Asm. Jessica Ramirez

Maddy summaryAJR 217 is a commemorative resolution designating April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in New Jersey. It honors Paul Robeson, a Rutgers University scholar, athlete, actor, singer, and civil rights activist born in Princeton, NJ, who broke racial barriers in the 1920s-1930s and advocated for global justice. The resolution requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation encouraging public observance of the day through activities and programs. As a procedural resolution, it does not create new laws or affect specific groups but formally commemorates Robeson's legacy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1992) would amend New Jersey's jury duty law to explicitly exempt nursing mothers from service. Specifically, it adds a new category allowing mothers of children under one year old who are nursing or expressing milk to claim an exemption without needing to prove broader hardship. Currently, such mothers might rely on general "care of a dependent" exemptions, but this bill clarifies and streamlines the process. The exemption applies during the first year of a child's life and aligns with state health initiatives supporting breastfeeding.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A861) makes it illegal for crisis pregnancy centers to use deceptive advertising about pregnancy-related services under New Jersey's Consumer Fraud Act. It targets nonprofit centers that provide non-medical counseling (like adoption referrals or parenting resources) but do not offer abortion or medical care, prohibiting them from making untrue or misleading claims about their services - such as falsely implying they provide medical exams or pregnancy testing. Violations could lead to penalties under the Consumer Fraud Act, and the Attorney General can seek court orders to stop deceptive ads or require corrective actions. The law directly affects crisis pregnancy centers and aims to ensure transparency for people seeking pregnancy-related information.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes New Jersey's property tax exemption for veterans with a 100% service-connected disability retroactive to the date the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determined their total disability. It directly affects veterans who qualify under the law (e.g., those with paraplegia, blindness, or amputations) by requiring municipalities to refund property taxes paid since that determination date. The state must reimburse municipalities 102% of the refunded taxes to cover the cost of returning payments to veterans.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's A3418 would join the Women's Reproductive Health Care Compact, a multi-state agreement to protect access to reproductive health services. The bill requires New Jersey to work with other member states to prevent legal actions against patients or providers (like extradition or license penalties), block disclosure of medical records related to care, and prohibit collecting data on patient locations or travel barriers (such as transportation costs). It directly affects residents seeking reproductive health services - especially those traveling from states with abortion restrictions - and healthcare providers in New Jersey. The compact would be enforced by state attorneys general, with residents able to sue if enforcement fails, while still respecting federal privacy laws like HIPAA.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a shared decision-making tool for maternity care hospitals and birthing centers. The tool, which facilities may use voluntarily, includes patient questionnaires, educational fact sheets on topics like labor support and procedure risks, and multimedia resources to help patients understand care options and create birth plans. A three-year pilot program will test the tool at selected facilities (with at least one per state region), collecting data on outcomes like induction rates, C-section procedures, and birth plan usage. Participating facilities must submit evaluation reports to the DOH, Governor, and Legislature within a year after the pilot ends, including recommendations for potential statewide use. The bill directly affects maternity care providers and patients receiving inpatient maternity services in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state-run insurance plan to provide coverage for New Jersey homeowners who cannot obtain standard homeowners insurance, with special focus on those facing flood risks. It requires all licensed insurers in New Jersey to participate in the plan and offer coverage as defined by the commissioner's rules. Key provisions include establishing fair pricing rules to ensure financial stability, prohibiting external subsidies for the plan, and allowing insurers to transfer applicants to other providers through a limited assignment system. The plan must be reported on annually to the legislature and governor, including actuarial reviews of its financial health.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey housing authorities and the Department of Community Affairs to allow nonviolent ex-offenders to temporarily live with family members in subsidized housing projects. It defines "nonviolent ex-offenders" as people recently released from prison (within 12 months) who have no convictions for violent crimes, meth production in housing, or sex offenses requiring lifetime registration. Housing authorities must permit this temporary stay (max 6 months) and cannot deny it based on the ex-offender's criminal record, aligning with existing Fair Chance in Housing protections. The policy applies to all subsidized housing projects, including those using federal Section 8 or state rental assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill provides corporation business and gross income tax credits to developers who build moderate-income housing projects in financially distressed municipalities. The credits cover up to 25% of construction costs or $1 million, whichever is less, for projects where at least 80% of units are reserved for households earning 50-80% of the area's median income. To qualify, projects must be located in municipalities identified as "distressed" (such as those under financial supervision or receiving special aid) and cannot include commercial space. Developers can apply directly for the credits or transfer them to other taxpayers who owe state taxes, with sales required to be at least 75% of the credit value.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Corrections (DOC) to study healthcare quality in state correctional facilities, directly affecting incarcerated people by examining their access to medical care. The study must evaluate response times for health-related requests, frequency of medical staff visits for pain/illness management, and identify gaps in services across all facilities. DOC must complete the study within one year and submit a report with findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature. The legislation mandates concrete data collection on care access without proposing immediate policy changes.