Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to send written notices to vehicle owners about toll violations before charging administrative fees. The notice must be sent within 60 days of a violation and include details about the violation (date, time, location) and a 30-day window to pay the proper toll and avoid a fee. Vehicle owners who fail to resolve the violation within 30 days will then be charged a reasonable administrative fee based on processing costs. The bill prohibits NJTA and SJTA from issuing or collecting administrative fees without first providing this written notice and allowing time for resolution.

Maddy summaryS 3478 requires New Jersey courts to translate specific criminal court documents - such as indictments, pleadings, and motions - into the primary language of defendants, witnesses, or legal guardians with limited English proficiency. It mandates translation for nine widely spoken languages in the state, including Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and French. The bill also requires courthouses to post multilingual signs in high-traffic areas, informing people of their right to language assistance services. This policy aims to ensure meaningful participation in court proceedings for non-English speakers during criminal cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school districts to screen all kindergarten through grade 3 students three times yearly for reading deficiencies using approved assessments. It also mandates annual screening for newly enrolled students in grades 4-12 and allows screenings at parent request for any student. Districts must notify parents within 15 days of identifying a deficiency, provide evidence-based interventions, and report screening data to the state. The assessments must measure core reading skills like decoding and comprehension, and the Department of Education will approve and distribute valid screening tools.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a state grant program to provide thermal imaging body cameras, thermal imaging masks, and radio repeaters to fire departments serving New Jersey municipalities with 100,000 or more residents. Each qualifying municipality receives $150,000 every three years, to be divided equally among its fire organizations for purchasing or reimbursing these safety tools. The Division of Fire Safety will administer the program, contract for competitive pricing, and review equipment upgrades every five years to ensure effectiveness. The program targets fire departments in large cities to improve visibility during fires and enhance communication between units.

Maddy summaryThe bill establishes a 10-year Menstrual Leave and Remote Work Pilot Program in New Jersey. It allows employees with qualifying menstrual disorders (including endometriosis, uterine fibroids, PCOS, and other conditions listed in the bill) to request up to two fully paid medical leave days or two remote work days per month with physician documentation. Employers who voluntarily participate can receive tax credits equal to 100% of wages paid for medical leave days or 25% for remote work days. The program expires on January 1, 2035, and prohibits employers from discriminating against employees using these accommodations.

Maddy summarySCR 81 proposes a constitutional amendment to increase New Jersey's veterans' property tax deduction from $250 to $2,500 over four years. The deduction would rise to $1,000 in 2025, $1,500 in 2026, $2,000 in 2027, and $2,500 starting in 2028, remaining at that level annually thereafter. This change directly affects honorably discharged veterans and their surviving spouses (who qualify after the veteran's death). The amendment would adjust the existing tax benefit without altering other eligibility rules or requiring new administrative processes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new Office of Emergency Responder Survivor Support and Navigation within New Jersey's Department of Treasury. The office, led by a survivor support liaison (who must be a beneficiary of a fallen responder), will directly assist families of emergency responders (including police, firefighters, and EMTs) who die in the line of duty. It provides concrete support by helping beneficiaries apply for municipal, state, and federal benefits, private survivor programs, and scholarships, while summarizing eligible benefits and maintaining contact throughout the application process. The office is funded with $1,000,000 annually from the General Fund and is designated as "Captain Augusto Acabou's, Wayne Brooks', and Plainfield Firefighter Marques Hudson's Act" in honor of three fallen responders.

Maddy summaryS 3428 requires all land-based firefighters in New Jersey municipalities within the coastal zone (defined as those in the state's Coastal Management program) to complete Coast Guard-approved marine firefighting training. Firefighters must finish basic training within one year of the bill's effective date, advanced training within two years of basic completion, and ongoing in-service training every two years thereafter. The bill appropriates $140 million from the General Fund to fund these training courses and instructor qualifications, with recruit programs required to include the basic course. It also establishes a separate training pathway for firefighters to become certified marine firefighting instructors.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates accidental death benefits for survivors of New Jersey police and fire officers (PFRS members). It requires adjusting the pension calculation using the same formula applied to active members' raises after the officer's death, increasing payments for surviving spouses, children, and companions. It also explicitly allows a "companion" (defined as a cohabiting partner meeting specific criteria) to receive the 70% pension if there is no surviving spouse, children, or dependent parents. The bill permits retroactive payments for companions of officers who died after January 1, 2023, if no spouse or children existed at the time of death.

Maddy summaryThe Menstrual Equity for Haitian Migrants Act would create a program providing free menstrual hygiene products (like pads, tampons, and menstrual cups) to Haitian migrants in New Jersey who have lived in the state for at least two years. The New Jersey Department of Health would partner with community, faith-based, and nonprofit organizations serving Haitian migrants to distribute these products and conduct outreach to eligible individuals. Funding would come from annual state appropriations and potential grants, with the department required to submit an annual report on the program's effectiveness. This law directly addresses period poverty affecting Haitian migrants, who face economic and cultural barriers to accessing these essentials, as highlighted by data showing approximately 46,000 Haitian migrants reside in New Jersey.