Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryACR 102 is a non-binding resolution urging New Jersey's Department of Education to impose a two-year moratorium on developing or implementing new Student Learning Standards. It requests this pause due to recent adoption of standards in 2020, parent concerns about current standards, and pandemic-related learning loss. The resolution does not change existing standards but asks the Department to halt new standards development while the Legislature considers related bills addressing learning loss. This affects the Department's curriculum planning process during the moratorium period.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to claim a state income tax deduction for charitable donations made to qualifying New Jersey-based organizations. It mirrors the federal deduction limit (under IRS Section 170) for donations that would be deductible on federal returns, without requiring taxpayers to itemize federal deductions. To qualify, organizations must be registered under New Jersey's Charitable Registration Act or meet specific in-state presence requirements (maintaining an office, employing staff, and providing services in New Jersey). The deduction applies to donations made in tax years beginning January 1 following enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Developmental Disabilities to set maximum hourly rates for self-directed employees (caregivers hired directly by eligible individuals) equal to the rates paid to contracted service providers for identical services, duration, and care level. Currently, self-directed employee rates average $20-$25/hour for high-acuity support, while service providers receive about $51/hour for the same care. The bill mandates that the division establish provider rates as the ceiling for self-directed rates, closing this pay gap. It directly affects individuals using self-direction services and their authorized representatives who hire personal caregivers.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3210) requires all public school boards to post their full meeting agendas - including detailed descriptions of each agenda item - on their websites 48 hours before each meeting. It directly affects school boards across the state by mandating this advance notice, replacing a prior requirement that only specified "agenda" without detail. The key mechanism is the 48-hour posting deadline on accessible websites, ensuring transparency about meeting topics. This aligns with existing open-meeting laws but specifically codifies the detail requirement for school boards.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2066) requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to restore in-person service levels to 2019 calendar year standards. Specifically, it mandates the MVC Chief Administrator to submit reports on staffing needs, create hiring plans, expand service hours, and adjust the scheduling system to limit wait time differences between transaction types to no more than three days. The MVC must demonstrate progress on these measures within 90 days and report quarterly, with the bill expiring when staffing and transaction volumes return to 2019 levels or four years after enactment, whichever comes first. The bill directly affects MVC operations and residents seeking motor vehicle services.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions made to qualified New Jersey-based organizations during a public health emergency. It limits the deduction to $10,000 for joint filers or head of household, and $5,000 for single filers, married taxpayers filing separately, or surviving spouses. To qualify, charities must be registered under New Jersey law, maintain an office or employ staff in the state, and provide services within New Jersey. The "exclusion period" covers the current emergency (declared in 2020), any future emergencies declared by the governor, and 30 days after the emergency ends. The policy change applies to contributions made on or after January 1, 2021.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a New Jersey Talent Retention Loan and Loan Redemption Program that offers students attending colleges in New Jersey loans (up to $40,000 for bachelor's degrees) that can be partially forgiven based on employment with participating companies. Companies contributing to the program's fund receive tax credits equal to 50% of their contribution in the year of contribution, plus an additional 50% over time as long as they employ the student. To qualify, students must be New Jersey residents who graduated from a New Jersey high school, maintain good academic standing, and agree to work for a participating company for up to four years after graduation. The program aims to keep college graduates in New Jersey by linking financial aid to local employment opportunities with companies that fund the program.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A1034 revises the definition of child abuse or neglect to include acts committed by non-parental caregivers (such as teachers, staff, or volunteers in institutions), not just parents or legal guardians. It requires the Division of Child Protection and Permanency to refer children under 18 who engage in problematic sexual behaviors (defined as committing or facilitating sexual abuse against others) to treatment centers or behavioral health providers. Services are voluntary unless the division determines a high risk of future behavior and the child or parent refuses care, in which case they become mandatory. The bill mandates detailed documentation of service types, reasons for referral, acceptance status, timing, and outcomes in each child's case plan.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey state grant program to preserve, extend, and manage Revolutionary War battlefields, encampments, and skirmish sites threatened by development. The Department of State will award competitive grants to local governments and qualified non-profits based on specific preservation plans and administrative capability. It appropriates $50 million from the state's General Fund to implement the program, requiring grant recipients to report on fund usage and project outcomes. The initiative aims to protect New Jersey's significant Revolutionary War historical sites, which the bill notes hosted more battles than any other original state.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Auditor to conduct performance audits of school districts to examine how public funds were used during the COVID-19 pandemic (March 2020-June 2021). It mandates audits of randomly selected districts across all regions of the state and representing different instruction models (fully remote, hybrid, in-person), focusing on fiscal operations, adherence to best practices, and cost-saving measures. The audits will assess whether districts properly safeguarded pandemic-related funds and implemented meaningful savings. The State Auditor must report findings to the Governor, Legislature, education officials, school boards, and post the reports online.