Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5357) establishes a voluntary program for New Jersey commercial farms to safely collect, transport, and dispose of unused pesticides, fertilizers containing pesticides, and pesticide containers. The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must create collection sites across the state (with at least one in each major region), host at least two collection events yearly per site, and contract with qualified entities for safe disposal and recycling. The Department of Agriculture will run a public education campaign to inform farmers about collection locations, accepted materials, program benefits, and environmental advantages, with all information posted online. Participation is optional for farms, and the program requires compliance with existing pesticide disposal laws.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-run insurance plan to provide coverage for New Jersey homeowners who cannot obtain standard homeowners insurance, with special focus on those facing flood risks. It requires all licensed insurers in New Jersey to participate in the plan and offer coverage as defined by the commissioner's rules. Key provisions include establishing fair pricing rules to ensure financial stability, prohibiting external subsidies for the plan, and allowing insurers to transfer applicants to other providers through a limited assignment system. The plan must be reported on annually to the legislature and governor, including actuarial reviews of its financial health.

Maddy summaryThis bill would provide property tax rebates to New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities. Eligible veterans would receive a rebate equal to their disability percentage of the property taxes paid on their primary residence, with the rebate capped at $5,000 annually. The program is limited to veterans with gross income under $200,000 and does not apply to veterans already exempt from property taxes due to 100% disability ratings. Veterans would need to apply annually for the rebate, and funding would depend on annual legislative appropriations. The bill specifically targets veterans with less than 100% service-connected disability ratings who currently pay property taxes on their primary residence.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Children's System of Care (DCSOC) to change how family support and respite care services are provided to individuals under 21 with developmental disabilities. It establishes a 12-month authorization period for services (replacing the current 90-day renewal), ensures families receive a dedicated "bank" of respite care hours separate from other support hours, and replaces annual reapplications with an annual reevaluation of service needs. The bill specifically covers three respite care types: agency-hired (worker employed by contracted agency), agency-weekend (weekend services outside home), and self-hired (family hires and pays for care). It prohibits reducing existing respite care hours during the 12-month period.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A5441 bill requires the Department of Human Services to reformat the MyNJHelps website into a single, centralized online platform for all state public assistance programs. This would allow low-income residents to apply for and track the status of programs like food assistance (SNAP), healthcare (NJFamilyCare), cash aid, child care, housing, and utility help through one website and a single application form. The bill mandates that the platform must provide state agencies with shared access to applicant information for eligibility decisions while keeping each program's administering agency unchanged. The reform must be completed within one year of the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThe "Climate Superfund Act" would hold fossil fuel companies liable for climate change damages by requiring them to pay compensatory payments based on their historical greenhouse gas emissions. It targets companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels and are responsible for over one billion metric tons of emissions between 1995 and the bill's effective date. The bill establishes a program through New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection to collect these payments and distribute funds for climate adaptation projects, such as flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would pay their proportional share of damages over nine years, with options for installment payments, and the collected funds would specifically support projects that help communities prepare for climate impacts.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3700 establishes a voluntary, three-year pilot program to provide Medicaid coverage for remote maternal health services to eligible pregnant beneficiaries. The program covers remote patient monitoring (like tracking blood pressure or glucose), remote non-stress tests, and tele-ultrasound, using FDA-approved, HIPAA-compliant technology. It targets pregnant Medicaid beneficiaries who: (1) have high-risk pregnancies due to medical conditions, age, or lifestyle factors; (2) live in areas with few obstetric providers; or (3) face socioeconomic barriers like transportation issues. Participation requires a health care provider referral and is contingent on federal approval of Medicaid waivers. The program aims to expand access to maternal care in underserved communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's "Nosey's Law" to prohibit the use of rabbits, hares, rodents, and other wild or exotic animals in traveling animal acts - such as mobile circus performances or carnival shows. It removes current exemptions for domestic animals (like cattle, horses, and dogs) from the prohibited list and narrows exceptions to apply only to educational institutions conducting outreach programs. The law affects businesses operating mobile animal entertainment shows, making it illegal to transport or use these animals in performances requiring mobile housing facilities. Exceptions for educational or research purposes now apply solely to schools or affiliated institutions, not general venues.

Maddy summaryThis bill would extend New Jersey's early voting period for primary elections to begin 11 days before the election (up from 4 days for non-presidential primaries and 6 days for presidential primaries), ending on the second day before the election. It would require county boards of elections to designate public locations for early voting based on population size, with specific requirements for accessibility and security of ballots. The bill specifies that early voting would occur Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 8 PM and Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM at designated locations. The bill appropriates $6 million to support these changes, which would affect all registered voters participating in primary elections in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 5303) requires New Jersey's Attorney General to review and update the statewide policy for investigating human trafficking. It directs the AG to specifically consider: (1) using audio/video recordings in undercover operations to protect investigations and victims, (2) strict rules for sharing such recordings, (3) involving county prosecutors early in investigations, and (4) other relevant areas. The review responds to a 2024 Commission report on human trafficking in the massage industry. This policy update will affect law enforcement agencies conducting human trafficking investigations statewide.