Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Office of Emergency Management to create a voluntary text alert system for flood and severe weather. Residents who register their mobile devices will receive real-time alerts about local hazards like rising river levels, storm surge, and evacuation routes. The system integrates data from flood sensors, weather services, and local governments to deliver specific details including rainfall levels, flood locations (over 1 foot of water), and National Weather Service warnings. It mandates that alerts provide actionable safety information to guide community responses during emergencies. The program is designed to be cooperative, involving local law enforcement and media, with implementation starting immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to increase the gross income tax rate for individuals in New Jersey whose taxable income exceeds $2,000,000. It directly affects high-income earners by amending the state tax code to apply a higher percentage to income above this specific threshold. The legislation would modify the existing tax tables to ensure that only the portion of income surpassing $2 million is taxed at the new, elevated rate. This change aims to generate additional revenue from the wealthiest taxpayers while leaving tax rates for lower and middle-income earners unchanged.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Civil Rights Act to strengthen protections against constitutional violations by private individuals and government officials. It clarifies that victims can sue for damages and relief regardless of whether the violator is acting under color of law, while also allowing the Attorney General to bring civil actions on behalf of injured parties. The legislation ensures that any damages awarded in these cases are distributed to the victims and includes provisions for jury trials in Superior Court. Additionally, the bill establishes specific aggravating factors that courts may consider when deciding whether to award punitive damages.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires chain restaurants to limit the calories, sodium, sugar, and fat in children's meals while mandating the inclusion of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins. It applies specifically to establishments with 20 or more locations and sets strict nutritional caps, such as a maximum of 550 calories per serving and zero grams of trans fat. Additionally, the law mandates that restaurants display the nutritional information for these meals on their menus or signage unless the data is already available on their website. The legislation also restricts the default beverage served with children's meals to healthier options like milk or water.

Maddy summaryThis Assembly Resolution commemorates the 37th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between New Jersey and Taiwan and the 47th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act. It reiterates support for strengthening economic, educational, and scientific partnerships among the United States, New Jersey, and Taiwan. The resolution does not create new laws or policies but serves as a formal statement recognizing existing diplomatic and economic ties. It directs copies to state and local officials and representatives of Taiwan's economic and cultural office in New York.

Maddy summaryBill A 2733 requires emergency departments in New Jersey general hospitals to provide parents or guardians of children experiencing mental health crises with contact information for nearby county-based care management organizations (CMOs). These CMOs are defined as nonprofit groups offering in-person support for youth with complex needs and their families. The bill mandates that hospitals share this specific information during emergency visits, directly affecting parents/guardians, emergency departments, and CMOs. It takes effect 90 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A 3108 requires the Department of Agriculture to promote community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Within 180 days of enactment, the Department must create a public website listing all CSA farms and enabling online subscriptions, run statewide advertising campaigns highlighting CSA benefits, and develop promotional labels for CSA-marketed products (using "Jersey Fresh" branding where appropriate). The bill also establishes an annual "Community Supported Agriculture Week" in February to showcase local farm-to-table connections through events in schools, markets, and community venues. This directly affects New Jersey farms participating in CSAs and consumers seeking locally sourced seasonal food through subscription programs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A3256) requires restaurants to clearly disclose any mandatory gratuity fee to customers. It mandates that the fee be visible on menus, at the restaurant entrance, on the customer's bill, and on the restaurant's website. Restaurants that fail to disclose the fee face fines of $1,000 for the first violation, $2,500 for the second, and $5,000 for the third or subsequent offenses, with each day of violation counted separately. The law directly affects restaurants operating in New Jersey and ensures customers are informed about mandatory service charges before paying.

Maddy summaryThis bill would prohibit social media platforms from promoting content related to eating disorders - such as diet products, extreme weight loss practices, or harmful eating behaviors - to users under 18. Platforms must conduct quarterly internal audits and annual independent audits to ensure their algorithms or features don’t contribute to eating disorders in children, and fix any issues within 30 days if identified. Small platforms with less than $100 million in annual revenue are exempt from the audit requirements. The bill does not hold platforms liable for user-generated content unless the platform paid to promote it (e.g., via advertisements).

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill directs the Department of Human Services to create a public awareness campaign focused on Alzheimer's disease. The program would educate the general public on symptoms and early detection while providing specialized training for law enforcement, firefighters, and social workers to better assist affected individuals. Additionally, the department must publish easy-to-understand information about the disease in both English and Spanish on its website. The initiative relies on available state funds and may accept external grants or services to support its efforts.