Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1772) provides free undergraduate tuition and mandatory student fees at New Jersey public colleges for dependents of qualifying veterans. It directly affects children (ages 17-26), spouses, civil union partners, or domestic partners of veterans who were New Jersey residents when entering active duty and who were killed in action, declared POW/MIA, permanently and totally disabled (100% service-connected), or died from a service-connected disability. To qualify, dependents must be New Jersey residents, enrolled full-time in good standing at a public institution, and have applied for all available state and federal grants/scholarships. Benefits are capped at the credit hours needed for a bachelor’s degree (at four-year colleges) or associate degree (at community colleges), and spouse/partner benefits expire after 10 years or upon remarriage.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 733) increases daily compensation for election workers from $300 to $400 per election (primary, general, or special) and raises additional pay for workers handling signature copy registers. Election workers managing these registers will now receive $20 per election (or $10 each if shared), up from $12.50 or $6.25. The state will also increase its reimbursement to counties from $225 to $325 per worker, while counties cover the remaining $75. The bill directly affects election workers serving on district boards during all statewide and local elections in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A2365 extends in-state tuition eligibility to spouses and dependents of military service members who move due to a service member's transfer. It allows these individuals to maintain in-state tuition rates at public colleges in New Jersey if they were already enrolled before the transfer and maintain continuous enrollment. The bill specifically applies to spouses and dependents who were attending school in New Jersey prior to the military relocation, ensuring they don't lose tuition benefits during temporary moves. This change directly affects military families facing frequent relocations, removing a barrier to educational affordability during service-related transfers. The policy update amends existing law (P.L.1985, c.231) to include these scenarios without requiring new funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes New Jersey's tax code to exclude certain retirement savings contributions from taxable gross income. It directly affects New Jersey residents who contribute to qualifying retirement plans, such as 401(k)s or IRAs, by reducing their taxable income for state tax purposes. The key provision amends the definition of "gross income" to specify that contributions to these plans are not counted toward taxable earnings. As a result, taxpayers would pay less state income tax on the amounts they save for retirement through these qualified plans. The bill is currently in the introduction stage (2026-01-13) and has not yet been voted on.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3401) expands the state's child tax credit to include children aged 6-11, who were previously ineligible. It increases credit amounts for all children under 12 over two years: for example, taxpayers with income under $30,000 will receive $500 (2023-2024) or $600 (2025+) for children aged 6-11, and $750 (2023-2024) or $1,000 (2025+) for children under 6. Credits phase out completely for taxpayers earning over $80,000 annually and are refundable if exceeding tax liability. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents with children in these age groups who file state taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1901) removes specific date and location requirements for veterans to qualify for New Jersey civil service and pension benefits. It eliminates past restrictions that limited eligibility to veterans who served during exact timeframes (e.g., "between July 14, 1914 and November 11, 1918") or in specific locations (e.g., "in Lebanon" for certain missions). The key change amends the definition of "veteran" in state law to broaden eligibility, allowing veterans who served honorably in designated conflicts to qualify without proving they met these prior time or place conditions. This directly affects veterans whose service history no longer aligns with the old, narrow criteria but otherwise meets the general eligibility standards.

Maddy summaryAJR 13 establishes a 7-member "Commission on Apprenticeship Program Promotion" in New Jersey. The commission, appointed by state leaders and agency heads, will study effective ways to promote apprenticeship programs to high school students, focusing on demonstrating the value of the skills gained and resulting economic opportunities. It must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of formation, after which the commission will dissolve. The bill does not create new programs or funding but directs a study on improving outreach to students. This procedural resolution affects high school students and stakeholders in apprenticeship programs by initiating a formal review of promotion strategies.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits political contributions from legislative aides to $30 per election when the aide works directly for a legislator in their district office. It prohibits aides from giving larger contributions and bans legislators or their campaign committees from soliciting or accepting such contributions. Violations are classified as fourth-degree crimes, punishable by up to 18 months in jail and a $10,000 fine. The law applies specifically to aides employed in district offices (e.g., as assistants or advisors) and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies - including departments, boards, and commissions - to annually develop and submit an information technology (IT) strategic plan to the Chief Technology Officer. The plan must evaluate current IT infrastructure, include cost analyses for projects, outline public access to services, and align with statewide IT goals. Agencies must submit these plans within one year of enactment and annually thereafter, making them publicly available on agency websites. The legislation aims to standardize and improve efficiency in how state agencies manage their technology resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A-3797) requires New Jersey's Secretary of State and county election officials to conduct a statewide audit of voter registration records within 90 days of the law taking effect. The audit must identify: (1) ineligible voters who successfully registered, (2) attempts by ineligible voters to register (even if rejected), and (3) whether current procedures for removing ineligible registrants are effective. Officials must jointly develop uniform audit methods and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature within 30 days of completing the audit. The bill directly affects election administrators managing voter registration systems across all New Jersey counties.