Asm. Jessica Ramirez

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in New Jersey to be enrolled in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) instead of the current Defined Contribution Retirement Program (DCRP). ALJs currently enrolled in DCRP would be transferred to the Workers Compensation and Administrative Law Judges Part of PERS within 90 days of the bill's effective date, with their retirement accounts and service credit transferred as well. The State General Fund would cover the unfunded liability for benefits related to this transfer. This change would bring ALJs under the same retirement system as Workers Compensation Judges, who have been in this specific PERS part since 2001.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the AI and Labor Market Study Commission to examine how artificial intelligence affects New Jersey's workforce. The commission, composed of 11 members including state officials and private experts (with at least four having AI expertise), will identify jobs at risk of displacement, develop worker transition programs, and recommend policies. It creates a Job Transition Fund - initially funded by existing state job training money - to support displaced workers through education, training, and job placement services. The commission must report findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature at least twice yearly.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation to create a recycling program for road sign posts that have been unused for at least 12 months. The program mandates identifying and inventorying unused posts, setting up municipal collection points, coordinating with recyclers, and tracking how many posts are diverted from landfills. It also requires the department to use recycled materials to make new signs and report annually on program results, including recycled volumes and benefits. The bill directly affects the Department of Transportation and local municipalities managing road infrastructure. It takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Transportation (DOT) to launch two five-year pilot programs in Jersey City, Camden, and Atlantic City: a highway litter mitigation program and a flood mitigation program. The litter program mandates quarterly cleanup of trash, graffiti, and sewage blockages on state highways, while the flood program identifies and addresses flood-prone roads through temporary solutions and drainage improvements. The state appropriates $1 million total ($500,000 per program) to cover implementation costs, with both programs requiring detailed reports on effectiveness and recommendations for potential statewide expansion. The programs expire after the DOT submits final reports to the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryAssembly Bill A5193 declares contracts to conceal, alter, or destroy evidence for payment (to hinder law enforcement) unlawful and void. It directly affects crime victims whose evidence was hidden by individuals or private entities (like companies) in exchange for money or compensation. The bill creates a new civil lawsuit right for victims to sue those parties within five years of discovering the concealment. Key provisions make such agreements unenforceable and allow victims to pursue separate legal remedies without replacing existing rights.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to study urban vehicle parking challenges and propose solutions for communities where parking is scarce. The study must examine current state, local, and federal parking laws, signage rules, and street regulations to identify opportunities for increasing available parking - such as updating or removing unnecessary signs. DCA must complete the study and submit a public report to the Governor and Legislature within two years of the bill's enactment. The bill directly affects urban residents and businesses in New Jersey cities facing parking shortages, but does not change existing parking rules itself.

Maddy summaryThis bill reinstates automatic cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement benefits of certain retired police and firefighters in New Jersey's Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). It applies specifically to members who have been retired and receiving benefits for at least 10 years, excluding those hired after the bill's effective date, those in deferred retirement, and those with 20-24 years of service. The COLAs are tied to the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners, with benefits up to $75,000 receiving full adjustment, while higher benefits are capped at a 1% annual increase. The $75,000 threshold will adjust annually based on inflation, and the bill requires the Legislature to appropriate funds to cover both state and local costs for these adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A5172) requires New Jersey state and county correctional facilities to provide female inmates with feminine hygiene products - including tampons and sanitary pads - of varying absorbency levels at no cost, upon request. It amends existing law (P.L.2019, c.288) to specify that facilities must offer products in multiple absorbency levels, not just standard options. The policy directly affects all female inmates in New Jersey's correctional system, ensuring access to appropriate menstrual products. The change updates current requirements to better accommodate individual health needs during menstruation.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) to provide current non-retired members and those applying for retirement after the bill's effective date with the same benefits as members enrolled before July 1, 2007. It eliminates tiered membership by moving all current TPAF members to Tier 1, requires public employers to enroll eligible employees (earning above minimum salary but not meeting hour requirements) in TPAF, and allows Defined Contribution Retirement Program participants to transfer service credit to TPAF without transferring contributions. Participants in the Defined Contribution Retirement Program have six months to opt out of the transfer after receiving notice. These changes apply only to retirement applications processed after the bill becomes law.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Target Zero Commission" within the Department of Transportation, consisting of 13 state agency representatives (including Transportation, Health, and Public Safety officials). The commission’s primary duty is to develop a statewide action plan by 2040 aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries through engineering, education, and enforcement strategies focused on equitable road safety for all users. Key mechanisms include creating a public data portal for crash statistics, requiring annual public hearings and reports to the Governor and Legislature, and advising on policy changes to support safer transportation infrastructure. The commission must adopt its action plan within 12 months of the bill’s effective date and host public feedback sessions before finalizing it. This is a procedural bill creating a study body, not a direct policy change.