Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires owners and operators of large public venues - such as stadiums, arenas, theaters, and facilities hosting youth athletic events (with a capacity of 1,000+ people) - to maintain an automatic external defibrillator (AED) on-site at all times. Key provisions include storing the AED in a central, accessible location, training staff in CPR and AED use, developing a cardiac emergency response plan, and marking the AED location with signs. Venues must also notify emergency services about the AED's location and ensure a trained person is available during events. Failure to comply results in civil penalties starting at $250 for the first violation.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all health insurance plans sold in New Jersey to cover non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), a blood test performed starting at 10 weeks of pregnancy to screen for Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities. It directly affects pregnant people in New Jersey and applies to all major insurance types, including hospital service corporations, medical service corporations, health maintenance organizations, and individual/group health plans. Insurers must cover the test "to the same extent as for any other medical condition" and follow American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists guidelines for testing methods. The law applies to contracts where insurers reserve the right to adjust premiums.

Maddy summaryS 1084, the "Mental and Behavioral Health for Hispanics and Latinos Act," creates a statewide initiative to improve mental health support for Hispanic and Latino communities in New Jersey. It requires the Health Commissioner to develop and implement a culturally tailored outreach strategy - addressing language needs, subgroup differences (like age or gender), and pandemic impacts - through collaboration with community organizations. The bill appropriates $1 million from the General Fund to fund this strategy and mandates annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on its effectiveness in improving mental health outcomes. The strategy must include evidence-based treatments adapted for these communities and promote a holistic health approach connecting behavioral and physical health.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a permanent Office of New Americans within New Jersey's Department of Human Services. It directly serves immigrants, refugees, and their families - over two million people representing nearly a quarter of the state's population - by providing refugee resettlement services, legal assistance, health screenings, and workforce development programs. The office will act as a central hub for coordinating state services, offering technical assistance to other agencies, and ensuring programs are culturally responsive. The Director, appointed by the Human Services Commissioner, will lead these efforts with staff prioritizing lived experience in immigrant communities. The bill formalizes existing initiatives from Executive Order 74 (2019) to improve access to resources and build trust between immigrant communities and state government.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's 2021 law (P.L.2021, c.324) that requires child care subsidy payments to licensed centers and family day care providers to be based on the number of enrolled eligible children - not actual attendance - through June 30, 2025. It directly affects child care providers receiving state subsidies by mandating they base staff wages and hours on enrollment numbers, not daily attendance. The law also requires the Division of Family Development to study enrollment-based versus attendance-based payment models and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature within three years. This extension ensures stable funding for providers during the study period while maintaining consistent payment structures for eligible child care services.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies that students who have already earned an associate degree, college credits, or completed a dual degree program in high school remain eligible for New Jersey's Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) grants and campus-based programs, provided they meet all other standard requirements like residency, full-time enrollment, and financial need. It specifically removes barriers that previously might have excluded these students from receiving EOF assistance. The change ensures these students can access grant funding and campus programs at any New Jersey higher education institution without being disqualified due to prior academic achievements. The bill takes effect immediately for the next full academic year.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 524 requires public schools with 5% or more students qualifying for federal free/reduced-price meals to offer a school breakfast program, lowering the current threshold from 20%. This applies to all schools meeting the 5% eligibility rate, including those serving pre-K through 6th grade (requiring implementation by September 1, 2023) and other grades (by September 1, 2024). School districts must submit implementation plans to the Department of Agriculture by specific deadlines, with waivers available for schools lacking resources to comply. The bill aligns breakfast program requirements with existing lunch program rules, aiming to expand access to school breakfasts for more students.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2277) eliminates sales tax on specific baby products and sunscreen. It exempts baby wash, shampoos, lotions, powders, car seats, cribs, nursing supplies, and strollers from the state sales tax. It also exempts sunscreen regulated by the FDA for UV protection (excluding cosmetic products). The exemption applies to retail purchases starting October 1, 2025, directly reducing costs for parents buying essential baby items and sunscreen.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1633 requires all state agencies to update public forms, applications, and documents to collect optional demographic data on sex, gender identity, gender, and sexual orientation. The bill mandates that these questions be clearly marked as voluntary, use sensitive language that accommodates non-binary identities, and avoid conflating sex with gender. Individuals (or their parents/guardians for minors) retain full control over whether to provide this information, with no state employee or third party allowed to deny services based on non-disclosure. This applies to all state forms currently used for official business, aiming to modernize data collection practices that previously lacked inclusivity for LGBTQ+ individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a state grant program to provide thermal imaging body cameras, thermal imaging masks, and radio repeaters to fire departments serving municipalities with 100,000+ residents. Qualifying fire departments in cities with 100,000-299,000 residents receive $150,000 every three years (divided equally among departments), while those in cities with 300,000+ residents receive the same amount. The grant covers purchasing or reimbursing costs for equipment that helps firefighters see through smoke, communicate across obstacles, or record incidents. The Division of Fire Safety must review the program every five years to ensure departments use updated equipment and decide whether to continue it. The bill is pending legislative action and not yet law.