Sen. Teresa Ruiz

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May 17 of each year as "Menstrual Empowerment Day" in New Jersey to honor the birthday of Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, an inventor who created an early menstrual hygiene product. The resolution calls on the Governor to issue an annual proclamation encouraging public officials, organizations, and citizens to observe the day with awareness activities and programs. The legislation aims to promote menstrual health, reduce stigma, and recognize Kenner's contributions to menstrual product innovation. This is a symbolic measure that does not change laws or allocate funding but establishes an annual observance date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Commissioner of Corrections to provide family planning services to female inmates at least 10 days before their release from state correctional facilities. It amends the existing Fair Release and Reentry Act of 2009, which already mandates that all inmates receive various documents and resources to assist with reentry, such as medical records, prescription medications, and information on voting and employment. The provision specifically targets female inmates by adding family planning services to the list of required pre-release resources. This change aims to support women transitioning back into society by ensuring they have access to reproductive health planning before leaving incarceration.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create and enforce standardized protocols for collecting and analyzing maternity care data at all hospitals and licensed birthing centers. The law mandates the collection of specific patient information, including maternal demographics, pregnancy complications, delivery methods, and infant health outcomes, to evaluate the quality of care provided. The Department of Health will use this data to establish statewide performance benchmarks, identify areas for improvement, and encourage healthcare facilities to participate in quality improvement initiatives. Additionally, the Commissioner of Health must submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing findings and any recommended policy changes based on the evaluation results.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates November each year as "Hospice and Palliative Care Awareness Month" in New Jersey to increase public understanding of end-of-life care options. The resolution requests that the Governor issue an annual proclamation on November 1 to encourage state residents and officials to participate in awareness activities and programs. It does not change laws or funding but serves as a symbolic measure to educate the public about supportive care for people with life-limiting illnesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Administrative Office of the Courts to translate certain criminal court documents, such as indictments and plea agreements, into the primary languages of defendants, witnesses, and legal guardians. It mandates that these documents be provided in nine specific languages including Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and Hindi, and allows for the use of interpreters to assist with written translations when feasible. Additionally, the bill requires courthouses to post signs in multiple languages informing individuals with limited English proficiency of their right to receive translated documents and language assistance services. The Administrative Office of the Courts will determine which specific documents require translation based on community needs and will develop policies to implement these requirements.

Maddy summaryThis Senate resolution urges the federal government to create a permanent WIC waiver program that would allow states to let participants use their benefits to buy different brands and types of infant formula during public emergencies. The bill directly affects low-income families in New Jersey and other states who rely on the WIC program for infant nutrition, particularly those who use formula because they cannot breastfeed. It seeks to prevent future shortages from leaving parents without access to necessary formula by giving state agencies flexibility to authorize alternative products when supply chains are disrupted. The resolution is a formal request to the USDA to establish this waiver system, which would be activated only when emergencies threaten infant formula availability.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill requires health insurers to cover home blood pressure monitoring for pregnant patients diagnosed with preeclampsia, a dangerous high blood pressure condition that can harm both mother and baby. The legislation mandates that healthcare professionals provide validated home blood pressure monitors to affected patients and reimburse providers for time spent training patients on device use and interpreting results. Insurance contracts issued or renewed in the state must include this coverage to the same extent as other medical conditions, ensuring consistent access to monitoring tools that can help detect blood pressure spikes between clinical appointments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create and distribute a free resource guide about preeclampsia and gestational diabetes to all pregnant patients receiving care at state-licensed hospitals and birthing centers. The guide must be provided during patient intake, available in languages patients understand, and include information on symptoms, health effects, and strategies for communicating concerns to healthcare providers. The Department of Health will also make the guide available online in printable formats and update it as needed to ensure current information.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to add social media development services to its Small Business E-commerce Support Program. The change directly affects eligible small businesses in New Jersey, including restaurants, retail stores, and personal care businesses, by expanding the digital marketing assistance they can receive. Under the current program, businesses already get help with website development and e-commerce platforms, but this legislation specifically mandates the inclusion of social media platform development as an additional service. The provision applies only to the Small Business E-commerce Support Program and does not extend to other pilot products under the Main Street Recovery Finance Program once that specific program ends.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health to create a survey that asks women about their experiences with maternity care services, including how providers treated them and whether their concerns were addressed. The survey would be offered to women receiving care at hospitals, birthing centers, or clinics within 14 to 90 days after pregnancy ends or after completing reproductive care treatments, regardless of whether the pregnancy resulted in a live birth. Collected data would be analyzed to identify care disparities across different racial, cultural, and socioeconomic groups, and the results would be published online while a report with recommendations is submitted to the Legislature within 18 months.