Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryACR 99 is a New Jersey resolution requesting the U.S. President and Congress to expand the Agent Orange Benefits Act of 1996 to include grandchildren of veterans exposed to Agent Orange who have Spina Bifida. Currently, the Act provides benefits like medical care, counseling, and employment services to the children of exposed veterans, but not to their grandchildren. The resolution cites evidence that grandchildren of these veterans also face elevated rates of Spina Bifida - a lifelong condition requiring extensive medical care - and are denied similar support. It seeks to extend financial and service benefits to these grandchildren to address their medical costs and access to rehabilitation programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as "Levi's Law" (A1937), requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to provide evidence-based information about spina bifida to medical professionals who care for parents receiving a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of the condition. The DOH must post this information on its website, including details on medical outcomes, treatment options, and support services, in both English and Spanish in plain language. Healthcare providers - including physicians, nurses, and genetic counselors - must then share this information directly with parents who receive a positive spina bifida test result. The law expands an existing requirement for Down syndrome information to include spina bifida, ensuring families have access to accurate, up-to-date resources at a critical time.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a refundable New Jersey Child Tax Credit for low-income households with children. It provides $582 per younger child (under age 6) and $187 per older child (ages 6-24) for families earning up to 100% of the federal poverty level, with the credit gradually decreasing as income rises to 250% of the federal poverty level. The credit is refundable - meaning households may receive a cash payment even if they owe no tax - and applies to taxpayers using either a Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Eligibility requires filing a joint tax return (or as head of household/widow), and the credit does not affect eligibility for other state benefits.

Maddy summaryBill A1241 establishes the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA). It provides matching funds to community-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations that offer shelter during Code Blue alerts (cold-weather emergency alerts), requiring these groups to first receive a grant from a county or municipality within the past year. The DCA will match these local grants up to $50,000 per county/municipality annually, with no cap on the total number of grants or individual nonprofit funding. Nonprofits must submit applications detailing their finances, the original grant amount, and how funds will be used, and the DCA must report program effectiveness to the Governor and Legislature within three years.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a task force within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to study challenges faced by service members returning from deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, including those in the New Jersey National Guard. The task force, composed of state agency leaders and five public members with relevant expertise (such as mental health support or veteran homelessness), will hold public hearings statewide and review current programs affecting veterans' physical, mental, and social well-being. It must issue a final report with recommendations - including potential legislation - within six months of organizing, with the task force dissolving 30 days after the report is submitted. The bill does not enact new laws but creates a structured process to identify solutions for veterans' needs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 28) urges the federal government to approve oil and natural gas pipelines within the U.S., including those previously denied or shut down (like the Keystone XL Pipeline, revoked by President Biden in 2021). It argues that approving such pipelines would enhance U.S. energy independence, reduce reliance on foreign energy sources (e.g., from Russia or Venezuela), and lower fuel costs while creating jobs. The resolution directs copies to federal leaders but does not create new law or directly affect residents. It focuses on advocating for pipeline approvals as a policy action, not on implementing specific regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2669) establishes a permanent fund to protect Greenwood Lake by dedicating $500,000 annually from New Jersey's vessel registration and renewal fees. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will manage the fund, using the money exclusively for the New Jersey side of the lake's maintenance, preservation, and enhancement. The fund can be used without requiring matching funds from New York State, and New York is not obligated to provide equivalent funding for projects on the New Jersey side. This affects the lake's ecosystem, its role as a drinking water source for 3.5 million residents, and recreational users who rely on the lake.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's child care subsidy payments to licensed providers and registered family day care centers to be based on the number of enrolled children (not actual attendance) on October 15 and April 15 each year. It directly affects child care providers serving low-income families who rely on state subsidies for funding. The key change ends current practice of basing payments on daily attendance, aiming to provide more stable income amid pandemic-related enrollment fluctuations. The bill also directs the state to seek necessary federal waivers to maintain funding eligibility for these programs.

Maddy summaryACR 33 proposes a constitutional amendment allowing New Jersey municipalities to offer a partial property tax exemption on the primary residence of volunteer firefighters and first responders. The exemption would cover up to 10% of a home's assessed value, with each municipality setting the exact percentage through local ordinance. To qualify, the volunteer must be actively serving in a local fire company or first aid/rescue squad that serves the municipality and live in the home as their primary residence. The state would not provide reimbursement to municipalities for any lost tax revenue from this exemption.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a New Jersey State Government and Civil Service Student Internship Program within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, appropriating $750,000 for stipends. It allows full-time or part-time undergraduate and graduate students (excluding JD/PhD programs) from accredited colleges to intern with state agencies, requiring 480 hours total (with weekly limits of 20-40 hours depending on school terms). Successful interns gain preference for entry-level civil service positions within two years of graduation if the role matches their internship work, with disabled veterans receiving highest priority. Participants receive a $2,500 stipend for every 240 hours completed, paid biweekly, and the program includes an advisory committee to manage eligibility and opportunities.