Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill extends the validity period for New Jersey's firearms purchaser identification card from its current term to four years. It requires individuals to complete training before receiving a firearms purchaser ID card or handgun purchase permit. The bill also revises procedures for transferring firearms to heirs or legatees, though specific details of this change aren't fully outlined in the provided text. Existing requirements remain, including background checks for all firearm transactions conducted through licensed dealers and prohibitions on issuing cards to individuals with certain criminal histories, mental health conditions, or domestic violence convictions.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2172) prohibits employers with 15+ employees from asking job applicants about their gender during the initial hiring process - before the first interview. It directly affects employers across all sectors (including government, nonprofits, and private businesses) hiring within the state, covering all applicants for paid positions. The law bans both written and verbal gender inquiries during this phase and prohibits using gender in employment decisions, with exceptions only for roles where gender is a bona fide occupational requirement (e.g., certain therapeutic or privacy-sensitive roles). Violations carry civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense, enforced by the state Labor Commissioner.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows teaching candidates awaiting certification to secure teaching positions while completing their certification process. It requires the State Board of Education to permit candidates to submit a signed affidavit to school districts, affirming they've met all certification requirements, along with proof of their application to the Department of Education. Candidates must provide written confirmation within 90 days that they've received their certificate, or the school must terminate their teaching role (though they may stay in non-teaching positions). The bill protects candidates who submit affidavits in good faith from having to repay salaries if their certification application later proves incomplete.

Maddy summaryS 1996, "Penny's Law," requires New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to create beach accessibility guidelines for people with disabilities within one year. The guidelines must cover specific facilities like ramps, restrooms, surf chairs, parking, and boardwalks, developed with input from disability experts and federal accessibility standards. The DEP must publish these guidelines online and distribute them to all counties and municipalities managing public beaches or waterfront areas. It also mandates a uniform label for beaches meeting the new standards. This law directly affects public beach access for people with disabilities and local governments responsible for beach facilities.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey public and nonpublic secondary schools (grades 9-12) to conduct annual substance use screenings for every student using the SBIRT program. Screenings must be administered by certified school staff (like counselors or nurses) or licensed health professionals in nonpublic schools, with parents receiving written notice and the option to opt their child out. All student disclosures during screenings are treated as confidential, with strict privacy protections barring disclosure without consent, except in medical emergencies. Schools may opt out if they have equivalent substance abuse prevention programs approved by the Department of Education.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 420) would add free menstrual hygiene products - such as tampons, pads, and menstrual cups - to New Jersey's WIC and SNAP programs. Eligible participants in these federal programs (e.g., low-income pregnant people, infants, or families) would receive these products at no cost by presenting their WIC or SNAP card at participating vendors. Vendors would submit claims to the state for reimbursement, and the Department of Human Services would seek necessary federal waivers to implement the program. The bill is pending in the Senate Health Committee and has not yet taken effect.

Maddy summaryS 2213 establishes a Broadband Assistance Office within New Jersey’s Economic Development Authority (EDA) to address inequitable broadband access. The office will review and approve projects deploying high-speed wired internet (fiber optic or similar) to rural areas and disadvantaged households, while providing financing for these initiatives. It sets specific speed goals: 25 Mbps download/3 Mbps upload by 2025, and 100 Mbps/100 Mbps by 2029. The bill directly affects low-income residents, rural communities, and small businesses lacking reliable internet access, aiming to reduce the digital divide exposed during the pandemic. The bill was introduced in the Senate on January 9, 2024, and referred to the Economic Growth Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to reimburse counties for holiday pay costs when county employees perform state services on holidays recognized by the county but not by the state. Specifically, counties must pay employees 1.5 times their hourly base rate for working on county holidays, and the state will reimburse counties for the portion exceeding the base rate. Counties apply annually for reimbursement, and the state pays the difference after the county's fiscal year. Reimbursements are deducted from the county's next year's tax levy and can be counted as anticipated budget revenue. The bill directly affects county employees who perform state-related work on county-recognized holidays.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey state agency forms used for public services to include optional questions about sex, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, similar to how other demographic data like race is collected. Forms must clearly state that providing this information is voluntary and won't affect service access, pose questions in a sensitive manner that allows non-binary options, and follow best practices recognized by LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Individuals (or their parents/guardians for minors) retain full control over disclosing this information, and state agencies must document federal requirements before complying with any federal mandates that require such data collection.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires that any ultrasound performed on a pregnant woman at a "limited service pregnancy center" must be done by a licensed health care professional qualified to perform ultrasounds. It directly affects pregnancy counseling organizations (like crisis pregnancy centers) that provide free or paid counseling but do not perform abortions, make abortion referrals, or hold medical licenses. The law defines "limited service pregnancy center" to exclude hospitals, abortion clinics, or family planning centers that provide medical services, and specifies that the health care professional must be licensed under New Jersey’s Title 45 or Title 52. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.