Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's parking law to allow disabled veterans and Purple Heart recipients to use designated disability parking spaces by displaying their valid disabled veteran or Purple Heart license plate or placard. It directly affects veterans and Purple Heart recipients who hold these specific plates issued by the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission. The key provision removes the requirement for these individuals to obtain a separate disability identification card or additional special plates to park in disability zones. The change takes immediate effect and ensures they can access these parking spaces using only their existing veteran or Purple Heart credentials.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1499) pauses deadlines for county planning boards to review and approve subdivision and site plan applications during declared emergencies. It suspends all statutory timeframes for planning board actions - including decisions on appeals - while a state of emergency (declared by the President, Governor under specific laws, or via the Emergency Health Powers Act) is active, plus an additional 60 days after the emergency ends. This prevents automatic approvals due to inaction during emergencies, directly affecting developers submitting applications and county planning boards. The suspension applies to all planning board decisions governed by existing law (P.L.1968, c.285), ensuring no applications are deemed approved during the paused period.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey county clerks to remove voters from mail-in ballot lists if the USPS returns election mail to the voter, the voter hasn't used mail-in ballots for two years, or the USPS indicates their address has changed or is undeliverable. Before removal, county clerks must notify voters in writing about the reason for potential removal and how to continue receiving mail-in ballots. Voters have 30 days to respond to the notice; if they don't, they're removed from the list and sent a notice with an application to re-apply. This affects voters who typically receive mail-in ballots but haven't used them or have changed addresses. The bill aims to maintain accurate voter lists while preserving voters' ability to continue receiving mail-in ballots.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits medical students, residents, and trainees from performing certain examinations on female patients who are anesthetized or unconscious without the patient's informed consent. It requires a supervising health care practitioner to first obtain the patient's consent or confirm the exam is medically necessary. Female patients must be allowed to choose whether to undergo such examinations before or after anesthesia if the exam relates to their procedure or is deemed necessary beforehand. The law applies to all clinical settings where these examinations occur and takes effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill would allow New Jersey taxpayers to exclude certain retirement plan contributions from their state gross income tax. It applies to contributions made to 401(k) plans, traditional IRAs, qualified pension plans, government deferred compensation plans (457 plans), and the federal Thrift Savings Fund. These contributions would be taxed upon withdrawal rather than at the time of contribution, effectively reducing taxable income for eligible taxpayers in the year they make contributions. The change would apply to contributions made in taxable years beginning January 1 following the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1106) would allow New Jersey taxpayers to deduct expenses for functional improvements and repairs made to their primary residence from their gross income tax. It defines "functional improvements" as work that materially improves a home's operating condition or extends its useful life (e.g., roof replacement, HVAC upgrades), excluding cosmetic remodels or adaptations for new uses. Repairs must maintain the home's ordinary efficiency (e.g., fixing plumbing), not just aesthetics. The deduction applies to both homeowners and renters, covers all qualifying expenses without a dollar limit, and allows married couples filing separately to each claim half the deduction for shared home costs.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds two alternate voting members to each New Jersey county agriculture development board (CADB). One alternate represents farmers (to replace voting members actively engaged in farming) and one represents the general public (to replace public representatives), both appointed through the same process as regular members. Alternates may vote only when a voting member is absent or unable to serve, but cannot vote in regular sessions. The change affects all 21 county CADBs, which manage agricultural land preservation and development programs. The bill modifies existing law to ensure board continuity during member absences without altering the board's core structure.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a grant program within New Jersey's Department of Education to help public school districts, charter schools, and renaissance schools purchase connected devices (like laptops or tablets) and internet access for students lacking them during remote learning. Grants cover full costs for devices per student, Wi-Fi hotspots for households without internet, device accessories, and insurance. Funding comes primarily from federal pandemic relief funds (e.g., CARES Act), with pro-rata distribution if funds are insufficient. Schools must provide equipment during remote instruction periods, require students to return items after remote learning ends, and use 95% of grant funds for equipment purchases plus 5% for family training on device safety and usage.

Maddy summaryThis bill excludes minimum required distributions (RMDs) from New Jersey's gross income tax. RMDs are mandatory annual withdrawals from retirement accounts for people aged 72 or older, required by federal law. The bill specifies that these distributions will no longer count toward taxable income for New Jersey residents, directly benefiting seniors who receive such withdrawals. It applies to all qualifying retirement plans under federal tax code definitions, reducing state tax burdens for affected retirees starting after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts veterans from paying any camping facilities fee at New Jersey State parks and forests. It directly affects honorably discharged veterans (including those who served in the American Merchant Marine during WWII) and Gold Star Family members, who will no longer pay fees for campsites, cabins, lean-tos, or shelters. The law amends existing statutes to prohibit the Department of Environmental Protection from charging these fees for veterans' use of park facilities. The exemption applies immediately upon the bill's enactment.