Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill would require health insurers in New Jersey to provide coverage for mammograms starting at age 35, lowering the current requirement from age 40. It mandates one baseline mammogram for women at age 35 and annual mammograms for women 35 and older. Women under 35 with family history of breast cancer or other risk factors would still receive coverage as determined by their healthcare provider. The legislation amends multiple sections of New Jersey law to implement this change across various health insurance plans.

Maddy summaryAJR 33 designates June of each year as "Cancer Survivor Month" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the month with awareness activities. It aims to increase public understanding of cancer survivors' ongoing physical, emotional, and financial challenges, as noted in the resolution's preamble. This is a symbolic designation with no new funding or legal requirements, focusing solely on raising awareness.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A974) provides tax credits to businesses for certain child care expenses. Businesses can claim a 50% credit against corporation business tax or gross income tax for costs related to building, improving, or operating child care centers primarily serving employees' children, or for providing child care information and referral services (10% credit). To qualify, facilities must be licensed by the Department of Children and Families and open to employees' children without discriminatory selection processes. Businesses must enter into an agreement with the Division of Taxation to verify eligibility and commit to using the facility as a child care center for 60 consecutive months. The bill also allows businesses to sell tax credit transfer certificates (at minimum 75% of value) to other businesses with tax liabilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey state agencies from granting new economic development subsidies to businesses that have a previously awarded state loan or loan guarantee with principal and interest payments overdue for more than 24 months. It directly affects businesses that received prior state economic development loans or guarantees but are significantly behind on repayments. The key change updates current law by setting a specific 24-month overdue threshold instead of relying on a general "default" definition. The policy applies to all state public bodies (like agencies or authorities) awarding subsidies exceeding $25,000 for economic development purposes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts receiving preschool education funding to place at least half of preschool students in licensed child care programs, rather than in district-run programs or Head Start. It directly affects school districts that receive state preschool aid under the School Funding Reform Act of 2008. Districts may request a waiver from the Department of Education if licensed child care spots are unavailable locally, but must provide justification for the request. The requirement takes effect in the first full school year after the bill is signed into law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to implement safeguards to prevent ineligible individuals from registering to vote through automatic voter registration during driver's license or ID card applications. Specifically, it mandates the MVC to provide separate application forms for people who do not meet voting eligibility requirements (such as citizenship or residency), which cannot include voter registration options. The bill also requires clear notices about voter eligibility rules and disqualifications, including penalties for false registration, and ensures applicants can decline automatic registration. These changes aim to protect the integrity of voter registration by preventing ineligible applicants from accidentally registering to vote.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution (AR 57) urges New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to impose an immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping activities off the New Jersey coast. It is prompted by the unexplained deaths of at least 12 whales (including 8 humpbacks) and 5 dolphins recorded near offshore wind development areas since December 2022. The resolution calls for pausing these activities to allow for scientific study of potential links between sonar/mapping technologies and the marine life deaths. As a resolution, it does not create law but formally requests federal and state agencies to halt related operations pending investigation.

Maddy summaryThe "Transparency in Government Act" (A2617) requires New Jersey to create a free, searchable public website displaying state financial data. It mandates the State Treasurer to include annual records of state agency spending (salaries, vendor payments, local aid), revenues (taxes, fees, grants), and bonded debt (principal, interest, repayment sources) starting from fiscal year 2000. Data must be updated within 45 days after each fiscal year ends and cannot be removed, while protecting private/confidential information. The website will be maintained with oversight from a 13-member Public Finance Transparency Committee, including state officials, agency representatives, and public members. This directly affects state agencies (which must provide data), the State Treasurer's office (which develops the site), and New Jersey residents (who gain access to financial information).

Maddy summaryBill A272 eliminates the time limit for prosecuting human trafficking crimes in New Jersey, allowing prosecutors to file charges at any time regardless of when the crime occurred. Currently, such cases must be prosecuted within five years of the offense, but this bill removes that deadline. The change specifically applies to human trafficking offenses defined under New Jersey law (including sections 2C:11-3 and 2C:11-4 of the criminal code). This policy shift directly affects law enforcement, prosecutors, and victims by removing a fixed deadline for filing charges.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Department of Early Childhood as a principal department within New Jersey's Executive Branch. It transfers numerous early childhood-related responsibilities from the Departments of Education, Human Services, Children and Families, and Health to this new department. The transfer includes programs for children from pregnancy through age eight, such as preschool education, child care services, home visitation programs, and early intervention services. The bill specifies the structure of the new department, including the role of the Commissioner of Early Childhood, and requires coordination among existing departments for an orderly transition of programs and staff.