Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public school staff (including those in after-school programs) to complete epilepsy and seizure disorder care training every five years. It directly affects school boards, administrators, and all school personnel who interact with students. The key provision mandates that training must be provided through a Department of Health-approved course from a nonprofit epilepsy support organization. This ensures staff can recognize seizures, provide appropriate care, and know when to seek help, as outlined in individualized health plans developed with parent input and physician guidance. The law applies to all schools in the state and takes effect at the start of the first full school year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies New Jersey's child custody procedures by requiring courts to prioritize a child's expressed preference (when age-appropriate) and consider recommendations from the child's mental health professional in custody decisions. It restricts courts from ordering family therapy to reunite a parent and child without scientific evidence of its safety, effectiveness, and the child's willingness to participate. Courts must document reasons if they override a child's preference, and the State Board of Marriage and Family Therapy Examiners must develop professional standards for such therapy within 12 months. The bill directly affects courts, parents, children, and mental health professionals in custody cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5598) modifies New Jersey's requirements for obtaining a public accountancy license. It changes the education requirement from 120 semester hours to either a baccalaureate degree or 150 hours of education with an accounting concentration. For out-of-state license holders, it removes the "substantial equivalence" standard and instead requires a current valid license from another state, passing the Uniform CPA exam, and one year of experience. The bill includes a grandfather clause allowing individuals with licenses from other states before December 31, 2025 to continue practicing without meeting the new requirements. It also clarifies experience requirements and updates processes for foreign license holders.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the sale, distribution, import, export, or propagation of specific invasive plant species in New Jersey without a permit from the Department of Agriculture. It establishes a New Jersey Invasive Species Council to help identify and manage invasive species, and requires the Department to develop a list of regulated species based on ecological harm rather than just non-nativeness. Businesses selling plants will need permits for regulated species and must provide labeling and educational materials to consumers about preventing spread. The bill sets up a penalty system for violations, with fines up to $5,000 for repeat offenses. Certain plant cultivars of Chinese Silvergrass (NCMS1 and Tift M77) are exempt from the requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $615,000 from the General Fund to the New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) for a grant to the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership. The funding directly supports the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership, which operates New Jersey’s statewide 2-1-1 service providing free information and referrals to health, social, and emergency services. The bill adds this amount to the existing fiscal year 2026 budget for DHS’s Behavioral Health Services division. The 2-1-1 service, designated by New Jersey in 2002 as the sole state administrator for the nationwide 2-1-1 dialing code, connects residents to community resources through a single phone number.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes municipalities and school districts to install school bus monitoring systems with cameras to capture vehicles illegally passing school buses. If a violation is recorded by such a system, the violator would face a $250 civil penalty instead of criminal penalties, with collected funds going to the municipality or school district for safety programs. The monitoring systems must capture specific evidence including the bus's flashing lights, the violating vehicle's license plate, and the date/time/location of the violation. Recorded images are not public records and must be purged within 95 days of recording. The registered owner of the vehicle would be liable for the penalty unless they can prove the vehicle was used without consent or was stolen.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pet shops in New Jersey from selling cats, dogs, or rabbits, repealing the previous "Pet Purchase Protection Act." It establishes a $500 fine for violations and allows pet shops to sell other animals or pet supplies, while enabling collaboration with shelters to showcase adoptable animals without exchanging payment. The bill defines "unfit for purchase" for animals and specifies that an animal's death within 14 days of sale (except by accident) would be considered evidence of being unfit. It also prohibits animal rescue organizations, shelters, and pounds from obtaining animals from breeders or brokers in exchange for compensation. The law does not affect pet dealers (not pet shops) or consumer rights for animals purchased from them.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to create a statewide policy for K-12 schools within 90 days, addressing student cell phone and social media use during school hours, on buses, and at school events. The policy must include age-appropriate rules (like banning non-academic phone use in class), emergency exceptions, accommodations for students with special needs, and options for device storage. School districts must adopt a policy consistent with the DOE's framework by the start of the next full school year, though they may apply for exemptions. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools, students, and staff across New Jersey, focusing on standardizing device use rules while allowing districts to implement stricter policies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services (DHS) to establish an Alzheimer's disease public awareness and education program. The program must develop public campaigns about symptoms, early detection, and safety; create accessible educational materials for health providers; and train emergency responders, judicial staff, and social services personnel. DHS must consult with the Alzheimer's Association and make materials available online in English and Spanish. The initiative is subject to available funding and aims to improve community understanding and response to Alzheimer's disease.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires health insurance plans and Medicaid programs to cover prescription drugs for specific serious mental illnesses without prior authorization or step therapy protocols. It defines "serious mental illness" to include conditions like bipolar disorder, major depression, schizophrenia, and other disorders listed in the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The legislation applies to all health insurance carriers in New Jersey, mandating coverage for these medications without utilization management barriers that often delay treatment. This would directly affect individuals with these mental health conditions who currently face insurance hurdles to accessing necessary medications.