Sen. Renee Burgess

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public employers to provide free cancer screenings every three years for firefighters who are eligible for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) but have waived enrollment in it. The screenings must cover 11 specific cancers, including colon, lung, and breast cancer, and must be conducted without any out-of-pocket cost to the firefighter. Employers can be reimbursed by the state up to $1,250 per firefighter per three-year period for these screenings. This extends existing coverage and reimbursement requirements to firefighters who are eligible for SHBP but chose not to enroll, ensuring they receive the same preventive care as those enrolled in the program.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes a requirement for teachers in New Jersey to pass basic skills tests (like the Praxis Core) to obtain most teaching licenses. It specifically eliminates the need for these tests for candidates seeking certificates of eligibility, provisional licenses, or standard teaching credentials, affecting educators pursuing certification. The law repeals a 2023 law that previously mandated these tests, though limited certificates for specific programs remain exempt. This change directly streamlines certification for most new teachers by removing a testing barrier.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the "New Jersey Migrant and Refugee Assistance Act," creating a program within the Department of Human Services to help migrants and refugees access public assistance programs. The program connects individuals (including those from Haiti, Venezuela, and the Democratic Republic of Congo) with resources like housing, healthcare, job training, education, and legal services. It requires the Department to collaborate with local governments and community groups, run multilingual outreach campaigns, and submit annual reports tracking program effectiveness and service details. The law takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires professional firefighters in New Jersey who are eligible for the State Health Benefits Program (SHBP) but not enrolled in it (due to waiving coverage) to receive regular cancer screenings every three years, starting three years after their employment begins. The screenings must cover 11 specific cancer types - including colon, lung, breast, and prostate - without any out-of-pocket costs for the firefighters. Public employers not participating in SHBP must provide these screenings and can be reimbursed by the state up to $1,250 per firefighter per three-year period. Similarly, employers participating in SHBP must cover screenings for firefighters who waive SHBP, with the same reimbursement eligibility up to $1,250 per firefighter.

Maddy summarySJR 115 designates March 1 of every year as "Endometriosis Awareness Day" in New Jersey. This resolution directly affects residents - particularly those with endometriosis, a condition impacting roughly 1 in 10 menstruating individuals worldwide - and encourages public awareness. The key mechanism requires the Governor to issue an annual proclamation urging public officials and citizens to observe the day with activities. It aligns New Jersey with national efforts during "Endometriosis Awareness Month" (March) to highlight the disease, which often causes delayed diagnosis and significant health impacts. The resolution takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryS 3240 would allow 16 and 17-year-olds who are U.S. citizens and residents of a New Jersey school district (for at least 30 days before the election) to vote *only* in local school board elections. The bill directs the Secretary of State to create a registration process and ballot design for these voters that mirrors existing systems for all other eligible voters. It does not change voting eligibility for state, federal, or other local elections, and school boards or municipalities are not required to take any action to implement it. The law would take effect January 1 following its enactment.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey S 3164 establishes a 11-member Reparations Task Force to study the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and systemic racial discrimination on Black communities in New Jersey. The task force, appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, will examine New Jersey's role in slavery, review current racial disparities in voting, housing, wealth, education, and youth justice, and develop recommendations for reparative policies. The task force will hold six public meetings across the state and issue an interim report within 12 months and a final report within 24 months. The bill creates a formal process for New Jersey to address its historical role in slavery and its lasting effects through research, community input, and policy recommendations.

Maddy summarySCR 104 is a symbolic resolution (not a law) passed by the New Jersey Senate condemning hinduphobia and anti-Hindu bigotry. It formally declares New Jersey's opposition to prejudice against Hinduism and Hindus, recognizing the religion's global significance and Hindu Americans' contributions to society. The resolution defines hinduphobia as "antagonistic, destructive, and derogatory attitudes" toward Hinduism and Hindus, citing documented hate crimes. Copies will be sent to the Governor, New Jersey's Congress members, and the Hindu American Foundation. It has no legal effect beyond expressing the state's stance.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2422 establishes a state-level occupational heat stress standard and prevention program under the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. The bill requires all employers (including public entities) to implement written heat illness prevention plans by June 2025, mandating practices like providing potable water below 59°F, paid rest breaks in cool areas, and emergency response protocols for heat exposure. It also requires employers to monitor heat levels, acclimatize workers, and activate heat alert systems during forecasted heat waves, including postponing non-essential tasks and increasing staffing to reduce individual exposure. The law directly affects all workers in New Jersey, with heightened focus on high-risk sectors like agriculture, construction, and indoor workplaces without climate control.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public school districts to grant students up to 10 excused absences per school year for symptoms related to specific menstrual disorders, including dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, menorrhagia, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Students must provide medical documentation if requested by school officials to verify eligibility, and absences won’t count toward chronic absenteeism (typically 10% of school days). Schools must allow students to make up missed work, and attendance records cannot list these absences as unexcused or affect eligibility for attendance-based awards. The policy aims to address barriers to school attendance caused by painful menstrual symptoms, which affect many students, particularly those from marginalized communities facing period poverty.