Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey public employees who retired from the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS) to return to elected local office (like mayor or city council member) with their former employer without losing retirement benefits. To qualify, retirees must have retired after reaching service retirement age, the new position must pay under $12,000 annually, and they must begin the role after receiving their first retirement payment. It applies only to retirees who left service for reasons other than disability. The bill removes a prior barrier preventing such retirees from serving locally while keeping their retirement income.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2481 ("Home Business Jobs Creation Act"), would allow certain home-based businesses to operate as permitted accessory uses in residential zones across New Jersey, directly affecting residents running small businesses from their homes. It sets specific conditions: the business must not disrupt residential neighbors (e.g., no excessive visitors, noise, visible signage, or traffic), must not generate unusual waste, and must comply with existing insurance requirements. Municipalities may set minor standards for visitor volume or delivery traffic but cannot override the bill’s core rules. The law would not apply to properties in common-interest communities (like HOAs) with existing restrictions against home businesses. The bill is pending and has not yet been enacted.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey bill S 2476 requires certain health insurance policies - including hospital service, medical service, health service, individual, and group health plans - to cover routine foot care services provided by podiatric physicians. It defines "routine foot care" as treatment for asymptomatic corns, calluses, or toenails (excluding cases involving metabolic disease), and mandates equal reimbursement for the same procedures regardless of provider type. The bill applies to all applicable insurance contracts issued or renewed in New Jersey after its effective date, requiring insurers to provide lists of excluded foot care services upon request. This policy change directly affects insurance companies, healthcare providers, and patients seeking routine podiatric care.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2470 requires the Department of Health to create a standardized curriculum for community health workers who support women of childbearing age. The curriculum covers critical topics like maternal health conditions, infant mortality risks, breastfeeding, perinatal mood disorders, substance use during pregnancy, and state resources for referrals. It mandates including practical elements such as shared decision-making and informed consent. The Department may use existing resources from other states, federal agencies, or health organizations. This curriculum will be promoted as best practice for doulas, nurse home visitors, and childbirth educators statewide.

Maddy summaryS 1068 creates the Office on Women's Research and Policy within New Jersey's Department of Children and Families to study and address issues affecting women. The office will conduct research on topics like workforce status, childcare access, education equity, and violence against women; identify data gaps; and share findings with state policymakers. It establishes a dedicated $150,000 fund for initial operations and transfers historical records from the Commission to Study Sex Discrimination to the new office. The office will collaborate with existing groups like the New Jersey Advisory Commission on the Status of Women and Rutgers' Institute for Women's Leadership to inform state policy decisions.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities with fewer than 2,500 residents (based on the latest federal census) to opt out of the state’s civil service system (Title 11A) by passing a local ordinance. The local government must submit the ordinance to the Civil Service Commission, and the change takes effect six months after approval. Once a municipality opts out, it cannot rejoin the civil service system for five years and may only do so once. This applies only to towns currently operating under Title 11A’s civil service rules.

Maddy summaryThis bill eliminates the requirement that New Jersey's high school graduation proficiency test be administered to 11th grade students. It revises existing law to remove the specific mandate for testing 11th graders, while maintaining the requirement for students to demonstrate proficiency through other means to graduate. The change directly affects current 11th grade students and future cohorts, removing a standardized test requirement they previously had to take. The bill focuses on modifying assessment administration timing without altering the overall graduation proficiency standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases penalties for domestic violence offenders in New Jersey. It adds a new $1,500 civil penalty (payable $500 yearly for three years) and raises a surcharge on convictions from $100 to $500. All money from these penalties and surcharges flows into the new "Domestic Violence Victims' Legal Assistance Fund." The fund directly supports organizations providing victims with legal advocacy, medical referrals, and other direct services, with no mention of how the fund will be administered beyond its designated purpose.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a property tax exemption for New Jersey veterans with service-connected disabilities, calculated proportionally to their disability rating (e.g., 50% disability = 50% exemption). It directly affects veterans declared by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to have a service-connected disability of at least 30% (or deemed unemployable due to such disability), and their surviving spouses under specific conditions. The state will reimburse municipalities 102% of the tax revenue lost from these exemptions, with a $10,000 cap for partial exemptions (below 100% disability).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Turnpike Authority (NJTA) and South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) to create a program waiving E-ZPass toll fees for vehicles used by qualified disabled veteran-owned businesses. It directly affects businesses in New Jersey that are at least 51% owned by disabled veterans (certified by the VA with ≥10% service-connected disability), generate $2,500+ in annual revenue, and operate within the state. To qualify, vehicles must be owned/leased by a disabled veteran, registered in New Jersey, and linked to an active E-ZPass account. The waiver applies to all electronic toll collection fees charged by NJTA or SJTA for these business vehicles.