Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill requires judges, law enforcement officers, and court personnel in New Jersey to receive updated training on domestic violence, specifically adding instruction about "coercive control." Coercive control refers to patterns of controlling behavior, such as isolating victims from support networks, monitoring their movements, threatening immigration status, or making false reports to authorities. The training must cover recognizing these indicators, understanding trauma, safety planning, and racial bias impacts. Existing training curricula for these groups will be revised to include these requirements, ensuring consistent, informed responses to domestic violence cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new contracting goals for New Jersey state agencies to increase participation by minority and women-owned businesses, based on a 2024 disparity study showing ongoing statistical gaps in public contracting. It requires state agencies and prime contractors to make a "good faith effort" to meet specific targets - 7% for minority-owned businesses and 3% for women-owned businesses - across construction, professional services, and goods/services contracts. The law defines key terms like "minority business" and references the 2024 disparity study as the basis for these goals, which replace previous race-neutral approaches. The bill is pending before the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires construction permit applicants in New Jersey to disclose the anticipated funding sources and amounts for their projects. It applies to most construction projects but excludes single-family homes, routine renovations or repairs of dwelling units, and small-scale alterations (like individual units in buildings with fewer than three units). Applicants must provide this funding information when applying for a permit, and before receiving a certificate of occupancy, they must certify the accuracy of that information or submit updated details. The Commissioner of Community Affairs will develop specific rules within 180 days to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2220) requires health care providers and insurance carriers to obtain a patient's explicit written consent before sharing their medical records related to reproductive health care services - such as pregnancy, contraception, or abortion care - unless specific exceptions apply. The law directly affects patients receiving these services, ensuring they control how their sensitive health information is used or shared. Key exceptions include medical emergencies, legal requirements (like court orders), sharing with a patient's own health care team, or disclosures to authorities investigating abuse. The bill prohibits selling, marketing, or using such records for non-treatment purposes without consent, while preserving existing federal privacy protections under HIPAA. Violations could result in $1,000 penalties per incident.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1666) amends New Jersey law to allow people with certain past criminal convictions to serve on juries, removing an automatic disqualification. It directly affects individuals convicted of most serious crimes (indictable offenses) in New Jersey, other states, or federal court, provided they do not have a conviction for murder or aggravated sexual assault. The key change eliminates the automatic bar for these past convictions, though current incarceration for any serious offense still disqualifies someone. The bill maintains existing exceptions for murder (N.J.S.2C:11-3) and aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2), and does not apply to those currently serving prison sentences.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Medicaid to cover fertility preservation services (like egg or sperm freezing) for individuals who develop infertility as a direct result of medically necessary treatments, such as cancer therapy. It directly affects Medicaid beneficiaries facing treatment-induced infertility who would otherwise pay out-of-pocket for these services. The key provision amends Medicaid coverage to include these services under "comprehensive medical care" when recommended by a physician prior to treatments known to cause infertility. The policy change ensures coverage for fertility preservation as part of standard medical care, without adding new administrative burdens to existing Medicaid services.

Maddy summaryChiara's Law amends New Jersey law to require animal shelters and pounds to hold impounded animals for at least seven days before euthanizing or adopting them, except in specific cases. It directly affects municipal animal control officers, shelters, and pounds by mandating a 7-day holding period for most impounded animals (dogs and cats), including notifying owners and offering adoption opportunities. Key provisions include requiring shelters to release unclaimed animals to owners who provide proof of ownership, charging reasonable fees for care or sterilization, and prohibiting euthanasia for non-health/safety reasons during the holding period. Exceptions apply for animals suspected of rabies, voluntarily surrendered animals, or if an owner fails to meet requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey Assembly Resolution (AR 68) urges Congress to pass the bipartisan "Afghan Adjustment Act." It directly addresses Afghan allies who helped U.S. forces in Afghanistan, many of whom entered the U.S. under temporary humanitarian parole after the 2021 withdrawal but lack a path to permanent legal status. The resolution requests Congress enact legislation that would allow these evacuees to apply for permanent residency, similar to past laws for Cuban, Southeast Asian, and Iraqi allies. It does not create new law but formally asks federal lawmakers to advance this specific bill. The resolution cites 76,000 Afghans currently in temporary status as the key group affected.

Maddy summaryBill A 3492 sets requirements for New Jersey state and local governments when awarding contracts or grants to nonprofit organizations. It establishes a 15% maximum rate for covering overhead costs (like administrative expenses) on state or federal-funded contracts and creates a central database where nonprofits can submit required documents, such as tax-exempt status, financial statements, and organizational bylaws. The bill also mandates annual adjustments to contract amounts based on the Consumer Price Index to account for inflation and automatically extends contracts for three months if renewal isn't completed within 10 days of expiration.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to review and update the statewide use-of-force policy every even-numbered year, ensuring it prioritizes de-escalation, limits force to necessary and proportional measures (with deadly force as a last resort), and includes officer duties like intervention and reporting. It mandates three public hearings across the state to gather community input and requires all law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and the State Police to receive the revised policy. The bill also establishes a public online reporting system for use-of-force incidents, compiling data under open records laws for public access. Additionally, it sets detailed guidelines for handling barricaded individuals - emphasizing mental health crisis protocols and de-escalation - and mandates training for law enforcement on these procedures.