Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that foster parents, relatives, or other caregivers of children in state care be included as formal parties in any reviews or hearings about those children. The law mandates that these caregivers receive written notice of proceedings and have the right to speak and participate in the process, though they cannot be made parties solely because of this notice. The changes apply to multiple sections of existing child welfare statutes governing placement reviews, court hearings, and board reviews within New Jersey's Division of Child Protection and Permanency. Additionally, the bill clarifies court procedures for voluntary placements and ensures that all parties involved receive proper written notice at least five to fifteen days before hearings occur.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies specific packaging and security requirements for cannabis products in New Jersey and creates a criminal offense for minors who gain access to improperly stored cannabis. It requires cannabis businesses to implement strict security measures for storing and transporting products, including age verification procedures where staff must check government-issued photo identification before allowing entry or sales. The legislation also mandates that retailers prohibit minors from entering their premises unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian, and it establishes penalties for those who fail to comply with these storage and access restrictions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed motor vehicle dealers in New Jersey to help private individuals process title and registration paperwork for used cars they buy from other private owners. Under current rules, private buyers must handle this paperwork themselves within 10 days of purchase, but this change would let them use a licensed dealer to complete the process on their behalf. The legislation modifies existing state statutes to formally recognize dealers as authorized facilitators for these transactions while maintaining the same fees and requirements for issuing ownership certificates.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services to provide psychiatric service dogs at no cost to first responders, healthcare workers, and other frontline workers who have developed post-traumatic stress disorder due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify, individuals must be state residents, have a physician or mental health provider certify their condition, and agree to care for the dog according to state laws. The department will contract with recognized training agencies to supply the dogs, and recipients may choose to keep ownership or return the dog to the department for redistribution. The bill also directs the commissioner to establish rules for the program and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Public Service Management Fellows Program within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to recruit graduate-level professionals for leadership roles in state government. The program will select up to 10 fellows annually who must hold qualifying degrees within the past two years, assign them to Executive Branch departments for up to two years with possible 120-day extensions, and provide them with a stipend funded by state appropriations. An advisory committee composed of department commissioners will oversee the program, appoint a director to manage recruitment and selection, and ensure fellows are placed in positions matching their qualifications and the agencies' needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 30 of each year as "Stigma Free Mental Health Awareness Day" throughout New Jersey. It directly affects state agencies, organizations, and citizens by encouraging them to participate in awareness activities aimed at reducing mental health stigma. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation and calls for efforts to normalize conversations about mental health and encourage individuals to seek treatment. This is a symbolic measure that does not change laws or allocate funding, but rather promotes public awareness and destigmatization of mental health conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill would require New Jersey state legislators and their spouses to annually disclose any public employment they hold or held during the previous year. The disclosure must be filed with the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards by May 15 each year and must also include any changes in public employment within 30 days of those changes. The resolution amends the existing Legislative Code of Ethics to add this specific requirement alongside other financial and asset disclosure obligations for lawmakers.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's motor vehicle inspection requirements to include checks for windshield and window tint compliance. It directly affects vehicle owners and inspection facilities by mandating that tinted materials on windshields and front side windows be verified during annual inspections, except for the top six inches of the windshield or areas above the AS-1 marking. The legislation amends existing statutes to ensure that vehicles cannot receive inspection approval unless they pass both emissions testing and tint compliance checks, while also clarifying rules for collector and historic vehicles.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Agriculture Retention and Development Act to require county agriculture development boards to include two additional alternate voting members. Each board would have one alternate member representing the general public and one alternate member actively engaged in farming, both serving four-year terms. These alternates can participate in discussions but only vote when a regular voting member is absent or disqualified, ensuring continuity in board decisions without changing the board's overall composition or voting majority.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits businesses from soliciting customers based on death notices or obituaries published within 90 days of publication. It directly affects companies that might contact families or tenants after a death, making such outreach an unlawful practice under New Jersey's consumer fraud laws. The law defines family members broadly to include relatives by blood, marriage, or adoption, and applies to both print and electronic publications. Violations can result in fines up to $10,000 for first offenses, higher penalties for repeat offenses, and additional remedies like cease and desist orders or treble damages.