Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits force-feeding geese, ducks, or other poultry using tubes or apparatus to produce foie gras, except when done to improve a bird's health. It also bans selling or distributing foie gras unless the product originates from a state or jurisdiction that already prohibits force-feeding. Violations result in a written warning for first offenses, followed by $100 civil penalties for repeat violations (with each day of ongoing violation counted separately). The law takes effect 60 days after enactment.

Maddy summaryBill A4163 requires health insurers in New Jersey to cover biomarker testing for diagnosis, treatment, management, or ongoing monitoring of diseases when supported by medical evidence such as FDA approvals, drug labels, or clinical guidelines. The bill applies to all health insurance plans including individual, group, Medicaid, and health maintenance organization contracts. Insurers must provide coverage without causing unnecessary disruption (like multiple biopsies) and must make prior authorization decisions within 24 hours for urgent requests or 72 hours for non-urgent requests. This ensures patients can access precision medical testing that's clinically supported without excessive administrative barriers.

Maddy summaryAJR 166 is a New Jersey legislative resolution urging the U.S. Congress to advance the creation of a National Museum of the American Latino. Introduced by Assembly members Rodriguez, Collazos-Gill, and Quijano, it calls for Congress to reinstate a 2008 commission and establish the museum as part of the Smithsonian Institution on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., while directing copies to federal leaders and New Jersey's congressional delegation.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires all health insurance plans to cover diagnostic and supplemental breast examinations without cost-sharing (such as deductibles or copays). It applies to all insurance plans, including employer-sponsored coverage, health maintenance organizations, and state employee health programs. Diagnostic exams evaluate abnormalities found during screening or detected through other means, while supplemental exams are used for screening when no abnormality is present but risk factors like family history or dense breast tissue exist. The bill mandates coverage for these exams under the same terms as other medical conditions, following National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans and Medicaid in New Jersey to cover treatment for stuttering, including habilitative and rehabilitative speech therapy as determined medically necessary by a patient's doctor. The coverage must be provided without prior authorization, utilization management requirements, or any cost-sharing such as deductibles, copays, or coinsurance. It applies to all insurance types including individual and group health plans, health maintenance organizations, and Medicaid, and covers both in-person and telehealth services. The bill defines habilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps a person keep, learn, or improve daily living skills, and rehabilitative speech therapy as therapy that helps restore or improve skills that have been lost or impaired. This legislation would directly affect individuals with stuttering who rely on insurance or Medicaid for speech therapy services.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Midwifery Licensing Act, establishing a new State Board of Midwifery to regulate midwifery practice in New Jersey, replacing the current system where midwifery was regulated by the State Board of Medical Examiners. The new board, consisting of 11 members including seven midwives, will handle licensure, set qualifications, and oversee continuing education requirements, including mandatory training on implicit and explicit bias. The bill authorizes certified midwives to prescribe medications after completing pharmacology training and requires health insurance providers to cover home births when approved. Existing midwives licensed under previous regulations will transition to the new system without needing to reapply.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3540 establishes criminal penalties for creating or sharing deceptive audio or visual media (commonly called "deepfakes") that falsely depict someone doing something they didn't actually do. It makes it a crime to produce such media for unlawful purposes (like harassment, theft, or privacy violations) or to share it without clearly labeling it as fake. Individuals harmed by these deepfakes can sue for $1,000 per violation plus damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. The law exempts news media from penalties unless they knowingly share unmarked fake content created in violation of the bill.

Maddy summaryS 3587 upgrades retail theft offenses in New Jersey, including elevating "leader of organized retail theft enterprise" to a first-degree crime punishable by 10-20 years in prison. The bill creates a new offense for "fostering the sale of stolen property" (including online sales), which is a disorderly persons offense punishable by up to six months in jail. It establishes a retail theft unit within the Department of Law and Public Safety to investigate and prosecute organized retail theft, appropriating $1 million for this purpose. The bill also includes new requirements for gift card sales to prevent fraud, such as mandatory notices for retailers and packaging restrictions for both open- and closed-loop gift cards.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3418 would join the Women's Reproductive Health Care Compact, a multi-state agreement to protect access to reproductive health services. The bill requires New Jersey to work with other member states to prevent legal actions against patients or providers (like extradition or license penalties), block disclosure of medical records related to care, and prohibit collecting data on patient locations or travel barriers (such as transportation costs). It directly affects residents seeking reproductive health services - especially those traveling from states with abortion restrictions - and healthcare providers in New Jersey. The compact would be enforced by state attorneys general, with residents able to sue if enforcement fails, while still respecting federal privacy laws like HIPAA.

Maddy summaryThe Healthy Smiles Act (A5471) increases NJ FamilyCare's fee-for-service reimbursement rates for pediatric dental services by 20% starting July 1, 2025, and requires managed care organizations to pay providers at least the same rate for identical services. It mandates annual adjustments to these rates based on the Northeast region's Consumer Price Index, beginning one year after implementation. The bill directly affects dental care providers serving NJ FamilyCare children under 21 and aims to improve access to dental care for low-income children, addressing historically low reimbursement rates that have been unchanged since 2007. Non-compliant managed care organizations face daily civil penalties of up to $10,000 for paying below the required rate.