Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Farm to School Local Food Procurement Reimbursement Grant Program to help school districts increase their sourcing of local foods for students. It appropriates $6,500,000 from the General Fund, with $5.5 million dedicated to grants and $1 million for administrative costs. Eligible school districts (those serving students eligible for subsidized meals) can apply for annual grants based on size: small districts (under 5,000 students) receive $10,000-$50,000, medium districts (5,000-10,000 students) get $20,000-$125,000, and large districts (10,000+ students) receive $44,000-$250,000. At least 80% of grant funds must reimburse costs for sourcing additional local foods, while up to 20% can cover equipment or staff training, with priority given to districts in food deserts or those sourcing from small/mid-sized farms.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires courts to inform victims and abusers about counseling services for children who were physically present during or witnessed domestic violence. It establishes a legal presumption that custody should be awarded to the domestic violence victim (the non-abusive parent) in appropriate cases. Courts can now order counseling for affected children as part of domestic violence protection orders. The bill also expands court authority to require psychological evaluations and other protective measures. These changes aim to better protect children and victims in domestic violence cases by addressing their specific needs.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey to disclose lead drinking water hazards to tenants before lease agreements, including information about lead service lines, building construction dates (pre-1986 properties may contain lead), and recent lead exceedance notices. Landlords must provide a standardized disclosure statement within 90 days of the bill's effective date, with exemptions for newer buildings (post-1986), lead-safe properties, and seasonal rentals. Tenants can request free lead testing from water systems, which must test annually upon request (or every 60 days if lead levels exceed standards), and landlords cannot obstruct replacement of lead service lines - tenants may terminate leases without penalty if obstruction occurs. Violations carry fines up to $1,000 for repeated non-compliance.

Maddy summaryThe "Motor Vehicle Open Recall Notice and Fair Compensation Act" (S 3309) requires used car dealers to check for open recalls on vehicles before sale using the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website and provide prospective buyers with printed recall information if any are found. Dealers cannot sell vehicles subject to stop-sale or do-not-drive notices issued by NHTSA. The bill mandates dealers to report vehicles with unresolved recalls (for which repairs remain uncompleted six months after initial notice) to the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission every 180 days, prompting the Commission to send notices directly to vehicle owners. For vehicles with unavailable parts for recalls, dealers receive monthly compensation equal to 1.75% of the vehicle's value until repairs are completed.

Maddy summaryS 4376 establishes a new Department of Veterans Affairs in New Jersey, creating a dedicated state agency focused exclusively on veterans' needs. The bill transfers all existing veterans' programs, services, and personnel from the current Department of Military and Veterans' Affairs to this new department. The new department will manage veterans' memorial homes, cemeteries, benefits programs, and other services, with a Commissioner who must be an honorably discharged veteran. This change makes New Jersey one of the few states without a separate department for veterans' affairs, aiming to provide more efficient and focused support for veterans.

Maddy summaryS 3944 allows New Jersey nonprofit theaters to obtain special alcohol licenses by clarifying that "disregarded entities" (like single-member LLCs treated as part of their parent nonprofit for tax purposes) qualify for these licenses. It applies to art-house movie theaters or performing arts venues with seating capacities of 50-1,000 people (for smaller venues) or 1,000+ people (for larger venues), operated by tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations. The license permits alcohol sales during specified times: two hours before, during, and two hours after performances (with a 15-performance annual limit for smaller venues). This change directly affects nonprofit theaters seeking to sell alcohol to support their operations, without counting toward other liquor license limits. The bill clarifies existing law to expand eligibility for these specialized licenses.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Next New Jersey Manufacturing Program, which provides tax credits to businesses that make significant investments in New Jersey manufacturing facilities. To qualify, businesses must invest at least $10 million in capital and create at least 20 new full-time jobs with median salaries at least 120% of local manufacturing averages. The tax credit amount is calculated as the lesser of 0.1% of capital investment multiplied by new jobs, 25% of capital investment, or $150 million, with $100 million reserved for clean energy manufacturers in the first two years. Businesses must maintain the jobs and investment for a specified period, and may forfeit credits if they fail to meet requirements.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3974 prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers from using deceptive marketing practices. The bill requires all advertising to include accurate, plain-language details about services, locations, and contact information (including phone numbers and addresses), and bans false claims about network status, geographic location, or affiliations with other providers without written consent. Violations carry civil penalties up to $20,000 per incident, and affected individuals may sue for triple damages plus attorney fees. This directly affects licensed treatment facilities, certified providers, and recovery residences offering substance use disorder services within the state.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Health Care for Child Care Program" to provide health insurance coverage for employees at licensed child care centers in New Jersey. It appropriates $10 million from the General Fund to create a dedicated fund that covers the full cost of gold-level health insurance (including prescription drugs) for eligible workers. To qualify, employees must work at least 30 hours per week and have been employed for a minimum of 90 days at a licensed center or registered family child care home. The state pays all premiums directly, eliminating costs for both employees and child care centers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Program to increase wages for early childhood educators working in licensed child care facilities across New Jersey. The program provides grant payments to child care providers to help them meet a new salary scale based on educators' degrees, experience, and job titles, aiming for pay parity with public school educators. To participate, facilities must enroll in New Jersey's quality rating system (Grow NJ Kids) and agree to pay educators at least the minimum salaries established by the program. The Department of Human Services will determine grant amounts using a formula that prioritizes facilities serving communities with limited economic resources. Funding for the program will come from a new Early Childhood Educator Pay Equity Fund, which can receive state appropriations and private contributions.