Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's official definition of anti-Semitism based on the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition adopted in 2016. It requires state agencies, educational institutions, and others reviewing discrimination complaints to use this definition when determining if an act was motivated by anti-Semitic intent. The definition explicitly states that criticism of Israel similar to criticism of any other country does not constitute anti-Semitism. The bill clarifies it does not override First Amendment rights or existing state/federal anti-discrimination laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates new offenses to protect election workers and officials in New Jersey. It makes it a disorderly persons offense to intimidate, threaten, or interfere with election workers or officials while they perform duties, and to knowingly share their personal information online when it poses an imminent safety threat. Election workers (including county/municipal clerks and election staff) can request the Division of Elections to remove their personal information - such as home addresses, phone numbers, or photos - from public internet records if they provide evidence of a safety threat. The bill also establishes a presumption of safety risk if law enforcement issues a warning for election workers. These changes directly affect election workers who handle voting operations and seek protection from harassment.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts New Jersey veterans who are permanently 100% disabled (as certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) from paying motor vehicle registration fees for one passenger vehicle. It directly affects eligible disabled veterans who own a vehicle not used for hire. The law requires the Adjutant General and the Motor Vehicle Commission to notify these veterans about the fee exemption. The exemption applies to vehicles registered in the veteran's name and does not cover commercial vehicles. The bill amends existing law to update eligibility criteria and add the notification requirement.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A2034 bill reduces the minimum waiting period for voters to change their political party affiliation before a primary election from 55 days to 21 days. It directly affects voters who wish to switch parties to participate in a primary, aligning this requirement with the existing 21-day deadline for voter registration. The change modifies the current law to shorten the timeframe for updating party affiliation, matching the standard for voter registration. This adjustment provides a consistent timeline for both registration and party affiliation changes prior to primaries.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a four-year pilot program allowing up to 15 New Jersey school districts to create mental health assistance programs for students in grades K-12. Participating districts must develop programs including confidential student referrals, mental health support services, and partnerships with community resources, staffed by trained counselors or contracted providers. The programs aim to identify mental health issues affecting students, provide intervention, and improve academic outcomes while maintaining student confidentiality. After the pilot, districts must report on participation and outcomes, and the Commissioner of Education will evaluate the program's effectiveness and recommend statewide expansion to the Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A668) requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to create a water safety fact sheet for schools. The fact sheet must include practical tips for parents to prevent child drowning, highlight the importance of swimming lessons, and list free/reduced-cost water safety courses by county. Public school districts must distribute this fact sheet to parents when a child is first enrolled, while nonpublic schools are encouraged but not required to do the same. It directly affects parents of newly enrolled students in New Jersey schools and aims to improve access to water safety resources.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes rules for "right-to-list home sale agreements," where property owners grant real estate brokers exclusive rights to list their homes for sale at a future date in exchange for payment. It prohibits such agreements from lasting longer than five years and requires contracts to include an early termination option: owners can end the agreement early by paying the initial price plus 6% of that amount for each year the contract has been active (compounded annually). The bill applies directly to real estate brokers, salespeople, and broker-salespeople who enter these contracts with property owners. Contracts must clearly state the term and termination terms to comply with the law.

Maddy summaryThis bill limits retirement payments for unused sick leave to $15,000 and prohibits payment for sick leave earned after the bill's effective date. It requires public employees to provide medical documentation for six or more consecutive days of sick leave, with penalties including unpaid leave and potential termination for violations. The bill also suspends retirement payments if an employee is indicted for certain crimes and forfeits payments upon conviction for those crimes. These provisions apply to state, local government, and school board employees in New Jersey. The bill will take effect two months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual funding for the New Jersey Commission on Cancer Research (NJCCR) from $1 million to $4 million by redirecting cigarette and tobacco tax revenues into a dedicated fund. It establishes a non-lapsing Cancer Research Fund within the Department of the Treasury, ensuring these funds remain available year after year without requiring annual reappropriation. The fund will be used exclusively to provide grants for cancer research projects approved by the NJCCR, including studies on cancer causes, prevention, treatment, and palliation. The State Treasurer will manage the fund, including investing the money and disbursing funds upon written approval from the NJCCR chairperson.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's state government to create a centralized, publicly accessible database on the state's official website listing all state programs. It mandates that each state department or agency provide standardized information for every program, including program details, eligibility criteria (like age or income), application processes, and direct links to applications. The database must organize programs by eligibility categories and allow keyword searches, with each program page showing the most recent update date. This affects all state departments/agencies that offer public programs and aims to make accessing state services clearer for residents.