Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey taxpayers to deduct up to $120 annually from their gross income for donations of menstrual products (like tampons, pads, and cups) made to qualified New Jersey-based charities. To claim the deduction, donors must obtain written documentation from the charity verifying each donation's details and value. The bill also protects donors and charities from liability for "apparently usable" products - those meeting safety standards - even if not marketable - unless gross negligence or intentional misconduct causes harm. It defines "qualified" charities as those registered in New Jersey, operating locally, and providing services to people who menstruate.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates the rules for New Jersey's Nursing Home Administrator's Licensing Board to clarify and streamline the licensing process for nursing home administrators. It requires the board to issue licenses within 90 days of application, approve or deny intern training program plans within 15 business days (or 10 days for amendments), and mandates applicants complete 1,750 internship hours (max 50 weekly) within two years while passing a licensing exam on the first two attempts. The bill also automatically approves out-of-state applicants with clean disciplinary records and simplifies licensure for administrators transferring between same-ownership facilities. These changes directly affect nursing home administrators, their employers, and applicants seeking licensure in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey S 3164 establishes a 11-member Reparations Task Force to study the historical and ongoing impacts of slavery and systemic racial discrimination on Black communities in New Jersey. The task force, appointed by the Governor and legislative leaders, will examine New Jersey's role in slavery, review current racial disparities in voting, housing, wealth, education, and youth justice, and develop recommendations for reparative policies. The task force will hold six public meetings across the state and issue an interim report within 12 months and a final report within 24 months. The bill creates a formal process for New Jersey to address its historical role in slavery and its lasting effects through research, community input, and policy recommendations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires employers to provide specific accommodations for employees who are breastfeeding. It mandates paid break time at the employee's regular rate, job restructuring, modified work schedules, and a private, non-restroom space for expressing breast milk for as long as the employee desires. Employers cannot penalize employees for requesting or using these accommodations, and may only avoid providing them by demonstrating undue hardship. The bill applies to all employers in New Jersey and directly affects working mothers who are breastfeeding or expressing breast milk.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey from sharing driver's license holders' personal information (such as names, addresses, license numbers, or photos) with other states or interstate networks. It directly affects New Jersey drivers who may have been cited by out-of-state speed cameras or red light cameras. The law specifically blocks the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and other state agencies from disclosing this data to help other states issue or collect fines for violations captured by these devices. The bill defines "personal information" broadly and takes effect immediately.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a certification program for businesses owned and controlled by LGBTQ+ individuals in New Jersey. To qualify, a business must be at least 51% owned, operated, and controlled by LGBTQ+ persons (including real, substantial management authority), not just formally registered. The Division of Revenue will process applications and maintain a public listing in the SAVI database for state contracting agencies to identify certified businesses. This creates a standardized process for certification but does not require state agencies to prioritize these businesses in contracts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to develop and implement a comprehensive plan to improve access to perinatal mental health services, including screening for mood and anxiety disorders. The plan must establish referral networks, increase peer support services, reduce stigma, and collect standardized data on screening and treatment. Health insurance companies in New Jersey must cover the costs of screening women for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders during preconception, pregnancy, prior to giving birth, and throughout the first year after childbirth. The bill also mandates continuing education for health care professionals in perinatal mental health as part of their licensing requirements. This affects all women planning pregnancy, pregnant women, and new parents within the first year after childbirth.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to translate homemaker-home health aide and nursing assistant certification exams into multiple languages, starting with English and Spanish. It directly affects individuals seeking these healthcare certifications, particularly non-English speakers who may face language barriers during testing. The law mandates the Department of Health and the New Jersey Board of Nursing to provide these exams in multiple languages, with no specific additional languages required beyond the minimum. This policy change aims to increase accessibility to healthcare certification pathways without altering exam content or standards.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3130 establishes a 15-member "Period Equity and Menstrual Disorders Study Committee" within the Department of Health to examine issues affecting people who menstruate. The committee will study unequal access to feminine hygiene products, menstrual disorders, and health disparities, with a focus on minority, disabled, transgender, and non-binary communities. It will analyze current policies on product pricing and taxation, develop strategies to improve affordability and access, and hold public hearings. The committee must submit its first report within one year, including recommendations for legislative or administrative action to address these issues.

Maddy summarySCR 102 is a non-binding New Jersey legislative resolution urging the President of the United States to expand access to free menstrual products in all schools nationwide. It argues that Title IX (which prohibits sex discrimination in education) should be interpreted to require such access, addressing how lack of products leads to school absences and health risks for students who menstruate. The resolution cites that over half of high school students who menstruate miss school or arrive late due to inadequate product access, with low-income students often using unsafe alternatives like toilet paper. As a symbolic gesture without legal force, it aims to influence federal policy but does not change existing laws.