Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill increases funding for New Jersey's Work First New Jersey Child Care program by $28 million in the FY2026 budget, raising its appropriation from $565.8 million to $593.8 million. It directly affects lower-income families who rely on child care subsidies to cover expenses, reversing actions taken in August 2025 that paused new applications and raised family copayments from 1-5% to 2-6% of income. The bill requires the state to resume accepting new applications and return to pre-August 2025 copayment rates (no higher than those in place on June 30, 2025). This funding adjustment addresses a projected shortfall identified by the Department of Human Services to ensure the program operates fully without suspending enrollment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $2 million grant program for New Jersey public schools to promote limited student use of cell phones and social media during school hours and school events. Schools applying for grants must submit plans to reduce device distractions, while the Department of Education will develop best practices covering age-appropriate policies, emergency exceptions, and device storage options. Participating schools must annually report on how the program affects academic performance, behavior, and student well-being, with the Department compiling statewide results. The program targets all public schools in New Jersey, with grants awarded competitively based on regional diversity and need.

Maddy summaryACR 108 is a New Jersey concurrent resolution urging the U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to prioritize transitional housing for homeless individuals and families, including survivors of domestic violence. It does not create new law but requests federal action to expand access to temporary housing (up to 24 months) with support services like counseling, job training, and financial aid. The resolution highlights that many domestic violence survivors face housing barriers and that current emergency shelters often limit stays to 90 days. It emphasizes that transitional housing provides critical stability, especially amid pandemic-related economic challenges. As a procedural resolution, it has no legal force but aims to influence federal housing policy priorities.

Maddy summaryAJR 114 designates the last day of February each year as "Rare Disease Awareness Day" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution directly affects New Jersey residents living with rare diseases - defined as conditions impacting fewer than 200,000 people in the U.S. - along with their families and caregivers. The bill requires the governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public awareness, support, and research efforts for rare diseases, which collectively affect nearly 30 million Americans. It does not create new laws, funding, or services, but aligns New Jersey with a national observance to reduce isolation and promote understanding of these conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides temporary fee relief for professionals and small businesses affected by public highway construction in New Jersey. It waives license renewal fees for professionals (like doctors or contractors) and business registration fees for small retail businesses operating within areas where highway projects block traffic or restrict access to their locations. To qualify, applicants must prove their income dropped significantly due to the project and submit documentation to the relevant state director (Consumer Affairs or Revenue). The relief applies only during the active construction period of the highway project, as verified by the Transportation Commissioner.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires telemarketers making sales calls in New Jersey to display their actual name and phone number (or the seller's customer service number during business hours) on caller ID systems. It directly affects telemarketers who make unsolicited sales calls to New Jersey residents. The key provision mandates that telemarketers must transmit this information within the first 30 seconds of a call, preventing them from blocking or misrepresenting their identity. This aims to help consumers identify callers before answering, reducing fraud and unwanted calls.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's "Bringing Veterans Home Initiative" into law, directly affecting unhoused or homeless veterans statewide. It requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs and the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to establish six regional housing hubs, create a standardized online referral form, use state data to target veteran homelessness needs, and connect veterans to existing housing benefits. The law mandates publishing the referral form online and classifying veterans for tailored assistance, building on a 2024 pilot program launched by the governor. The initiative aims to provide safe, stable housing for every homeless veteran in the state, with rules to be finalized by the agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to develop specific criteria and make recommendations for designating school districts as SDA (School Development Authority) districts. It affects all New Jersey school districts that may qualify for SDA status, which determines eligibility for state funding to address high facility costs. The key mechanism is requiring the Commissioner to establish formal, objective criteria for this designation process. The bill does not change current SDA funding levels or procedures but mandates the creation of standardized criteria for district designation. This procedural change ensures a consistent, transparent method for determining which districts receive SDA support.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3791) excludes "minimum required distributions" (RMDs) from New Jersey's gross income tax. RMDs are mandatory annual withdrawals from retirement plans for people aged 72+ under federal law. The bill applies to qualified retirement plans defined under federal tax code section 4974, directly benefiting New Jersey seniors who receive these distributions. It would reduce their state income tax burden by removing RMDs from taxable income, effective for taxable years after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3826) proposes key changes to New Jersey's behavioral health care system. It requires Medicaid to pay residential behavioral health providers at rates matching Medicare (100% of Medicare rates starting July 2024), mandates annual cost-of-living adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index, and creates two new grant programs: one for facility maintenance and another to fund training and internships for behavioral health professionals. These provisions directly affect residential behavioral health providers, Medicaid beneficiaries, and the behavioral health workforce by increasing provider payments and supporting facility upkeep and staff development. The bill aims to improve access to and quality of care within the state's Medicaid program.