Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey students receiving tuition aid grants (TAG) or opportunity grants (EOF) to use a portion of their award for summer courses that count toward graduation or their major. Students must notify the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) or the Secretary of Higher Education before the academic year begins, and their regular academic-year disbursement will be reduced by the summer amount. Institutions must annually report how many students used summer grants and their graduation rates within standard timeframes. The bill does not extend grant eligibility periods but provides flexibility for students to advance their degrees during summer sessions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey school districts with high schools to establish formal agreements with public colleges or universities allowing high school students to take college courses for credit. It mandates that these agreements include specific details like course offerings, eligibility rules (ensuring no student is excluded due to cost), and requirements that courses taught at high schools match the rigor of those on college campuses. The law applies directly to school districts and public higher education institutions (excluding those with minimum 21-year enrollment policies). These agreements must outline how students and parents learn about the program and participate.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2958) would require New Jersey's Commissioner of Human Services to request federal authorization allowing SNAP (food stamp) benefits to cover delivery fees for online grocery orders. Currently, SNAP funds cannot pay for delivery charges, even though New Jersey participates in a USDA pilot program enabling online grocery purchases through retailers like Amazon and 17 participating stores. The bill directly affects SNAP recipients who use online grocery delivery services, as it seeks to expand their benefit usage to include delivery fees. The request would be made to the USDA's Food and Nutrition Service, which administers the federal SNAP program.

Maddy summaryAJR 68 designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey, honoring the birthday of Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, a Black inventor who patented a sanitary belt in 1957. The resolution asks the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials, organizations, and citizens to observe the day through awareness activities. It aims to recognize Kenner's overlooked contributions to menstrual hygiene and align with global efforts to address period poverty and stigma. The bill does not create new laws or funding but formally designates an annual observance day.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill prohibits the sale, manufacture, distribution, and use of firefighting foam containing PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) after two years, with limited exceptions for certain facilities. It allows oil refineries and petroleum terminals to continue using PFAS-containing foam for up to eight years, with potential extensions through a waiver process requiring proof of no available alternatives. The bill requires manufacturers to recall PFAS-containing foam within 27 months and directs the Department of Environmental Protection to establish a collection and disposal program for such foam, appropriating $250,000 for initial funding. Fire departments and facilities using PFAS-containing foam must report usage and implement containment measures to prevent environmental releases. The law aims to protect public health and the environment from PFAS contamination while providing a transition period for essential facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill revises New Jersey's alcoholic beverage licensing laws to provide new opportunities for craft beverage manufacturers and streamline retail licensing. It allows limited brewery, winery, distillery, and cidery license holders to sell food, operate restaurants, coordinate with food vendors, and host unlimited events on and off their premises, removing the previous requirement for customers to take a tour to purchase on-site beverages. The bill also gradually eliminates population-based restrictions on new plenary retail consumption licenses (bars/restaurants), reducing the limit from 1 license per 3,000 residents to no limit after 2029. Additionally, it provides tax credits of $30,000 to $50,000 for existing plenary retail license holders based on their taxable sales volume over the previous three years. These changes aim to support New Jersey's alcohol industry by expanding business options and reducing regulatory barriers.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers to label non-flushable disposable wipes (such as those for diapering, personal hygiene, or bathroom cleaning) with a standardized "Do Not Flush" logo on product packaging. The logo must clearly show a toilet with a prohibition symbol and be sized appropriately for the package, visible when dispensing wipes. It applies to sellers and manufacturers of these wipes but excludes flushable products (like labeled toilet tissue) and media advertisements. Violations could result in civil penalties of up to $5,000 per offense, enforced by New Jersey's Environmental Protection and Consumer Affairs agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a "Resiliency and Environmental System Investment Charge Program" (RESIC) that allows New Jersey water and wastewater utilities to recover costs for certain environmental and resiliency investments through a surcharge on customer bills. Utilities must get approval from the Board of Public Utilities for specific projects that enhance system resiliency, environmental compliance, or public health, with costs limited to non-revenue producing infrastructure. The surcharge would appear as a separate line item on customer bills, with total recovery capped at 5% of the utility's annual revenue. Utilities must file detailed reports with the Board semi-annually to track project costs and recovery amounts, and the program applies to both investor-owned and certain municipal utilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to require that all new buildings be designed to accommodate future solar panel installation ("solar ready"). It defines "solar ready" as including structural elements for rooftop solar panels and optional solar water heating systems. Municipalities would enforce this through building permits, requiring construction plans to include these solar-ready features before permits are approved. The law directly affects developers and builders of new structures in participating municipalities, enabling easier future solar adoption without mandating immediate installation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Human Services (DHS) to publish an online guide for facilities seeking licensure as integrated care providers. The guide must detail the specific rules and steps needed for facilities - such as mental health centers, substance use treatment programs, and primary care clinics - to meet licensing requirements for integrated health services, which coordinate general and behavioral health care. It also mandates that the guide include clear contact information for DOH and DHS staff who can answer facility questions. The guide must be written in plain language and structured for easy understanding by providers.