Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summarySJR 46 designates April 9 of each year as "Paul Robeson Day" in New Jersey to honor the life and legacy of Paul Leroy Robeson, who was born in Princeton on April 9, 1898. The bill requires the Governor to annually issue a proclamation encouraging public officials, organizations, and citizens to observe the day with appropriate activities. This ceremonial resolution does not create new laws or affect policies - it solely commemorates Robeson’s achievements as a scholar, athlete, actor, singer, and civil rights advocate. It directly affects New Jersey residents through state recognition of Robeson’s historical contributions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Taxation to create and maintain a free, online training program specifically for small and micro-businesses. The program will teach how to file and pay state taxes, including corporation business tax, gross income tax, and sales tax. The training must be updated as tax laws change and made available on the Division's website. It directly affects small businesses in New Jersey by providing accessible, no-cost guidance on state tax compliance.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides $144.2 million in supplemental funding to New Jersey's 13 public four-year universities through the Outcomes-Based Allocation program. It directly affects institutions like Rutgers, Montclair State, and Rowan University by tying funding to specific educational outcomes, including degrees awarded (especially in STEM/healthcare), diversity metrics, and support for low-income students. The funding supplements existing FY2025 appropriations and is distributed based on each institution's performance on these predefined metrics. This is a concrete budget adjustment, not a new policy, with no voting record or partisan context provided in the bill text.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey Senate Bill S 3955 prohibits substance use disorder treatment providers - including licensed facilities and recovery residences - from using deceptive marketing practices. It requires all advertising materials to clearly state the types of services offered, service locations, and the provider’s name in plain language. The bill bans false claims about network status, misleading contact information, fake website redirects, implied relationships with other providers, and inaccurate descriptions of services. Violations carry civil penalties of up to $20,000 per offense, and affected individuals can sue for triple damages plus legal fees. The law aims to protect consumers from misleading advertising in the substance use treatment sector.

Maddy summaryS 3610 requires New Jersey's Department of Treasury and Department of Human Services (DHS) to annually identify available state funds for NJ FamilyCare (which covers Medicaid and children's health insurance for low-income residents) and evaluate care quality. The departments must create a prioritized list of the 12 most urgent policy changes needed to address quality issues, including the specific state funding required for each initiative. This annual report will be submitted to the Governor and Legislature starting in 2025. The bill directly affects low-income residents enrolled in NJ FamilyCare by mandating a structured review of program funding and quality improvements. It does not create new benefits but establishes a process for allocating existing state funds toward quality enhancements.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to add social media development services to its Small Business E-commerce Support Program. The program currently offers e-commerce and digital marketing consulting to eligible small businesses, including restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses in commercial locations. The bill mandates that EDA include social media platform development assistance alongside existing services like website creation and digital marketing planning.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1192 requires health insurers to cover prescription drugs for serious mental illnesses without prior authorization or step therapy (where patients must try cheaper drugs first). It applies to conditions like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression, and PTSD as defined in the DSM. Insurers must also submit annual reports to the Department of Banking and Insurance detailing how they apply medical necessity standards for mental health coverage to ensure they’re no stricter than for physical health treatments. This bill directly affects health insurers and beneficiaries in New Jersey seeking mental health medication coverage.

Maddy summaryThis bill codifies New Jersey's current Medicaid policy of providing coverage for eligible pregnant women for a 365-day period (one year) beginning on the last day of pregnancy, rather than the previous 60-day postpartum period. It applies to pregnant individuals whose income does not exceed the highest income eligibility level established for pregnant women under New Jersey's Medicaid plan. The bill formalizes a policy that has been implemented through budget language and the NJ FamilyCare 1115 Demonstration since fiscal year 2022. This aligns with a federal option established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was made permanent by the Consolidated Appropriations Act 2023, allowing states to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage to 12 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows licensed New Jersey audiologists to select, prescribe, and order hearing aids - expanding their current authority to only fit and sell them - if they complete approved training. It directly affects audiologists who must now meet specific educational requirements and New Jersey residents needing hearing aids, particularly for prescription-grade devices under new FDA classifications. The key change aligns state law with updated federal rules that distinguish between over-the-counter and prescription hearing aids. This amendment modifies existing licensing standards under P.L.1983, c.420, requiring audiologists to complete coursework in the full scope of hearing aid services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1950) expands the authority of New Jersey's State Long-Term Care Ombudsman to address complaints and protect rights across a broader range of long-term care settings. It updates definitions to include all long-term care residents aged 60+ (replacing outdated terms like "institutionalized elderly") and explicitly covers facilities such as dementia care homes, continuing care retirement communities, and social day care centers - previously not fully included. The ombudsman’s role is clarified to investigate abuse, exploitation, and rights violations in these expanded settings, including issues like unreasonable confinement or denial of necessary care. This change directly affects residents in nearly all state-regulated long-term care facilities and ensures the ombudsman can advocate for them under a more inclusive legal framework.