Asm. Jessica Ramirez

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey colleges and universities to inform students with federal student loans about the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program during their final two academic semesters. It also mandates that state government employers provide employees with PSLF information during onboarding and annually thereafter. The required information must include eligibility details, the program's website, and federal requirements (20 U.S.C. §1087e), and can be delivered electronically, by mail, or in person. The goal is to increase awareness of this federal program, which forgives student loans after 10 years of qualifying public service work.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Health (DOH) to create and update annual guidelines for school districts and colleges on implementing student vaping awareness campaigns. The guidelines must include research-backed materials about vaping's health effects (lung damage, mental health, pregnancy risks), peer pressure strategies, and age-appropriate anti-vaping resources like pamphlets. Schools and colleges would use these guidelines to develop multi-level campaigns targeting adolescents and young adults, focusing on healthy decision-making. The DOE and DOH must post the guidelines online and link to additional anti-vaping resources for schools and families.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's legal terminology by replacing "child pornography" with "child sexual abuse or exploitation material" (CSAEM) throughout state statutes. The change affects multiple sections of law including those related to crimes, sex offender registration, employment disqualifications, and educational programs. The purpose is to use more accurate language that reflects the reality of these crimes and avoids implying consent from victims. The sponsor states this terminology update is not intended to change the substance of the law, but to make the language more consistent with current understanding and international standards. The bill corrects technical inconsistencies in existing statutes while maintaining the same legal protections and penalties.

Maddy summaryAJR 48 designates the third Sunday of November each year as "World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims" in New Jersey. This symbolic resolution, sponsored by Assemblyman Robert J. Karabinchak, recognizes the impact of traffic fatalities (697 in 2021, the highest in 14 years) and honors victims, families, and emergency responders. It requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation encouraging public observance of the day through activities and programs. The bill has no regulatory or funding provisions; it is a ceremonial designation to raise awareness about traffic safety.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A3887) requires healthcare providers during prenatal care to help pregnant women develop personalized postpartum care plans, including designating a medical home for follow-up care. It mandates hospitals and birthing facilities to provide standardized postpartum information before discharge, covering warning signs of complications like excessive bleeding, high blood pressure, infection, and depression. The law directly affects pregnant women receiving maternity care in New Jersey, healthcare professionals, and maternity care facilities. Key provisions include mandatory plan development during prenatal visits and uniform educational materials for facilities to ensure consistent patient education about postpartum health risks.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act" and appropriates $1 million to the New Jersey Department of Health. It requires the Health Commissioner, working with community organizations, to create and implement a culturally and linguistically tailored outreach strategy to reduce stigma and improve mental health awareness among Hispanic and Latino communities. The strategy must address subgroup differences (like gender, age, or pandemic impacts), promote evidence-based treatments, and engage community members in developing materials. The Commissioner must also submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on how the strategy affects mental health outcomes for these populations.

Maddy summaryThis bill exempts nonresident military spouses from New Jersey's residency requirement for public employees. It amends state law to clarify that spouses of active-duty military members stationed in New Jersey (due to permanent transfer, legal domicile, or change-of-station move) are not required to live in the state to hold public-sector jobs. The exemption applies to those who meet the defined criteria, ensuring they can work for state agencies, schools, or other public entities without needing NJ as their primary residence. The change directly affects military spouses who relocate with service members but maintain residency elsewhere.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Agriculture, working with the Department of Education, to create a single online application system for students to apply for the National School Lunch Program and school breakfast programs. School districts and participating nonprofit nonpublic schools must make this online application available to families, while still offering paper applications. Schools already using their own online systems have one year after the bill's passage to switch to the state-developed system. The policy aims to streamline enrollment for eligible students in these federally funded meal programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A4744) requires six New Jersey authorities (NJTA, SJTA, EDA, CRDA, PANYNJ, and DRPA) to consider and prioritize minorities and women in hiring decisions and to consider and prioritize minority-owned and women-owned businesses when awarding contracts. The bill defines "minority" to include Black, Hispanic, Asian American, and American Indian/Alaskan Native individuals, and specifies detailed criteria for minority and women-owned businesses. Each authority must publish demographic data about their employees and contractors on their websites, including counts by gender, race, and ethnicity with average salary and contract values, updating this information quarterly. The provisions for PANYNJ and DRPA will only become effective after New York and Pennsylvania pass similar legislation.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the New Jersey Transit (NJT) Office of Customer Advocate and a Rider Advocacy Commission to independently represent NJT riders. The Commission, with three appointed members (Governor, Senate President, Assembly Speaker), establishes the Office and appoints a Rider Advocate who reports directly to it. The Office must review and analyze NJT proposals for fare increases, service cuts, or expansions before implementation, then report findings to NJT's board, the Governor, and Legislature. It also conducts monthly public meetings with riders, accepts online/voicemail feedback, and provides customer input on NJT decisions. The Office operates with separate funding, independent of NJT's budget, and replaces a prior requirement for NJT to employ a customer advocate.