Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit for New Jersey residents who make extra principal payments on their primary home mortgages beyond required monthly payments. The credit covers 50% of these extra payments, up to $1,000 annually, but phases out for higher earners: single filers with income between $125,000-$135,000 and married couples filing jointly with income between $250,000-$270,000. To qualify, mortgages must be for a primary residence, have a 15-30 year term, and require equal monthly payments (a "traditional mortgage"). The credit can be claimed for up to 10 consecutive years.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Assembly Bill A513 would provide tuition-free classroom training for eligible apprentices in registered apprenticeship programs. It directly affects low-income individuals whose household income is below New Jersey's median (determined by U.S. Census data), who are enrolled in apprenticeships and meet specific criteria: their employer doesn't cover tuition, they've exhausted federal aid, and they maintain active apprenticeship employment with good academic standing. The bill requires public colleges and vocational schools to waive tuition for these courses, funded through existing state workforce development funds or Wagner-Peyser Act dollars. This policy change aims to reduce financial barriers for apprentices pursuing vocational training.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid and NJ FamilyCare programs to cover specific nutrition services for enrollees with certain diet-related health conditions. It mandates coverage for up to 10 ready-to-eat meals per week for conditions like heart failure, type 2 diabetes, COPD, or kidney disease; enough grocery items for 14 meals per week for type 2 diabetes or obesity; $25+ weekly food vouchers for pre-diabetes, overweight, or high blood pressure; and medical nutrition counseling for diabetes or kidney disease. All services must be prescribed by a healthcare provider and designed by a dietitian or nutritionist as part of a treatment plan, with the state seeking federal approval to implement these changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires every New Jersey county to install at least one drive-up ballot drop box at a location designed for accessibility (with features like turning radius, curb cuts, and handicap parking). It mandates that all ballot drop boxes be clearly marked as "Official Ballot Drop Box" and display specific information in required languages, including tampering penalties, a voter hotline, "no postage needed" notice, county-specific ballot acceptance rules, and the 8:00 p.m. Election Day deadline. The bill also requires counties to post electioneering restrictions (no political activity within 100 feet) and ensures compliance with accessibility standards. These changes apply directly to county election boards, affecting how voters deposit mail-in ballots statewide.

Maddy summaryAJR 109 establishes a "Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizen Transportation Services Task Force" in New Jersey to study and improve transportation services for these groups. The 7-member task force includes agency commissioners (Transportation, Human Services, and Transit) and appointed advocates for disabilities and senior citizens. It must examine specific issues like mobility barriers, infrastructure coordination, independent travel training, real-time transit technology, and automated vehicle accessibility over 18 months. The task force will submit a final report with recommendations to the Governor and Legislature before dissolving.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3428) expands New Jersey's child tax credit to include children aged six to 11, in addition to existing coverage for children under six. It increases the credit amount for all children under 12 over a two-year period: for 2023-2024, families with children aged six to 11 receive $500 (up to $30,000 income) or less at higher income levels, with the credit rising to $600 for 2025 and beyond. The credit phases out completely for taxpayers earning over $80,000 annually, regardless of filing status. It directly affects New Jersey taxpayers with children aged six to 11 who file state income taxes and earn under $80,000.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Human Services, in collaboration with the Department of Health, to create a public awareness campaign about period poverty. The campaign must provide clear information on the definition, causes, and scale of period poverty (a lack of access to menstrual products, education, and sanitation) in New Jersey and the U.S., along with practical solutions. It mandates developing multilingual educational materials (including English and Spanish) and distributing them through state websites, health clinics, libraries, and community organizations. The departments must also report annually on campaign activities and results to the Governor and Legislature starting 24 months after the bill takes effect.

Maddy summaryBill A3077 allows EMTs certified in other states to obtain New Jersey certification if their state's standards are equivalent or better and they pass a background check. It requires all EMT applicants and renewing EMTs to undergo a criminal history background check, with follow-up checks every three years for recertification. The bill disqualifies applicants with certain criminal convictions, including violent crimes and Megan's Law sex offenses (which automatically disqualify), and may require applicants to pay for the background check.

Maddy summaryThis bill adds two student representatives to Rutgers University's Board of Governors. It requires the board to hold a public hearing within 90 days of the bill's effective date to decide how students will elect these representatives - either by the entire student body or through the student government association. The student representatives must be full-time, matriculated students in good academic standing, aged 18+ and U.S. citizens. For the first election, one student serves a one-year term as a voting member, while the second serves a two-year term starting as an alternate before becoming a voting member. Subsequent elections follow the same two-year term structure with the initial year as an alternate.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits pharmacists from substituting any prescribed anti-epileptic drug (brand or generic) for seizure treatment without first obtaining written consent from both the prescribing physician and the patient (or their parent/guardian/spouse). It directly affects epilepsy patients and their healthcare providers by requiring explicit agreement before any medication change. The key mechanism mandates prior notification and signed consent for substitutions, addressing risks that small formulation differences can cause dangerous toxicity or seizure recurrence. The bill aims to ensure medication stability for a condition where precise dosing is critical, as noted in its rationale.