Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1683 requires the Department of Transportation (DOT) to create a program for building wildlife crossings - like tunnels, overpasses, or fenced pathways - on state roads. The DOT must prioritize projects on high-collision roads or those fragmenting habitats of threatened/endangered land animals, publishing this list within 12 months. Within 24 months, the DOT must begin constructing at least one priority project and continue until all listed projects are completed. The bill also mandates seeking federal grants (under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) and including annual funding requests for the program in future budgets.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1396) expands New Jersey's wrongful death law to allow family members to recover damages for mental anguish, emotional pain and suffering, loss of society, and loss of companionship following a death caused by another's wrongful act. It directly affects surviving family members - such as spouses, children, or parents - who currently could only seek compensation for financial losses like lost wages or medical expenses. The key change amends N.J.S.2A:31-5 to explicitly include these non-financial harms as recoverable damages in court. The bill applies to all cases arising after its effective date and is currently pending technical review.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2152) expands New Jersey’s existing pilot program to authorize grants for qualified nonprofit veterans’ organizations to purchase and rehabilitate abandoned homes specifically for homeless veterans. It requires veterans to be low-income or have a disability (or both), and grants up to $400,000 per organization annually must include a 50% matching contribution. The program allocates $1 million yearly for five years, prioritizing organizations serving high-need communities and requiring energy-efficient upgrades where cost savings exceed 10%. It directly affects homeless veterans (defined as living in shelters, motels, or unsafe conditions) and qualified 501(c)(3)/501(c)(19) veterans’ nonprofits statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Transit (NJT) to assess security at its rail stations and improve safety measures. Within 12 months, NJT must report to the governor and legislature on current security gaps, then begin implementing enhanced security screening and other measures within 18 months. NJT must submit updated security reports every five years detailing improvements, though these reports will not be made public. The bill directly affects NJT operations and commuter safety at all NJT rail stations.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A1133 bill standardizes rules for deploying small wireless facilities (like cell towers on street poles) across the state. It requires local authorities to allow wireless providers to install these facilities on existing poles without special zoning approval, with specific height limits (50 feet or 10% taller than surrounding structures), and sets maximum fees for deployment. The bill prevents local governments from creating exclusive contracts with wireless companies for pole space and establishes clear timelines for permit approvals (60 days for existing structures, 90 days for new poles). It also requires wireless providers to repair any damage to public rights-of-way and to notify authorities before removing facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the Commission on Human Trafficking’s existing duties to specifically address trafficking affecting women and children of color. It requires the commission to study racial disparities in trafficking vulnerability, identify prevention strategies for these groups, and improve support services for victims. The commission must then make legislative recommendations based on these findings. The bill does not create new programs but directs the existing commission to prioritize these issues in its annual work.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Corrections to provide family planning services to female inmates at least 10 days before their release from state correctional facilities. It amends existing law (P.L.2009, c.329) to add this requirement as a mandatory provision alongside other reentry support items like medical summaries, medication, and voting information. The bill directly affects female inmates in state prisons, ensuring they receive these services as part of their transition planning. The policy change is a specific addition to the existing "Fair Release and Reentry Act" requirements, with no additional funding or implementation details specified in the text.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Drinking Water Quality Institute to study how to regulate and treat perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water. The study must assess whether a single standard for all PFAS chemicals (or groups of them) would be feasible instead of individual standards for each substance, and evaluate treatment technologies to remove PFAS from water. The DEP must submit a report to the Legislature and publish it online within 24 months of the bill's enactment. This study aims to inform future regulatory decisions affecting public water systems and drinking water safety in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryAJR 64 designates November 22 of each year as "Kimchi Day" in New Jersey. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and residents to observe the day with cultural activities. It directly recognizes New Jersey's Korean-American community, which includes approximately 105,000 residents - especially in Bergen County - and celebrates kimchi's cultural significance. The bill has no regulatory effect; it is purely a symbolic observance honoring kimchi's heritage and health benefits as recognized by South Korea and the UN.

Maddy summaryThis bill strengthens the confidentiality of victims' locations in New Jersey for victims of stalking, domestic violence, assault, harassment, cyber-harassment, and sex offenses. It amends multiple statutes to require that victims' locations not appear on any law enforcement or court documents or records accessible to the defendant, without requiring a separate court order for this protection. The bill applies to both temporary and permanent restraining orders and clarifies that this confidentiality applies to all relevant documents, including those related to domestic violence cases. Victims of these specific crimes will no longer need to separately request location confidentiality, as it becomes automatically protected under the law. This change aims to prevent abusers from locating victims through official records while maintaining legal procedures for these cases.