Asm. Shama Haider

Maddy summaryThis bill requires motor vehicle inspection facilities and the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to notify owners about active safety recalls during vehicle inspections and registration. It mandates that owners must have all open recalls repaired before their next registration renewal, with the MVC denying renewal applications for unaddressed recalls. The MVC must extend registration for up to six months if repair parts are unavailable or if the owner faces hardship beyond their control. The bill does not include manufacturer fee requirements in its detailed provisions, though the title mentions this; the focus is solely on notification and repair compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill would raise the minimum age to obtain a firearms purchaser identification card (required for purchasing rifles and shotguns) from 18 to 21 years old. It would not affect the existing requirement that handgun purchasers must be at least 21 years old. Under the bill, people under 21 could still possess firearms for specific purposes like hunting with a valid license and safety certification, military training, or target practice under supervision. Active duty military members, reservists, and National Guard members would remain eligible for the card before age 21. Those who already had the card before the bill's effective date could continue to use it.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and South Jersey Transportation Authority to install at least one hydrogen refueling station at every service area on their respective toll roads (Garden State Parkway, Turnpike, and Atlantic City Expressway) within two years. It defines hydrogen refueling stations as facilities providing hydrogen fuel for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, which produce only water vapor as emissions. Authorities must recover installation and operational costs from users based on their usage, not from general taxpayers. The policy directly affects drivers of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by expanding refueling access along major state toll routes.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's bias intimidation law by adding computer criminal activity, initiating false alarms, and cyber-harassment to the list of offenses that qualify as bias intimidation. It removes an unconstitutional provision from current law that was struck down by the New Jersey Supreme Court in State v. Pomianek. The bill establishes additional penalties for bias intimidation convictions, ranging from $250 to $2,000 depending on the severity, with these funds going to a new "Bias Crime Prevention Fund" to support investigations, community response, and educational programs about bias crimes. It also creates a mechanism for victims to receive treble compensatory damages if they prove harm was caused by bias intimidation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires manufacturers distributing personal audio players (like headphones or portable speakers) in New Jersey to affix a specific warning label stating: "WARNING: This product may cause hearing damage. A volume level of 115 decibels may cause permanent hearing damage after 15 minutes of exposure." It directly affects manufacturers importing or selling such devices in the state, defining "personal audio players" as mobile electronic devices for audio listening. Violations carry a $5,000 civil penalty per offense, enforceable by the Attorney General. The law takes effect seven months after enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases financial aid to New Jersey municipalities from the Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Fund over two years, restoring approximately $331 million in reduced aid payments that municipalities received during fiscal years 2009-2011. In fiscal year 2023, municipalities will receive 50% of the difference between their 2008 and 2012 aid distributions, with full restoration beginning in 2024. Municipalities must subtract any additional aid received from their property tax levy calculations and cannot anticipate this aid when creating annual budgets. The bill requires municipalities to amend their budgets to properly reflect the total aid amount, ensuring the aid directly reduces the amount they need to raise through property taxes.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey registrars to issue certified electronic copies of vital records - including birth, death, marriage, civil union, and domestic partnership certificates - alongside paper copies upon request. It requires the Commissioner of Health to establish security standards for electronic copies, including identity verification, data encryption, and privacy protections. The change applies to authorized requesters (such as individuals, family members, or government agencies) who already qualify for paper certified copies under current law. Electronic copies must be distinguishable from non-certified informational versions and maintain the same authentication requirements as paper records.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits the manufacture, sale, and promotion of consumer products containing tiny plastic beads (microbeads), with the full ban taking effect on January 1, 2022. It expands existing law - which only banned microbeads in personal care products like face scrubs - to cover all consumer products, including household cleaners and other items designed for personal care or household use. The bill defines "consumer products" as items intended to be consumed or expended during use, such as exfoliating scrubs or toothpaste. The prohibition phases in over time, banning personal care product manufacturing in 2018 (except for over-the-counter drugs), with all products fully banned by 2022.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2080) requires New Jersey colleges and universities to place automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) in every athletic facility and student center. The AEDs must be in unlocked, accessible locations with clear signage during normal operating hours, near athletic fields. Institutions must ensure at least two staff members are trained in CPR and AED use during operations, and regularly maintain the devices while notifying emergency services of their location and type. The bill also grants legal immunity to institutions and staff using the AEDs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Student Loan Assistance and Home Purchase Act," creating a program that allows residents with student loan debt to incorporate their education-related debt into a home loan when purchasing a first home. Eligible properties are foreclosed single-family homes in near move-in condition, evaluated on cleanliness, structural integrity, maintenance costs, location, and habitability. Participants must live in the purchased home as their primary residence for at least five years, with penalties for early relocation. The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency will administer the program, setting eligibility rules, interest rates, and fees through regulations.