Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryACR 31 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing New Jersey municipalities to create partial property tax exemptions for volunteer firefighters and first responders' primary homes. It would authorize cities or towns to pass local ordinances providing exemptions of up to 10% of a home's assessed value for active volunteer members of fire companies or first aid/rescue squads serving that municipality. The exemption applies only to the primary residence of eligible volunteers, with municipalities deciding the exact percentage (up to 10%) and the state not required to reimburse lost tax revenue. This amendment must be approved by voters before it can take effect.

Maddy summaryThis bill would upgrade assaults against certain public safety and emergency personnel to a second-degree crime, increasing penalties. It directly affects anyone who assaults law enforcement officers, firefighters, school staff, healthcare workers (including at psychiatric facilities), utility workers, or emergency medical personnel while they are clearly performing their duties. Key provisions include elevating simple assault to a more serious charge when targeting these groups, and adding specific scenarios like assaulting utility workers during service repairs. The legislation aims to strengthen legal consequences for attacks on these critical workers. (Note: Bill is currently in committee review as of January 2026.)

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to review the employment history of job applicants who will regularly interact with students (including teaching assistants and staff). Specifically, institutions must verify if applicants were investigated for child abuse or sexual misconduct at any employer within the past 20 years, and require applicants to disclose such allegations or related disciplinary actions. Employers must respond to these checks within 20 days, and false disclosures can lead to employment denial or civil penalties. The policy directly affects higher education institutions, prospective employees in student-facing roles, and their previous employers.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1381) proposes to expand New Jersey's cyber-harassment law to make it a more serious offense when an adult (18 or older) harasses a minor online, removing the previous requirement that the offender must impersonate a minor. The key change clarifies that targeting minors online with threats, lewd content, or criminal threats becomes a third-degree crime (with potential 3-5 year prison time), while other cyber-harassment remains a less severe fourth-degree offense. It also requires courts to order minors convicted of cyber-harassment to complete educational programs about online safety, and imposes fines on parents who fail to ensure their minor complies with these court orders. The bill aims to strengthen protections for minors by broadening criminal penalties and adding accountability for both offenders and parents.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets new rules for "right-to-list home sale agreements," which are contracts where homeowners grant real estate agents exclusive rights to sell their property at a future date for a fee. It directly affects homeowners entering these contracts and real estate agents who offer them. Key provisions require such agreements to: (1) last no longer than five years, (2) include a clear early termination option (allowing homeowners to exit by paying a fee calculated as the initial price plus 6% compounded annually for each year), and (3) display all terms conspicuously. The bill also updates licensing rules to penalize agents who violate these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires health care professionals to provide new or expecting parents who receive positive test results for Down syndrome or other conditions diagnosed before birth (prenatally) or after birth (postnatally) with written information about outcomes and referrals to support services. The state Department of Health must establish a hotline, maintain a website with resources, and expand peer support programs to connect parents with community assistance and evidence-based information. The bill coordinates with a federal law and seeks federal funding to implement these services without requiring state funds for initial implementation.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides an additional $3 million in state funding to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights specifically for upgrading the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS). The system tracks bias crimes reported by state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies. The funding ensures consistent and uniform reporting of bias incidents across all law enforcement levels. This is a procedural appropriation (not a new policy), directly supporting the operational capacity of law enforcement agencies to document bias crimes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-3170) increases penalties for specific crimes committed during a declared state of emergency in New Jersey. It upgrades robbery, burglary, and unauthorized entry into buildings or facilities to higher criminal degrees (e.g., first or second degree instead of lower classifications) when these acts occur during an emergency. The key mechanism is amending statutes to automatically elevate sentencing levels for these offenses in emergency jurisdictions, affecting anyone committing such crimes during declared emergencies. The bill does not create new offenses but changes penalties for existing crimes under emergency conditions. It is currently pending before the Assembly Judiciary Committee (introduced January 13, 2026).

Maddy summaryACR 29 is a New Jersey legislative resolution requesting Congress to call an Article V convention of states. The bill seeks to propose constitutional amendments that would impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit federal power and jurisdiction, and establish term limits for federal officials and members of Congress. It functions as a continuing application, meaning New Jersey's request remains active until two-thirds of states make similar requests on the same issue. This is a procedural step (not a law) to initiate a potential constitutional convention process, directly affecting New Jersey's legislative action and the broader state-level effort to influence federal governance.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey election law to allow district boards, election superintendents, or county clerks to request police officers be assigned specifically to polling places located at public schools. The request must be for maintaining order and providing security during elections. Police presence at other polling locations remains restricted under current law. The bill requires detailed public records of all such assignments, including location, reason, officer details, and duration. It does not change general restrictions on police at non-school polling sites or ballot drop boxes.