Asm. Aura Dunn

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's assault laws to specifically address assaults on people with disabilities. It defines a "person with a disability" as someone with a pre-existing medically determinable physical or mental impairment that substantially limits their ability to resist, including those determined disabled under federal Social Security or similar programs. Under the bill, causing bodily injury to such a person would be upgraded to aggravated assault, classified as a third-degree crime with a mandatory minimum 3-year prison sentence. The bill was prompted by the 2006 assault of Joey Damiano, a Trenton man with an intellectual disability, and would directly affect anyone committing assault against a person with a disability in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a $2,000 tax exemption for New Jersey volunteer firefighters, first aid, and rescue squad members who meet specific service and training requirements. To qualify, firefighters must serve the entire year, respond to at least 60% of fire alarms and drills, and hold Firefighter I certification; rescue and first aid members must respond to at least 10% of rescue alarms and drills and have approved training or EMT certification. Volunteer organizations must submit annual lists of eligible members to the state for verification by March 31. The exemption applies to taxable years starting after the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey law to broaden eligibility for civil service and pension benefits for veterans. It removes specific service date and location requirements that previously limited eligibility, changing the definition of "veteran" to include any resident of New Jersey who served in the Armed Forces under conditions other than dishonorable. This change applies to veterans who served in recent conflicts like Operation Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, as well as those who served domestically, such as 9/11 responders. The bill affects pension systems including the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund, Public Employees' Retirement System, Police and Firemen's Retirement System, and State Police Retirement System. The goal is to recognize all military service, regardless of location or duty assignment, as qualifying for veteran benefits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A260) excludes certain military reenlistment and voluntary extension bonuses from New Jersey's gross income tax. It directly affects active-duty and reserve members of the U.S. Armed Forces who receive these specific bonuses while serving. The key provision amends New Jersey tax code (N.J.S.54A:6-7) to add subsection (d), explicitly excluding such bonuses from taxable income. The change applies immediately to taxable years beginning after the bill's enactment. This is a tax code adjustment, not a new benefit or program.

Maddy summaryBill A2641 requires New Jersey public school districts to allow home-schooled students to join school-sponsored extracurricular activities (like sports, clubs, and theater) in their resident district under the same rules applied to enrolled students. To participate, home-schooled students must provide residency proof, meet activity-specific eligibility and tryout criteria, and follow district policies. The bill specifically prohibits students from transferring to home-schooling solely for athletic advantage, and requires districts to provide physical exams or medical tests (if offered to enrolled students) to home-schooled participants. This policy directly affects home-schooled students and public school districts across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises the rules for determining the "base year" used to calculate homestead property tax reimbursements after a qualifying resident relocates within New Jersey. It eliminates the requirement for eligible claimants (seniors or disabled homeowners meeting income thresholds) to wait an additional tax year after moving to a new homestead to qualify for reimbursement. Instead, they can immediately qualify following relocation, with the reimbursement based on property taxes from the year prior to moving into the new home. The change applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2021, and does not affect the base year calculation for new construction properties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3188) would allow New Jersey's Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to authorize licensed drivers' schools to conduct the road test portion of driver's license applications. It directly affects drivers' schools (specifically those licensed to operate) and people applying for driver's licenses, who would take road tests at these schools instead of MVC offices. Key provisions require examiners from these schools to provide written test results documentation, mandate a 14-day wait for applicants who fail, and require the MVC to establish temporary rules within 30 days for administering these tests. The rules would be effective for up to one year before requiring formal adoption under standard administrative procedures.

Maddy summaryThis bill would appropriate $2.9 billion in state funding to ensure school districts receive aid equal to their "adequacy budget" as determined under New Jersey's School Funding Reform Act. It requires districts that receive increased state aid to reduce their property tax levies by the same amount, with specific provisions for districts where property taxes exceed 5% of district income. The bill also provides additional aid to districts that experienced funding cuts between 2018-2023 and repeals certain laws that contributed to reduced state aid and higher property taxes. The policy aims to align school funding with constitutional requirements for a "thorough and efficient" education system while reducing property tax burdens on residents.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A968) allows municipalities to challenge COAH (Council on Affordable Housing) orders requiring non-redevelopment housing projects on undeveloped land, unless the order addresses exclusionary zoning practices in that municipality. It excludes flood-prone land from affordable housing vacant land analysis, meaning land below flood elevation standards or within 100 feet of certain water bodies cannot be counted toward housing requirements. The bill caps a municipality's affordable housing obligation at a 5% population increase over a 10-year period, replacing the previous 1,000-unit limit. These provisions aim to balance housing needs with municipal planning considerations and environmental protections. The Department of Environmental Protection must develop rules for identifying flood-prone lands within seven months of enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Council on Affordable Housing (COAH) to calculate each municipality's affordable housing obligations on a statewide basis, rather than using local or regional methods. It mandates that COAH produce a report every five years analyzing the ratio of median home maintenance costs (including property taxes, mortgage, insurance, and utilities) to statewide median household income. This report will update the statewide calculation method used to determine housing obligations. The change directly affects all municipalities required to meet New Jersey's affordable housing goals under state law.