Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's child care subsidy program to cover families with annual incomes up to 300% of the federal poverty level (currently $83,250 for a family of four), directly affecting working parents of children under age 13. It establishes four income tiers for eligibility and sliding-scale payments to licensed child care providers, ensuring subsidies don't drop below pandemic-era rates. The bill appropriates state funds for implementation and requires the state to seek federal matching funds. It replaces the previous 200% income cap, significantly broadening access to subsidized care for middle-income families.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a 11-member task force within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to study challenges faced by returning members of the U.S. Armed Forces and New Jersey National Guard who deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. The task force, including agency commissioners and public members with expertise in military transition, mental health, and veteran support, will hold public hearings and review current programs. It must identify issues affecting veterans' physical, mental, and social well-being, develop recommendations for state action, and issue a final report with legislative proposals within six months. The task force expires 30 days after submitting its report.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts certain military compensation from New Jersey's state income tax for residents who serve outside the state. Specifically, it excludes pay received by New Jersey-domiciled service members deployed or stationed out-of-state for at least six months during a tax year, including housing allowances, subsistence payments, and mustering-out benefits. The policy directly affects New Jersey residents serving in the U.S. Armed Forces who are not stationed within New Jersey for a significant portion of the year. The bill amends New Jersey tax code section 54A:6-7 and would take effect immediately upon enactment. (Note: The bill is pending, introduced January 13, 2026, and not yet enacted.)

Maddy summaryThis bill expands requirements for public awareness signage about human trafficking. It adds 10 new locations where businesses and facilities must display the Commission on Human Trafficking's sign, including gas stations, staffing agencies, law enforcement offices, nail salons, and New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission offices. The sign must be 8.5x11 inches, in 16-point font, and bilingual (English/Spanish), containing the national trafficking hotline number. Businesses failing to display or replace defaced signs face $300 fines for first offenses and $1,000 for subsequent violations. The bill directly affects the listed establishments by mandating visible signage to aid trafficking victims.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "State House Flag Program" under the State Capitol Joint Management Commission. It allows any New Jersey legislator to request a commemorative New Jersey State flag be flown over the State House, with the Building Management office providing a certificate detailing the date and recipient (individual, group, or organization), then mailing the flag to them. The program requires a one-time appropriation from the General Fund to cover implementation costs. This is a procedural measure creating a new administrative service, not a substantive policy change.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a tax credit program for New Jersey companies that fund student loan assistance. Companies contributing at least $10,000 to the "New Jersey Talent Retention Loan Fund" receive a 50% tax credit against state taxes, with an additional 50% credit over time if they hire graduates. The fund provides loans to eligible in-state students attending New Jersey colleges, requiring participants to work for the contributing company for up to four years after graduation to have their student debt partially repaid. The program directly affects participating companies (through tax incentives), students (through loan access), and the state (via fund administration under the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority).

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A 3788 establishes a sexual assault prevention and response program within the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, featuring an independent coordinator who operates outside the military chain of command. The program allows service members (including National Guard members) to file confidential complaints about sexual assault regardless of when the incident occurred - on or off duty - and provides victim advocacy, referrals to prosecutors, and assistance obtaining protective orders. Annual reports to the legislature will track assault statistics, investigation outcomes, and program effectiveness, with data limited to aggregated statistics to protect victim privacy. This applies to current and former service members, covering incidents involving New Jersey National Guard personnel.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a voluntary contribution option on New Jersey's gross income tax returns to fund cancer research. Taxpayers can choose to direct a portion of their refund or make an additional payment to the "New Jersey State Commission on Cancer Research Charitable Contribution Check-Off Fund" when filing their taxes. All contributions collected will be deposited directly into this fund and annually appropriated to the Commission for approved research projects, including cancer prevention, treatment, genetic causes, and palliative care. The fund supplements existing cancer research funding sources but does not allow state retention of contributions for administrative costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires county clerks to receive death information previously sent only to the voter registration commissioner, improving how deceased voters are removed from active rolls. It adds three new methods for transferring records: next of kin can submit a notarized death certificate and form, veterans' healthcare directors or nursing home administrators can notify the system, and funeral directors can submit verified death records. These changes ensure county clerks and the voter registration system receive timely death data to update the statewide system. The bill directly affects county clerks, next of kin of deceased voters, healthcare facilities, and funeral directors, with the goal of maintaining accurate voter registration records.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3828) requires New Jersey pension boards to automatically forfeit *all* pension benefits for elected or appointed state/local officials convicted of crimes related to their public office, regardless of whether the pension system covered that specific position. It applies to convictions for misconduct "touching" the office (e.g., bribery, abuse of power), making forfeiture mandatory rather than discretionary. The law expands current rules by eliminating the previous requirement that the pension system must have covered the office where misconduct occurred. It does not allow partial forfeiture or consider mitigating factors like length of service; the board must order full forfeiture upon conviction for qualifying crimes.