Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill allows state employees who were temporarily working at New Jersey psychiatric hospitals or correctional facilities before joining the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) to apply for accidental disability benefits if injured during that temporary employment. It deems injuries sustained while performing duties (e.g., as nurses, correction officers, or healthcare workers) at those facilities as occurring "during membership" for PERS benefit eligibility, even if the injury happened before PERS enrollment. The change applies retroactively to January 1, 2003, and covers employees who later become PERS members without interruption in their job. This specifically affects temporary workers in state psychiatric or correctional facilities who were previously ineligible for PERS disability benefits after becoming members.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Open Public Records Act (OPRA) to explicitly require that email addresses be redacted from public records when released under the law. It adds "email address" to the existing list of confidential personal information, such as social security numbers and driver license numbers, that must be removed from disclosed records. This change protects individuals' personal contact details from public disclosure, ensuring email addresses are treated like other sensitive identifiers. Government agencies must now consistently redact email addresses in all public records they release under OPRA.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Chief Diversity Officer to conduct a study examining whether disparities exist in the use of minority-owned and women-owned businesses when state agencies purchase goods and services. The study will assess if these businesses are utilized at rates matching their availability in the market, focusing on all state agencies, including departments, commissions, and independent authorities. After completing the study, the officer must submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature to promote greater opportunities for these businesses in state procurement. The officer will also submit follow-up reports every four years to evaluate progress on prior recommendations and request funding for future studies if needed.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3149) requires landlords of senior citizen housing projects to maintain a minimum indoor temperature of 70°F in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and water closets from October 1 to May 1 each year. It directly affects landlords managing housing complexes with three or more units exclusively occupied by seniors aged 62 or older. The law specifies temperature must be measured at least one foot from surfaces at the coldest point of regularly used spaces. This raises the current standard under state housing rules, which requires 68°F during most hours of the day in similar dwellings.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's criminal mischief statute (N.J.S.2C:17-3) to specifically address damage to historical sites. It defines a "historic place or site" as a location approved for the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, identified in local master plans as historically significant, or officially recognized by state criteria. Knowingly damaging, interfering with, or tampering with such a site is now classified as a third-degree crime, punishable by up to 5 years in prison, a $15,000 fine, or both. The law directly affects individuals who intentionally harm protected historical properties, including buildings, monuments, or structures meeting the defined criteria.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a Military Suicide Prevention Task Force within New Jersey's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs and Department of Human Services. The task force, made up of 17 members including veterans, mental health experts, and state agency representatives, will focus on reducing and eliminating suicides among active duty military members and veterans. It will identify key issues, review current services, examine suicide prevention data, and recommend evidence-based strategies and potential legislation. The task force must submit biannual reports to the Governor and Legislature with findings and concrete recommendations for improving mental health support and crisis resources.

Maddy summaryACR 67 is a New Jersey legislative resolution that formally condemns all forms of anti-Semitism and rejects efforts to justify anti-Jewish hatred. It references rising anti-Semitic incidents, including the 2018 Pittsburgh synagogue attack and New Jersey’s ranking as third-highest in the U.S. for such incidents that year. The resolution urges vigilance against hate crimes, supports Holocaust education, and calls for state leaders to join national efforts against anti-Semitism. As a symbolic measure, it has no binding legal effect but expresses the state legislature’s position on the issue.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey county health departments to maintain a reserve stock of opioid antidotes (such as naloxone) to ensure continuous availability for specific entities. County health departments must keep enough opioid antidotes to provide interim supplies to law enforcement agencies, emergency medical response entities, schools, and hospital pharmacies when they anticipate running out of their own supply. Entities requesting interim supplies must reimburse the county health department for actual acquisition and delivery costs. The bill allows county health departments to form shared service agreements to purchase opioid antidotes at discounted rates and minimize delivery costs, facilitating implementation of this requirement.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create a rebate program for residents purchasing microfiber washing machine filters. It appropriates $2.5 million to cover rebates of up to $100 per filter (capped at the filter's cost), helping residents offset the expense of devices that capture microfibers from laundry wastewater before they enter waterways. The DEP must determine eligible filters, manage applications, and report annually on program effectiveness, including rebates issued and pollution reduction impact. The program aims to reduce microfiber pollution - a major source of plastic contamination in waterways - by encouraging filter adoption.

Maddy summaryThis bill transfers administration of all school meal programs in New Jersey from the Department of Agriculture to the Department of Education. It covers programs including the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Summer Food Service Program, and emergency meal distributions, which provide nutritious meals to students and children in childcare settings. The transfer includes all related functions, funding, staff, records, and existing rules (which remain in effect until replaced by the Department of Education). The change aims to align program management with the Department of Education’s mission of supporting student academic success through school-based services.