax protections under P.L.1948, c.259.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school districts to teach water safety as part of the health education curriculum for students in grades K-12, starting with the 2018-2019 school year. It mandates instruction on four specific topics: proper use of flotation devices, awareness of water conditions, dangers of rip currents and how to respond, and the importance of swimming in lifeguard-monitored areas. The law directly affects every student in New Jersey public schools, integrating water safety into existing health education standards. It aims to address drowning as a leading cause of accidental death by providing practical safety knowledge. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2939) provides a $5,000 annual property tax deduction for honorably discharged veterans with a service-connected disability rating below 100%, as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. It directly affects qualifying veterans (and their surviving spouses under specific conditions) who own real property in New Jersey. The deduction reduces their property tax bill by up to $5,000 annually, and if their tax bill is less than $5,000, it is fully canceled. The bill amends existing property tax laws to add this deduction for veterans with disabilities not rated at 100% permanent disability.

Maddy summaryThe "Transparency in Government Act" (A-3147) would require New Jersey's State Treasurer to create and maintain a public website showing detailed state financial data. The website must display annual spending (like salaries, vendor payments, and bond debt), revenues (taxes, grants, and fees), and bond information starting from fiscal year 2000, all in a searchable format. State agencies must provide this data from existing financial systems within 45 days after each fiscal year ends, and the site must be updated annually without removing historical data. This bill directly affects all state agencies, which must supply the data, and benefits the public by making government finances accessible online.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a two-year Statewide Animal Advocate Program within New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). It allows courts to appoint a special advocate in criminal cases involving animal welfare (such as cruelty or dog fighting charges) to represent the animal's best interests, rather than the owner or state. The advocate monitors cases, reviews records from vets and officers, shares information with attorneys, and recommends animal placement to the court. The program expires after two years, requiring a report on implementation and recommendations for continuation.

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 requires New Jersey school districts receiving preschool education aid to place at least 50% of preschool students in licensed child care provider programs (like licensed daycare centers), with the remainder allowed in district-run programs or Head Start. It directly affects school districts that receive state preschool funding under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. Districts may apply for a waiver from this requirement if sufficient licensed child care placements aren't available within their district, but must provide justification to the Department of Education. The law takes effect in the first full school year after enactment.

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 authorizes the State Treasurer to sell a 0.69-acre parcel of land and its improvements at 101 Ridgedale Avenue in Morristown (Morris County) to the Town of Morristown as surplus state property. The land, previously used by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) for a vehicle inspection center that closed after hurricane damage, has been declared surplus. The sale price is set at $850,000, with proceeds deposited into a state fund for debt relief or capital projects, following terms approved by the State House Commission. The transaction directly affects the Town of Morristown (as the buyer) and the state (as the seller and recipient of funds).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county clerks to remove registered voters from mail-in ballot lists under three specific conditions: if USPS returns their ballot mail, if they haven't used mail-in voting in two years, or if their address is undeliverable via USPS systems. Before removal, clerks must send written notice explaining the reason and providing steps to continue voting by mail, with a 30-day response window. Voters who don't respond within 30 days are removed and receive a notice with a reapplication form. The policy directly affects voters who miss mail-in ballots, go inactive for two years, or experience address changes, ensuring only active, valid voters receive mail-in ballots.