Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's "Nosey's Law" to prohibit the use of rabbits, hares, and rodents in traveling animal acts, while removing previous exemptions for domestic animals like cattle, horses, and dogs. It bans wild or exotic animals (including newly added lagomorphs and rodents) from performances requiring mobile transport, such as circuses or carnival acts. Exceptions for educational outreach are now limited exclusively to programs at schools or universities, eliminating broader allowances for permanent institutions or government entities. The law aims to restrict animal performances in mobile settings, directly affecting traveling entertainment venues and performers using these animals.

Maddy summary"Stephanie's Law" requires New Jersey's Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to create a publicly accessible domestic violence registry. This registry will list individuals convicted of domestic violence crimes, subject to final restraining orders, or found in contempt of such orders, including their name, aliases, physical description, photo, vehicle details, and last known address. Law enforcement officers must search both this public registry and the existing private registry during arrests to check for domestic violence restraining orders. Individuals wrongly listed can petition for removal, and those listed must update their address within five days of a change.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires large supermarkets (over 16,000 sq ft), grocery stores, and food suppliers to make a reasonable effort to donate surplus food that is safe for human consumption but would otherwise be discarded. The donation must cover food fit for consumption (including perishable items like produce, dairy, and prepared foods), but not spoiled or unsafe items. Covered businesses must donate to food banks, nonprofits, or directly to people, with donations limited to covering only handling costs. The law would take effect 180 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 3349) amends New Jersey law to explicitly include "emergency, transitional, and permanent housing" as a funded service for domestic violence victims through the existing "Domestic Violence Victims' Fund." The Fund, managed by the Division of Child Protection and Permanency, is financed by civil penalties ($50-$500) from domestic violence convictions and other designated moneys. It directly affects victims of domestic violence by ensuring these housing needs are covered alongside existing services like shelter, food, utilities, and legal assistance. The change clarifies that housing must be funded from this dedicated account, not other general funds.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Police to submit a biannual report to the Legislature detailing the number of sex offenders who failed to register under Megan's Law. The report would provide the count of non-compliant individuals twice each year, starting from the bill's effective date. The bill does not change the existing registration requirements for sex offenders but adds a new reporting duty for law enforcement. This measure provides the Legislature with regular data on compliance with the state's sex offender registration law.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A3871 requires public and nonpublic schools with lunch programs to gradually expand free lunch eligibility over five years, ultimately providing free meals to all students regardless of income or federal eligibility. It uses existing federal reimbursement mechanisms like the Community Eligibility Provision to allow schools to serve universal free meals without individual income applications. The bill directly affects all participating schools in the state’s National School Lunch Program, eliminating income verification for students. This policy change shifts school meal funding toward universal provision, building on federal program structures.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new Department of Early Childhood within New Jersey's Executive Branch to oversee early childhood programs. It transfers specific responsibilities from the Department of Education (covering preschool through grade 3 programs like teacher licensing and Title I services) and the Departments of Human Services and Children and Families (including child care programs, home visiting initiatives, and early intervention services) to this new department. The department will be led by a commissioner appointed by the governor, who will manage all programs for children from pregnancy through age eight. The law establishes the department's structure, authority, and administrative procedures to consolidate early childhood services under one agency.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's Secure Choice Savings Program, creating a new state-run retirement savings plan for workers. It establishes a Secure Choice Savings Board within the Treasury Department to design and operate the program, which would allow employees (18+ living in or working in NJ) at businesses without existing retirement plans to automatically enroll in payroll-deducted savings accounts. The program would use standard IRAs for investments, with employers (defined as those with fewer than 25 employees and no qualified retirement plan) facilitating payroll deductions. The bill was withdrawn in 2026 as it was superseded by an approved law (P.L.2025, c.379).

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2224) requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover over-the-counter emergency contraception (such as Plan B) without a prescription. Currently, Medicaid only covers prescription-based emergency contraception, forcing enrollees to pay out-of-pocket for the same products purchased without a prescription. The bill mandates that Medicaid managed care organizations include this coverage without requiring a prescription or other authorization. It directly affects Medicaid recipients in New Jersey who need emergency contraception for reproductive health.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the statewide high school graduation proficiency test requirement for all New Jersey students. It directly affects every high school student in the state by removing a mandated test as a condition for earning a diploma. The key mechanism deletes references to the "Statewide proficiency test" from existing graduation statutes (including sections of P.L.1979, c.241), shifting responsibility to local school districts to set their own graduation standards. This change means students will no longer need to pass a state-administered test to graduate, though local districts must still establish and monitor proficiency requirements.