Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey mail-in ballot envelopes to have "Do Not Forward. Return to Sender. Return Postage Guaranteed" printed on them. It allows voters to correct ballots with missing or detached "Certificate of Mail-in Voter" documents by providing a substitute certificate. County clerks must forward returned ballots to election officials within 30 days, and the Secretary of State must create instructions for returning ballots. These changes aim to reduce ballot rejections due to minor errors in the mail-in voting process. The bill directly affects mail-in voters, county election offices, and the processing of returned ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates car wash businesses as essential during state or public health emergencies, allowing them to remain open if the Governor orders non-essential businesses to shut down. It does not force car washes to operate - owners may still choose to close - but requires them to follow all emergency safety standards, including providing protective equipment for employees. The law applies specifically to New Jersey businesses and takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThe "Ensuring Transparency in Prior Authorization Act" requires New Jersey health insurance companies and health plans to publicly disclose their prior authorization requirements, clinical criteria, and approval/denial statistics on their websites in plain language. It mandates that physicians - not administrative staff - make decisions on denied services (adverse determinations) and sets strict time limits for decisions (one business day for routine services, 24 hours for urgent care). The law prohibits prior authorization for emergency services, medications for opioid use disorder, and certain generic medications, while preventing insurers from revoking authorizations within 45 business days of care being provided. This bill directly affects insurers, healthcare providers, and patients by making the prior authorization process more transparent and patient-focused.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts sales of pet food purchased for household pets from New Jersey's sales and use tax. It defines "pet food" broadly to include feed, medicines, vitamins, and other substances intended for domesticated animals kept in or near a household. The exemption applies only to retail purchases by pet owners for their own pets, not commercial sales (e.g., to kennels). The change aims to reduce costs for pet owners while maintaining existing tax rules for other food items.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A294) establishes the "Commission on People with Disabilities" in New Jersey. The commission, consisting of 25 members (13 voting with disability representation requirements and 12 non-voting ex-officio state agency representatives), will advise the state government on policies affecting people with disabilities. Its key duties include suggesting legislation, serving as a government contact point for disability needs, coordinating with state agencies on service delivery, and preventing employment discrimination. The commission must submit an annual report to the Governor and Legislature. (Note: This is a procedural bill creating a body, not a policy change.)

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allocates federal government assistance from the American Rescue Plan Act and state funds to repay federal unemployment insurance loan advances in the state's unemployment compensation fund for fiscal years 2022-2024. It requires the Commissioner of Labor to submit annual reports to the Legislature about fund solvency, including estimates of needed deposits to prevent employer contribution rate increases. The bill modifies how employer contribution rates are calculated, specifying that for fiscal year 2023 rates will be based on column "C" of the experience rating table rather than the actual fund reserve ratio, and for 2024 rates will be based on column "D". For 2023, it also adjusts wage definitions for contribution calculations to include specific wage thresholds. These changes directly affect employers who pay into New Jersey's unemployment compensation system.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agencies to annually develop and submit an IT strategic plan to the Chief Technology Officer. The plan must detail the agency's IT mission, goals, current technology infrastructure, cost analysis for new projects, and how it aligns with statewide IT initiatives. Agencies must submit their first plan within one year of the bill's enactment and annually thereafter, with all plans made publicly available on agency websites. The bill directly affects every state department, board, bureau, and independent authority by mandating structured planning for their information technology systems. It establishes a standardized process for managing and reporting on state IT resources without creating new services or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to obtain written permission from a parent or legal guardian before administering student health surveys about alcohol/tobacco/drug use, sexual behavior, violence-related behaviors, or nutrition/physical activity. Currently, districts only need to send written notification; this bill changes that to require active written consent at least two weeks prior to survey administration. The permission form must detail the survey's purpose, content, review options, and how to grant/deny consent. Results must be shared with state education and health departments for public health initiatives but cannot be used for commercial purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the state tax deduction for New Jersey residents who contribute to the NJBEST college savings program. It raises the maximum annual deduction from $10,000 to $15,000 for taxpayers with gross income under $200,000. The bill also requires annual adjustments to both the deduction limit and income threshold based on the national consumer price index. These changes apply to contributions made in taxable years starting after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Treasurer to publish detailed financial data on a public government transparency website. It mandates the inclusion of quarterly spending reports, monthly revenue data, public employee compensation, pension obligations, debt information, and specific departmental spending (like Governor travel costs, Attorney General legal services, and tourism advertising). The website must present information in plain language with visual aids, exclude confidential data, and be regularly updated for public access. This directly affects taxpayers by increasing visibility into how state funds are spent across agencies.