Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill allows police officers to be present at senior residential centers or public schools serving as polling places when requested by the facility, provided officers wear plain clothes and do not interfere with voters. It requires schools to develop security plans that include a locked, separate voting area to prevent voter-student interaction during elections if the school is in session. Schools must notify the district board at least seven days before an election, triggering a chain of notifications to county election officials and the Secretary of State. The Department of Education and Secretary of State must immediately inform schools of the security plan requirement after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3884) would reform New Jersey Transit (NJT) by creating an Office of Customer Advocate to represent riders' interests and increase transparency around NJT's operations. It requires NJT to hold more public hearings on capital projects and provide greater detail in annual capital program reports, including specific project locations and costs. The bill also changes NJT's board composition to increase independence by requiring more non-political members and creating passenger advisory committees for North and South Jersey. These changes aim to make NJT more accountable to the public it serves through improved oversight and customer representation.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the requirement that New Jersey child care subsidy payments for licensed centers and registered family day care providers be based on the number of enrolled eligible children (not attendance) through June 30, 2025. It directly affects child care providers who receive state subsidies, requiring them to calculate staff wages and hours based on enrollment numbers rather than attendance. The law also mandates that the Division of Family Development study the cost differences between enrollment-based and attendance-based payments and report findings to the Governor and Legislature within three years. This extension provides stability for providers while ensuring subsidy calculations align with enrollment data.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows students at New Jersey's public colleges and universities to voluntarily donate unused meal plan funds at the end of a semester to a new state Emergency Meal Fund. The fund, created in the Department of State, will transfer all donations directly to the New Jersey Federation of Food Banks for distribution to local food banks statewide. Public institutions must establish clear procedures to verify unused meal plan balances (including both cash and unused meal points) and facilitate these donations. The policy applies to all public higher education institutions offering meal plans and takes effect for the first full academic year after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a $1 million pilot program through New Jersey's Office of Planning Advocacy to reimburse municipalities for specific costs related to warehouse development planning. It directly affects local governments that update zoning ordinances or conduct mitigation studies for warehouse projects, requiring them to adopt warehouse-specific zoning consistent with state guidelines. Municipalities can apply for reimbursement for expenses like reexamining master plans or studying impacts of pending warehouse sites, with priority given to those needing financial assistance most. The program expires after the Office submits a report on its effectiveness, detailing how the funds were used and whether it should become permanent.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and state developmental/psychiatric facilities in New Jersey. It requires specific ratios (such as 1 nurse for every 4 medical/surgical patients, 1 nurse for every 2 critical care patients, and 1 unlicensed personnel for every 7 daytime patients) while mandating hospitals to implement an acuity-based staffing system to ensure adequate staffing levels. Hospitals found in violation may face civil penalties that increase with repeat offenses, with penalty revenue funding a dedicated "Patient Protection and Staffing Fund" to support nursing recruitment, retention, education, and inspector staffing. The bill also requires the Commissioner of Human Services to review staffing standards in developmental centers and psychiatric hospitals to align with these new requirements.

Maddy summaryThis bill appropriates $70 million in federal pandemic recovery funds to New Jersey's Economic Development Authority (EDA) to support arts and culture organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The EDA, in consultation with the State Council on the Arts, will distribute $50 million in grants for financial recovery (including $10 million specifically for arts education programs in schools and after-school settings) and $20 million for placemaking projects like public art installations, park beautification, and educational signage. Qualifying organizations - covering both non-profits and for-profit businesses - can use funds to offset pandemic-related revenue losses or build cash reserves for future disruptions. The funding comes directly from New Jersey's allocation of the federal Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund established under the American Rescue Plan Act.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey to issue special license plates for registered nurses, featuring the caduceus symbol and the words "Registered Nurse." It requires a $50 one-time application fee and a $10 annual renewal fee, in addition to standard vehicle registration costs. The program cannot begin until the state budget director identifies funding for initial costs, and the bill expires if funding isn't secured within 12 months of enactment. Only registered nurses who own or lease vehicles registered in New Jersey would be eligible for these plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill would extend New Jersey's Medicaid coverage (New Jersey FamilyCare) to individuals who were formerly in foster care under another state's responsibility when they reached the age at which that state terminates foster care assistance under federal law. It would allow these individuals to receive comprehensive Medicaid benefits up to age 26, without income or resource restrictions. The bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services to apply for federal Section 1115 demonstration authority to implement this coverage. This aligns with federal law added by the Affordable Care Act that mandates states to provide Medicaid coverage to former foster youth who aged out of foster care systems. New Jersey would join 11 other states that have implemented similar programs for this population.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey employers with 10 or more employees to include specific compensation details in all job postings. Employers must disclose the minimum and maximum salary range, supplemental pay, benefits (like paid leave, health/dental plans), and retirement options. The rule applies to all public and private employers in the state, including job postings on third-party platforms like LinkedIn. Violations result in escalating civil penalties, starting at $1,000 for the first offense, enforced by the Commissioner of Labor.