Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey Medicaid to cover remote stress tests for pregnant women. It amends existing Medicaid regulations to explicitly include this specific diagnostic service under the program's authorized benefits. The change directly affects pregnant women enrolled in Medicaid and the healthcare providers who administer these tests. The legislation does not alter other Medicaid services or introduce new requirements beyond this specific coverage addition.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution asks the federal government to allow families to use SNAP and WIC benefits to buy diapers. It directly affects low-income parents and caregivers who currently cannot use these nutrition assistance programs for diaper purchases. The bill highlights that diaper costs create financial strain, with some families delaying changes or reusing diapers due to lack of funds. If adopted, this change would require federal policy updates to expand eligible purchases under existing assistance programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a four-year pilot program in New Jersey to create mental health assistance programs for students in grades K-12 within selected school districts. The program would require participating districts to appoint student assistance counselors trained to identify students facing mental health challenges, provide confidential support services, and connect students with community resources. Up to 15 districts from urban, suburban, and rural areas across the state's northern, central, and southern regions would be selected to participate, with districts required to submit funding plans for sustaining the program after the pilot concludes. At the end of the pilot, each district must report on the number of students served and program effectiveness, and the Commissioner of Education will submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature with recommendations on whether to expand the program statewide.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires health insurance plans to cover specific breast cancer screening and diagnostic imaging services for women starting at age 18. The law mandates that insurers provide annual mammograms for women 18 and older, along with additional imaging tests like ultrasounds and MRIs when a woman has dense breast tissue, abnormal mammogram results, or other risk factors such as family history or genetic testing. Insurers may still review these additional tests for medical necessity, but the coverage must be provided under the same terms as other medical benefits. The bill applies to all health insurance contracts issued or renewed in the state after the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's Law Against Discrimination to explicitly include immigration status and citizenship status as protected categories, ensuring immigrants and non-citizens receive the same legal protections against discrimination as current residents. The legislation amends existing state statutes to prohibit discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations based on these statuses, while allowing distinctions only when required by federal law or national interest. By updating legal definitions and declarations within the state's anti-discrimination framework, the bill aims to provide clearer legal grounds for individuals to seek remedies for discrimination without needing to prove citizenship.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a five-year pilot program in New Jersey to help public schools, charter schools, and renaissance schools establish community schools that integrate education with health, family, and community services. The program will be managed by an external organization or university selected by the state, which will provide training, technical assistance, and site coordinators to support participating schools in meeting four key goals: integrated student supports, expanded learning time, family engagement, and collaborative leadership. Each county will have one public school assigned a site coordinator to help launch and manage the community school, while the state will publicly list all participating schools and share best practices statewide.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey institutions of higher education to provide annual victim-centered training to employees and student staff who assist students reporting sexual assault. The training targets employees involved in receiving reports, providing services, conducting disciplinary proceedings, residence-life advisors, peer advisors, and campus security personnel. Key provisions mandate that training covers institutional policies, relevant state and federal laws, coordinated response roles, victim assistance, and compassionate communication techniques. The legislation defines a victim-centered response as a systematic focus on victim needs that ensures compassionate, nonjudgmental service delivery while maintaining safety and privacy. This requirement takes effect immediately and applies to the academic year following the bill's enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires several New Jersey transportation and development authorities to consider minorities and women when hiring employees and awarding contracts. It specifically mandates the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, Economic Development Authority, Community Redevelopment Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Delaware River Port Authority to prioritize these groups when feasible. The legislation also requires these organizations to publish quarterly reports on their websites detailing employee and contractor demographics by gender, race, and ethnicity, along with salary and contract information. The bill defines minority and women-owned businesses as those at least 51 percent owned and controlled by the respective groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new program within New Jersey's Department of Education to offer extended learning time opportunities, such as before and after school programs, in specific communities affected by high cannabis-related crime and poverty. It designates "impact zones" as municipalities that meet certain criteria related to marijuana arrests, crime rates, and unemployment, and requires these districts to develop and implement programs that provide academic and enrichment services during non-school hours. The program will be funded using a portion of state cannabis revenue, and districts must hold public hearings and submit detailed plans outlining services, staffing, schedules, and costs for approval by the state education commissioner.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates August 10 of each year as Ecuador Day in New Jersey to honor the country's independence and celebrate the state's large Ecuadorian immigrant community. The resolution requests the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials and citizens to observe the day with appropriate programs and activities. It recognizes the historical partnership between the United States and Ecuador, including trade relations and cultural exchanges, while highlighting New Jersey's significant population of Ecuadorian residents. The bill is a commemorative measure with no changes to laws or regulations.