Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new requirements for school counselors in New Jersey. It mandates that school counseling programs at colleges must incorporate the American School Counselor Association's model and include training in social-emotional learning and career planning. School counselors (defined as those with a NJ certification and endorsement) must provide services addressing students' academic, career, social, and emotional needs, and complete required professional development in areas like mental health awareness, trauma-informed practices, and cultural competency. The bill also creates a new State School Counselor Liaison position within the Department of Education to support school districts and advance comprehensive counseling services. These changes directly affect school counselors, school districts, and higher education institutions offering counseling certification programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to submit specific documentation before procuring major information technology projects. Agencies must provide a written business case - including project costs, benefits, risks, and operational impacts - for any IT project exceeding $2.5 million in value, submitted 30 days prior to funding requests or procurement. For projects involving multiple agencies or significantly changing public services, agencies must also submit a detailed change management plan covering stakeholder impacts, workflow effects, and implementation strategies. All documentation must be sent to the Office of Information Technology and other oversight divisions for review and reporting to the Office of Management and Budget.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey National Guard members to transfer their existing tuition benefit to a spouse or dependent child. Currently, Guard members can get tuition-free education at public colleges for up to 16 credits per semester under specific conditions. The bill adds that members who have completed basic training and are active in good standing may transfer this benefit to one spouse or child, provided the recipient is enrolled in good standing at a public college and has applied for all available state and federal financial aid. It does not create new benefits but expands who can use the existing tuition program.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a one-time $5 million grant program to help 10 specific New Jersey school districts implement free, full-day kindergarten programs. The districts affected - Moorestown, Haddonfield, Metuchen, Monroe, Millstone, Chathams, Bridgewater-Raritan, Hillsborough, Cranford, and Westfield - must apply with implementation plans and cost estimates. If approved, each district receives an equal share of the $5 million to cover program setup costs. The program applies only to districts not currently offering free, full-day kindergarten.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3558 bill establishes the state's official definition of antisemitism using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) standard, including specific examples of antisemitic conduct. State agencies and institutions must use this definition when reviewing, investigating, or deciding on cases involving discriminatory acts motivated by antisemitism. The bill appropriates $100,000 for a public awareness campaign by the Attorney General's office to educate residents on identifying and reporting bias crimes through community outreach and the existing bias crimes hotline. This campaign aims to improve reporting of antisemitic incidents without affecting First Amendment rights or conflicting with existing anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" to improve transparency around vehicle recalls and provide fair compensation for dealers. It requires motor vehicle dealers to check for open recalls on used vehicles using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration website before sale, inform prospective buyers about any recalls found, and not sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices. Dealers must also provide the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission with lists of vehicles with long-unfixed recalls (six months or more), triggering the Commission to send official notices to vehicle owners. The bill also establishes compensation requirements for dealers when parts are unavailable for recalled vehicles, requiring 1.75 percent of the vehicle's value per month for used vehicles or the manufacturer's suggested retail price for new vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Board of Dentistry to update its rules to recognize "orofacial pain" as an official specialty area of dentistry. It directly affects licensed dentists who wish to publicly identify themselves as specialists in this field. The key mechanism is mandating the Board to adopt regulations allowing dentists to apply for and announce this specialty designation, similar to existing specialties like orthodontics or periodontics. The bill does not change patient care standards but expands the list of recognized dental specialties for public disclosure.

Maddy summaryThis non-binding resolution urges New Jersey public high schools to create a "Pathways to Purpose Week" during the week of May 1, when many students confirm college enrollment. It directly affects high school students and schools, aiming to recognize multiple post-graduation options beyond college - such as apprenticeships, military service, and other career paths - based on data showing about 30% of seniors do not pursue immediate college enrollment. The resolution cites declining apprenticeship participation and underrepresentation in military enlistment among NJ youth as context. It does not mandate action but asks schools to honor all paths equally during this designated week, alongside existing college enrollment celebrations.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Farmland Assessment Review Commission within New Jersey's Department of Agriculture to annually review and recommend improvements to the state's farmland assessment program. The commission will evaluate eligibility requirements, funding mechanisms, inflation impacts, and potential conflicts with other land preservation programs to ensure fair, equitable, and uniform statewide application of the program. The commission, consisting of nine members including state officials and representatives from diverse regions and farming communities, will submit annual reports with recommendations to the Legislature. The Legislature must then review these recommendations and enact legislation to implement approved changes, ensuring farmland assessment benefits continue to be allocated fairly to properties meeting program requirements. This process aims to improve program clarity, consistency, and fairness for both landowners and taxpayers.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the State Treasurer to sell 0.69 acres of land and improvements at 101 Ridgedale Avenue in Morristown to the Town of Morristown. The property, previously used as a Motor Vehicle Commission inspection center (closed after hurricane damage), has been declared surplus to state needs. The sale price is set at $850,000, with proceeds going to state debt relief or capital projects. The transaction requires approval from the State House Commission but does not change how the MVC operates.