Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 3379) requires data center owners and operators to submit semi-annual reports to the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) detailing water and energy usage. Existing data centers must begin reporting within three months of the law's enactment, while newer centers have six months. Reports must include basic facility information, usage data, and for centers receiving state funding, specific efficiency metrics like power usage effectiveness. The BPU will publish anonymized, aggregated data online but keep individual reports confidential.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2260 strengthens legal protections for patients and providers accessing or delivering reproductive and gender-affirming health care services within the state. The bill explicitly defines "legally protected health care activities" to include seeking, providing, or assisting with these services (such as abortion, contraception, or gender-affirming care), regardless of a patient's location. It prohibits obstruction, intimidation, or physical barriers at facilities offering these services and grants licensing boards authority to impose civil penalties for violations. This directly affects patients traveling to New Jersey for care (not available in their home states) and healthcare providers operating in these fields. The law codifies existing protections to prevent harassment or violence against these services, following increased threats and protests nationwide after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Commissioner of Education to annually recommend specific dates for spring break closures in public school districts. School districts must consider these recommendations when creating their school calendars, and the Commissioner must provide the recommended dates to all districts by June 30th of the prior school year. The policy directly affects all public school districts in New Jersey by adding a state-level recommendation to their spring break scheduling process. The bill takes effect in the first full school year after enactment, with the Commissioner able to take preparatory actions ahead of time.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill A3497 prohibits landlords from using software or services that facilitate secret price coordination to restrict competition in rental housing. The bill makes it illegal for landlords to subscribe to "coordinators" (like property management software that analyzes real-time pricing data), for coordinators to enable price-fixing agreements, or for multiple landlords to engage in "consciously parallel pricing coordination." It directly affects rental property owners using such tools, excluding single landlords managing multiple properties under their control or legitimate multiple listing services. The law enforces these rules under New Jersey's Antitrust Act, aiming to curb software-driven rent hikes that contributed to a 35% median rent increase for three-bedroom units since 2021.

Maddy summaryThis bill, titled the "John R. Lewis Voter Empowerment Act of New Jersey," is a commemorative resolution naming a state initiative after civil rights leader John Lewis. It appropriates $2.5 million but does not establish new voting procedures or protections. The bill primarily includes recognition language affirming New Jersey’s commitment to voting rights for protected classes and defines terms like "covered entity" for future reference, though no specific implementation mechanisms are detailed. As it is pending technical review and lacks concrete policy changes, it functions as a symbolic gesture rather than a substantive legislative action.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Act to allow the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits to initiate temporary transfers of funds under specific circumstances. The legislation primarily affects school employers and employees by clarifying how health benefit premiums are paid and managed within a dedicated fund. It also establishes strict rules for a third-party medical claims reviewer, requiring the collection and secure storage of detailed claims data to assist in program governance and cost analysis. Additionally, the bill restricts the use of funds in a dedicated subaccount to paying claims and administrative costs for covered employees and their dependents.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill temporarily increases the state child tax credit for residents with incomes up to $80,000 during the tax years 2026, 2027, and 2028. The legislation raises the credit amount by $250 for each income bracket, providing an additional $250 to families earning $30,000 or less and reducing the credit by $250 for those earning between $60,000 and $80,000. After these three years, the credit amounts will revert to their previous levels. The bill does not affect taxpayers with incomes above $80,000 or children over the age of six.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends the School Employees' Health Benefits Program Act to allow the Director of the Division of Pensions and Benefits to initiate temporary transfers of funds under specific circumstances. The legislation directly affects school employers and their employees by modifying how health benefit premiums are paid and managed within the state's dedicated fund. Key provisions include establishing rules for employer payment obligations, creating a subaccount for claims and health services, and defining the data collection responsibilities of a third-party medical claims reviewer. The bill also clarifies that the program's assets must be used solely for providing benefits and covering administrative costs for covered employees and their dependents.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all corn masa flour and wet corn masa products sold in New Jersey to be fortified with folic acid to help reduce the risk of neural tube defects, which disproportionately affect Latino communities. Manufacturers must add specific amounts of folic acid to dry flour and wet products and clearly label these ingredients on nutrition facts panels. The law allows the state health commissioner to grant exemptions for specific products or companies if necessary. By making these changes, the legislation aims to ensure that dietary staples common in Central and South American cuisines provide essential nutritional benefits comparable to other fortified grains.