Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school boards to post the full meeting agenda - including detailed descriptions of every item - on their public website at least 48 hours before each meeting. It directly affects all public school boards in New Jersey, mandating greater transparency for community members. The key provision replaces current practice with a specific 48-hour online posting requirement, ensuring the agenda is easily accessible. This aligns with broader open-meeting laws but codifies the timeline and detail standards specifically for school board meetings. The bill aims to enhance public access to meeting content without altering meeting procedures or voting rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Farmland Assessment Review Commission within New Jersey's Department of Agriculture. The commission will annually review the state's farmland assessment program to ensure consistent, fair, and equitable application across all counties and municipalities. It will analyze data on over 37,000 currently eligible farmland properties, evaluate potential limits on benefits, and assess options for a mandatory inspection fee paid by property owners to fund site compliance checks. The goal is to maintain program integrity and ensure benefits are distributed appropriately to qualifying farmland, aligning with existing state constitutional and legal requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires "Do Not Forward" labels on mail-in ballot envelopes to prevent delivery to incorrect addresses. It allows voters to "cure" their ballot if the required certificate is missing or detached, without losing their vote. Additionally, it mandates that county clerks enter specific voter data (like ballot return reasons) into voter files within 30 days. These changes directly affect New Jersey mail-in voters and county election offices, streamlining ballot handling and reducing rejection risks. The bill amends existing election laws to standardize return procedures and improve voter record accuracy.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide veteran benefit information packets to veterans when issuing a license or ID card that includes a veteran designation. The packets must include the NJ Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs Benefits Guide, the VA’s "Federal Benefits for Veterans" booklet, and resources for finding additional benefits. Information must be available in both physical copies at MVC offices and online. The law applies to initial licenses, renewals, probationary licenses, and veteran-designated ID cards. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of members in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It directly affects current and future retirees who are members of this system, restoring annual benefit increases tied to inflation. The key provision amends existing law to allow the retirement system's board of trustees to reinstate these automatic COLAs without requiring additional contributions from members, provided actuarial certification confirms the change won't harm the fund's long-term stability. The bill does not create new benefits but returns a previously reduced feature of the retirement system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools, developed with input from organizations like the American Red Cross. The fact sheet must include practical tips for preventing drowning, the importance of swim lessons, and locations offering free or low-cost water safety courses in each county. Public school districts must distribute the fact sheet to parents/guardians during initial student enrollment, while nonpublic schools may choose to distribute it but are not required to. The bill directly affects parents of newly enrolled students in public schools and provides accessible resources for water safety education across the state. It takes effect after a four-month implementation period following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a $2,000 deduction from New Jersey gross income tax for eligible volunteer firefighters, first aid squad members, and rescue squad volunteers. To qualify, individuals must serve the entire tax year, meet specific duty requirements (60% fire service attendance or 400 duty hours for fire volunteers; 10% rescue service attendance or 400 duty hours for first aid/rescue volunteers), and hold required certifications (Firefighter I for fire volunteers or approved EMS training for rescue volunteers). Fire departments and first aid/rescue squads must submit annual lists of qualifying members to state agencies by March 31st. The deduction applies to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state employers and contracted service providers to verify applicants' history of child abuse or sexual misconduct for positions involving regular contact with children under 18. Applicants must disclose past investigations, disciplinary actions, or license suspensions related to such misconduct and provide employer contact details for verification. Employers must contact previous employers (within the last 20 years) to confirm this information through written, phone, or electronic means. False disclosures may result in employment denial, termination, or a $500 civil penalty.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires employers with employees serving customers in public places (like restaurants, stores, or hotels) to train staff about the rights of people with disabilities to bring service or guide dogs into those spaces. Employers must provide training using a pamphlet created by the Labor Commissioner, which outlines key topics based on state and federal disability laws (including the ADA). Employees must sign a form acknowledging they received and reviewed the pamphlet, which employers must keep for three years. The bill aims to prevent discrimination by ensuring staff understand and comply with access laws for service animals.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to create policies for emergency treatment of students with seizure disorders, specifically for administering nasal seizure rescue medication and using manual vagus nerve stimulators. It directly affects students with diagnosed seizure disorders, school nurses, and designated school staff trained to provide these emergency interventions. Key provisions include mandating written parental consent, requiring school nurses to train at least two volunteer staff members, ensuring medication access, and requiring hospital transport after emergency treatment. The policy also includes liability protections for school employees acting in good faith under the guidelines.