Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2229 requires school districts receiving preschool education aid to place at least half of preschool students in licensed child care programs, rather than in district-run programs or Head Start. This directly affects school districts funded through the state's preschool aid program, mandating they secure sufficient placements at licensed providers. Districts may apply for a Department of Education waiver if licensed child care options are unavailable locally, providing justification for the request. The bill aims to increase access to licensed early childhood education settings while allowing flexibility for districts facing limited provider capacity.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2569) expands eligibility for direct support services from New Jersey’s Department of Human Services (DHS) to individuals with disabilities aged 18-21. Currently, these services are only available to those 21 and older, leaving early high school graduates without access. The law requires DHS to provide daily, non-medical support focused on community integration, employment, health decisions, and daily living skills. It mandates DHS to create implementing rules within 90 days, with consultation from other state agencies. The change directly affects young adults with disabilities who transition out of school before age 21.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's public colleges and universities to create and update detailed diversity plans focused on recruiting and retaining diverse faculty, staff, and students. Each institution must establish specific goals aligned with local or state demographics, track progress through metrics, and report annually on student diversity outcomes - including enrollment, retention, and graduation rates broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender. The bill also mandates annual diversity training for faculty search committees to address unconscious bias and directs the Secretary of Higher Education to develop guidance on inclusive hiring practices. Public institutions must appoint diversity ambassadors to oversee implementation and submit reports to the Secretary, who will compile data for the Governor and Legislature.

Maddy summaryThis bill clarifies definitions for New Jersey's Work First New Jersey program, which provides cash assistance to low-income residents. It specifically defines terms like "alternative work experience" (unpaid work only with public/nonprofit organizations, not for-profit employers) and "community work experience" to ensure recipients are placed in appropriate settings. The bill also refines definitions for "assistance unit," "dependent child," and "income" to standardize eligibility determinations. These changes directly affect program applicants and recipients by clarifying work requirements and household eligibility criteria. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or create new programs, focusing solely on defining existing program terms.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities, counties, and regional fire/police departments to require new officers and firefighters to live within their community for five years. It mandates that municipalities adopt approved ordinances (with Commissioner of Community Affairs review) giving new hires six months after training to relocate, with exceptions for threats or injuries targeting officers/firefighters. The law also requires municipalities to offer incentives like residency-based promotion tiebreakers and 20% tuition reimbursement for local college courses. It directly affects public safety employees hired after the ordinance takes effect, while preserving existing employment rules for current staff.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates a requirement that public school employees (in school districts, charter schools, and renaissance school projects) must live in New Jersey. It applies for three years after the bill's effective date, allowing schools to hire out-of-state residents without requiring them to move to New Jersey. To qualify, the position must have been advertised to New Jersey residents for at least three months before hiring, and the employee cannot have been a New Jersey resident working in a school district within the past year. This change aims to help schools recruit staff with specialized skills who might otherwise be unavailable.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2272) requires all New Jersey state and county correctional facilities to provide female inmates with feminine hygiene products (like tampons and pads) in varying absorbency levels, not just standard options. It directly affects all female inmates in these facilities by mandating free, accessible products tailored to individual needs. The key change amends existing law (P.L.2019, c.288) to replace the requirement for "standard" products with the new standard of "varying absorbency levels." This is a concrete policy change focused on improving access to essential hygiene items for incarcerated women.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases New Jersey's monthly personal needs allowance (PNA) for low-income residents in specific facilities - from $50 to $140 - to cover personal expenses like phone calls, meals out, or hobbies. It directly affects individuals receiving medical assistance under Medicaid who live in nursing homes, state psychiatric hospitals, or state developmental centers. The allowance will automatically rise annually starting January 1 after enactment, matching the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) percentage. This change ensures the PNA remains aligned with inflation while being disregarded income for Medicaid eligibility calculations. The bill amends existing state laws to implement this increase and adjust future payments.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2582 establishes the Grow Your Own Teacher Loan Redemption Program through the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. It repays up to $10,000 annually in student loan principal and interest for teachers who work full-time for five years in school districts designated as having a teacher shortage, specifically in the district where they graduated high school or where they resided for over five years. Participants must have graduated from or lived in a shortage district, hold a teaching position there, and maintain student loan debt. The program limits annual state spending to $500,000 and caps total repayment at $50,000 per participant over five years.

Maddy summaryS 2264 establishes the "New Jersey Reproductive Health Care Equitable Access Fund" within the state Treasury. Taxpayers can voluntarily add a contribution to their New Jersey gross income tax return to support this fund, with net contributions (after administrative costs) deposited into it. The Legislature would annually allocate all funds in the account equally to the three largest Medicaid reproductive health care providers in the state, requiring them to use the money to provide services (including pregnancy-related care and pregnancy termination) to low-income individuals who cannot afford them. The bill defines "reproductive health care services" broadly to cover medical, surgical, counseling, and referral services related to the human reproductive system. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 13, 2026, and referred to the Health Committee.