Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $3 million in supplemental funding to New Jersey's Division on Civil Rights (DCR) for system upgrades to the New Jersey Bias Investigation Access System (NJ BIAS). The funds specifically support updating the NJ BIAS platform, which helps state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies consistently track and report bias crimes. The DCR, the state agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, will use this funding to improve how bias crime data is collected and managed across law enforcement. The appropriation is for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, with unspent funds carrying forward for the same purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create an internet-based tracking system for rape kits (also called sexual assault forensic evidence kits). The system will allow victims, law enforcement officers, healthcare providers, and labs to monitor a kit's journey from collection at a medical facility through testing and final disposal. It mandates the Attorney General to issue guidelines for this tracking system, ensuring transparency in the chain of custody. The law, which became effective in January 2025, directly affects victims of sexual assault, healthcare facilities, law enforcement, and forensic labs handling these kits.

Maddy summaryACR 151 is a non-binding 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 specifically calls for HUD to focus on programs offering safe housing for up to 24 months, alongside support services like financial education, counseling, and employment assistance. This resolution directly affects homeless people and domestic violence survivors who face short shelter stays (typically under 90 days) and financial barriers to permanent housing. The resolution highlights that over half of domestic violence victims needing housing services did not receive them, and the pandemic worsened housing instability, making extended transitional support critical.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public schools to create written policies governing student cell phone and social media use during school hours, on school buses, and at school events. The policies must include age-appropriate rules, allow exceptions for emergencies, health needs (with parent documentation), or educational purposes, and align with student accommodations like IEPs. Schools must also implement network restrictions blocking social media access on all school-owned devices and wireless networks. The state education commissioner will develop guidelines to help schools adopt these policies, covering device types, storage options, communication protocols, and disciplinary procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires state legislators to obtain a cost estimate (fiscal note) for any bill that creates a new state-funded program or expands an existing one. It directly affects lawmakers drafting bills and the Legislative Budget and Finance Officer, who must request these estimates from the Division of Budget and Accounting. The key mechanism expands current law - previously requiring cost estimates only for bills affecting state spending or revenue - to specifically mandate them for all new program creations or expansions. The bill takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5204) creates a New Jersey legislative internship program specifically for veterans. It allows state legislators to hire veterans as interns with presiding officer approval, directly affecting veterans meeting strict eligibility criteria: honorably discharged, within 5 years of active duty, at or below E-5/O-3 pay grade, and with at least a 20% VA disability rating (or Purple Heart). Veterans residing in New Jersey receive priority, and interns must complete a legislator-designated work period (with possible extension) performing legislative tasks like research or attending sessions. The program requires the Legislature to seek federal grants (e.g., via the Jobs for Veterans State Grants program) and appropriate necessary funds for implementation. The bill takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's "Bringing Veterans Home Initiative" into law, directly affecting unhoused or homeless veterans across the state. It requires the Commissioner of Community Affairs (with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs) to establish six regional hubs, create a standardized referral form, use state data to target housing needs, and help veterans access existing housing benefits. The initiative aims to provide safe, stable housing for every unhoused veteran through coordinated state agency efforts. The bill takes immediate effect, formalizing a 2024 pilot program launched by Governor Way.

Maddy summaryACR 138 is a ceremonial resolution honoring the 40th anniversary of New Jersey's Jersey Fresh program, a state-sponsored initiative established in 1984 to promote locally grown produce. The resolution recognizes the program's role in supporting New Jersey farms, increasing consumer awareness of seasonal produce, and serving as a national model for agricultural branding. It does not create new laws or policies but formally commends the program's success in connecting consumers with locally harvested fruits and vegetables across all 21 counties. The resolution directs copies to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture and the State Board of Agriculture for their records.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5172) requires New Jersey state and county correctional facilities to provide female inmates with feminine hygiene products - including tampons and sanitary pads - of varying absorbency levels at no cost, upon request. It amends existing law (P.L.2019, c.288) to specify that facilities must offer products in multiple absorbency levels, not just standard options. The policy directly affects all female inmates in New Jersey's correctional system, ensuring access to appropriate menstrual products. The change updates current requirements to better accommodate individual health needs during menstruation.