Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Civil Service Commission to add exam questions about implicit bias - including racial bias - to the entry-level civil service test for all law enforcement applicants. It directly affects candidates seeking jobs as municipal police officers, county police officers, correctional officers (adult and juvenile), and sheriff's deputies. The key provision mandates that the exam include questions designed to identify unconscious biases that may influence decision-making. The bill takes effect four months after enactment, with the Commission allowed to prepare in advance. It does not change hiring standards but adds a new evaluation component for all entry-level law enforcement positions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey private health insurers, SHBP, SEHBP, Medicaid, and NJ FamilyCare to cover medically necessary wigs. Insurers must pay for wigs prescribed by a dermatologist, oncologist, or physician as part of rehabilitative treatment for a diagnosed illness, condition, or injury. Coverage is limited to one wig every 36 months and must be treated like other durable medical equipment, with no restriction to patients undergoing chemotherapy. It explicitly prohibits insurers from limiting coverage only to cancer patients receiving chemo treatment.

Maddy summaryS 2259 codifies existing regulations that allow a broader range of healthcare providers (including nurse practitioners and physician assistants trained since 2021) to perform abortions in New Jersey, while removing medically unnecessary facility requirements. The bill directly affects abortion providers and patients by eliminating outdated rules that increased costs and created barriers to care. Key provisions include updating statutory language to reflect current practices, removing facility requirements that don’t improve patient health, and ensuring consistent access to abortion services. This legislation secures existing access without expanding new provider types, focusing on streamlining current operational standards. The bill aims to make reproductive healthcare more affordable and accessible within New Jersey communities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to create a plan improving access to perinatal mental health services, including screening, referrals, and treatment for mood and anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the first year postpartum. It mandates that health insurers cover these screenings at the same level as other medical conditions, using specific CPT codes for counseling and office visits. The law directly affects pregnant people, new parents, and healthcare providers in New Jersey by ensuring coverage for early mental health screening and support services. Key provisions include standardized data collection, provider training requirements, and a resource guide for patients. The bill applies to all health insurance contracts issued or renewed in New Jersey after its effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education to create a new credential focused on culturally responsive teaching practices. It directs the DOE to partner with the Diverse and Learner-Ready Teachers Initiative to develop this credential, which will introduce teachers to methods that acknowledge students' cultural backgrounds and connect learning to their experiences. The credential must be available to teachers starting in the first full school year after the bill's enactment. The goal is to help ensure equitable access to education by embedding culturally relevant teaching strategies in classrooms.

Maddy summaryS 2254 repeals a law requiring utilities to notify customers about assistance programs during the coronavirus pandemic (P.L.2021, c.97). It updates existing requirements so that electric, gas, water, and sewer utilities must prominently display information about available programs - like the Winter Termination Program and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program - on residential customer bills and communications about overdue payments. The bill mandates that this information include websites and phone numbers for assistance, in English and the most common non-English language in the customer's area. It maintains the core obligation for utilities to share program details but removes the pandemic-specific mandate. The repeal takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2270) allows New Jersey hospitals and healthcare entities to transfer state funds to the Division of Medical Assistance to maximize federal Medicaid payments for faculty physicians and non-physician professionals affiliated with public medical/dental schools. It specifically enables these transfers under the MAPS program, which provides enhanced Medicaid reimbursement rates similar to private insurers for services delivered by public medical school-affiliated practices. The transfers must comply with federal Medicaid guidelines and require approval from the Director of Budget and Accounting. This policy change directly affects healthcare providers at public medical institutions by optimizing federal funding for their services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2549) prohibits New Jersey from sharing driver license holders' personal information - such as names, addresses, license numbers, or photos - with other states or interstate data networks. It specifically blocks disclosure when another state seeks to issue fines for violations captured by speed cameras or red light cameras (traffic control signal monitoring systems) in that state. The bill defines key terms like "personal information" and "speed control device" to clarify its scope. If passed, it would prevent New Jersey from enabling out-of-state ticketing for camera-detected traffic violations by withholding driver data. The bill is currently pending in the Senate Transportation Committee.

Maddy summaryBill S 2166 would allow New Jersey wineries producing more than 250,000 gallons of wine annually to ship directly to consumers. This amendment to New Jersey's alcohol licensing law (R.S.33:1-10) creates a new licensing category for larger producers, removing current restrictions that prevent direct shipping. The bill specifically affects established wineries meeting the production threshold, enabling them to sell and deliver wine directly to customers without requiring a distributor. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Commerce Committee for review.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a separate fringe benefit rate for New Jersey's public colleges and universities, starting in fiscal year 2025. Currently, these institutions use a general state rate that doesn't reflect their actual employee benefit costs - many staff are in the less expensive Alternative Benefit Plan (ABP) rather than the standard Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS). The new rate will be based on the actual cost of retirement programs at these institutions and applied to all federal, dedicated, and non-State funded programs. This change directly affects public higher education funding by aligning benefit costs with actual employee retirement plan expenses.