Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a program where New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) awards grants to small businesses that closed for one month or more due to state or public infrastructure projects. To qualify, businesses must be independently owned with fewer than 10 employees, under $1.5 million in annual revenue, and prove economic loss from the closure. The EDA will determine grant amounts based on operating expenses during the closure, and the entity conducting the infrastructure project must contribute 0-5% of the project’s total cost to fund these grants. The EDA will manage applications, disburse funds, and establish reporting requirements for recipients.

Maddy summaryThis bill standardizes pension benefits for New Jersey teachers by moving all current non-retired members of the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) into a single benefit tier (previously called "Tier 1"), granting them the same retirement benefits as members who joined before July 1, 2007. It requires public employers to enroll teachers earning above minimum salary but not meeting work-hour requirements into TAPF within 60 days of enactment. Teachers in the separate Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP) can automatically transfer their service credit to TAPF for retirement eligibility (but not pension amount calculations), with contributions staying in DCRP; they may opt out within six months of notification. The bill also allows TAPF members with long-term disability insurance to apply for disability retirement within two years of enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Assembly Resolution AR 14 formally opposes New York City's congestion pricing plan, which would charge drivers $9 to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street starting January 5, 2025, with tolls rising to $12 by 2028 and $15 by 2031. The resolution states that New Jersey residents would be directly affected by these tolls without having any input or decision-making power over the plan. It expresses opposition to the policy and directs copies to New York officials, the Federal Highway Administration, and New Jersey lawmakers.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the requirement that student representatives on public university boards of trustees must be U.S. citizens. It directly affects international students enrolled full-time at New Jersey public colleges and universities who previously would have been ineligible due to citizenship status. The key change amends three statutes (P.L.1986 c.139, P.L.2012 c.45, and P.L.2017 c.178) by deleting the phrase "and citizens of the United States" from eligibility criteria. Student representatives must still be full-time, in good academic standing, and 18+ years old. The bill maintains existing terms (two years, with first year as alternate) and participation rules for student board members.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill strengthens protections for crime victims by ensuring their location remains confidential in stalking and domestic violence cases. It requires courts to automatically issue restraining orders upon a stalking conviction (Section 3), prevents victim locations from appearing on documents accessible to defendants, and extends these protections to children, developmentally disabled individuals, and vulnerable adults (Section 2). The bill also mandates confidentiality for domestic violence cases (Section 9) and applies to all stalking-related court documents (Section 4). These changes directly affect victims of stalking, domestic violence, and their legal representatives, while limiting defendants' access to sensitive location information.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the "Lead Education, Accountability, and Disclosure Act," requires New Jersey public community water systems (serving 15+ connections or 25+ year-round residents) to provide specific lead-related information to customers. Water systems must include details on lead sources, health risks, and reduction steps in annual Consumer Confidence Reports and send written notices to new customers within 90 days of service. Before any lead pipe work, systems must notify affected customers about temporary water quality risks and provide exposure-reduction measures. The law takes effect immediately, focusing on transparency rather than mandating pipe replacement.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill expands the crime of bias intimidation to cover more protected characteristics like gender identity, sexual orientation, and disability, and increases penalties for such offenses. It raises the severity of bias intimidation to one degree higher than the underlying crime (e.g., making a fourth-degree offense a third-degree crime), adds mandatory sentencing for first-degree cases, and requires courts to impose separate sentences for bias intimidation and the underlying offense. Perpetrators convicted of bias intimidation must also complete sensitivity training, counseling, or pay compensation to victim support programs. Victims of bias-motivated crimes benefit from new financial penalties ($250-$2,000 per offense) collected by the state and directed to community services. The law applies to anyone committing crimes like assault or harassment with bias motivation, directly affecting both offenders and victims in hate crime cases.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3401) expands the state's child tax credit to include children aged 6-11, who were previously ineligible. It increases credit amounts for all children under 12 over two years: for example, taxpayers with income under $30,000 will receive $500 (2023-2024) or $600 (2025+) for children aged 6-11, and $750 (2023-2024) or $1,000 (2025+) for children under 6. Credits phase out completely for taxpayers earning over $80,000 annually and are refundable if exceeding tax liability. The bill directly affects New Jersey residents with children in these age groups who file state taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1723) requires prime contractors who win state construction, goods, services, or professional services contracts to notify subcontractors they listed on the bid within 30 days of receiving contract award notice. The notification, sent by certified mail, must include the state agency name, a description of the prime contractor's work, and the subcontractor's specific tasks with timeframe. Prime contractors who fail to provide this notice face penalties outlined in their contract. The law directly affects prime contractors and subcontractors working on state projects in New Jersey. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires each New Jersey county to establish at least one drive-up ballot drop box accessible by vehicle, designed with features like curb cuts and handicap parking. It mandates that all ballot drop boxes (including the drive-up type) be secured, visible, and placed at specific locations such as county government buildings, large municipalities, and colleges with over 5,000 students. The bill also requires counties to post clear information at drop box locations, prohibits political materials within 100 feet of boxes during elections, and ensures accessibility compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These provisions apply to all mail-in ballots deposited by election closing time.