Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill adds 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH), a psychoactive compound found in Kratom, to New Jersey's Schedule I list of controlled substances. It directly affects anyone possessing, manufacturing, distributing, or using 7-OH in the state. Under the law, 7-OH would be classified as a substance with "high potential for abuse" and "no accepted medical use," making it illegal for non-medical purposes. Possession of 1 ounce or more would be a second-degree crime, while smaller amounts would be a third-degree crime under New Jersey's drug laws.

Maddy summaryS 1796 requires New Jersey health insurance plans to cover prostate cancer screening without cost-sharing (like deductibles or copays) for men aged 40-75 with specific risk factors, including family history of prostate cancer. The bill mandates that group health insurance policies (for groups over 49 people) cover annual screenings - such as digital rectal exams and PSA tests - as well as follow-up tests like imaging or lab work. This applies to all health service, hospital service, and medical service corporation contracts in New Jersey. The law affects insurance carriers by expanding existing coverage requirements and directly benefits men in the specified age group with risk factors.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission to offer walk-in services at all its agency locations for at least two full days each week. It mandates that the commission serve walk-in customers on a first-come, first-served basis for all available services. The law aims to ensure individuals without internet access or digital scheduling options can still access motor vehicle services in person. The changes would take effect three months after enactment, though the commission may begin preparations earlier.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs $3 million in annual funding from the Social Equity Excise Fee, a tax on cannabis sales, to support Freedom Schools across New Jersey. The money will be allocated to the Department of State to provide financial assistance for these programs, which offer academic summer classes and year-round tutoring and homework help to K-12 students and their families. The legislation overrides previous funding restrictions to ensure this specific revenue stream is used for this purpose. The act takes effect immediately upon passage.

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 creates a nine-member Revolutionary War Park Study Commission to study whether three existing New Jersey historical sites - Washington Crossing State Park, Trenton Battle Monument, and Princeton Battlefield State Park - could be combined into a single National Historical Park. The commission would include state officials, elected representatives, and public members with expertise in history, architecture, planning, engineering, or archaeology, and would examine feasibility, potential impacts on communities and businesses, and solutions to any challenges that might arise. The group must submit a final report to the Governor and Legislature within one year of its first meeting, and the commission will automatically dissolve once that report is delivered.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey State agencies currently located at 300 and 400 Riverview Plaza in Trenton to relocate their offices to other suitable locations within the city as soon as reasonably possible. It directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to actively recruit private businesses to occupy the vacated office space and provides incentives, including priority consideration for business assistance programs and potential bonuses, to encourage private entities to move into the property. The legislation also authorizes the Economic Development Authority to coordinate with various state departments to support redevelopment efforts, including workforce development, transportation improvements, and housing expansion.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Code Blue Shelter Matching Grant Program within New Jersey's Department of Community Affairs (DCA). It provides matching grants to community-based nonprofits (with 501(c)(3) status) that offer shelter during Code Blue alerts - extreme cold weather emergencies - by matching funds they received from counties or municipalities within the past year. To qualify, nonprofits must submit detailed applications about their finances, the source grant amount, and how funds will be used, with DCA awarding grants in order of receipt and capping total matching funds per county/municipality at $50,000 annually. The program requires a three-year effectiveness report to the Governor and Legislature on how well it addresses shelter needs for homeless and at-risk individuals.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a refundable tax credit for New Jersey renters whose rent exceeds 35% of their gross income. It directly affects low-to-moderate income residents (earning under $60,000 annually) living in the state, with credit amounts based on income level and location: up to 100% of excess rent for those earning under $25,000 (or under $50,000 in high-cost areas), 75% for middle-income renters, and 50% for higher-income renters in non-high-cost areas. The credit, capped at $1,000 per year, is applied against state income tax and can be claimed retroactively for the previous tax year. Renters receiving federal or state housing subsidies instead receive a credit equal to 1/12 of their unsubsidized rent.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all New Jersey high school students pursuing a state-endorsed diploma to complete a one-semester financial literacy course. It directly affects high school students by mandating curriculum covering budgeting, savings, credit, debt, taxes, college financial planning, banking, and consumer skills. The course must be taught by teachers with appropriate endorsements and cannot be satisfied by existing economics or business courses. The requirement applies to students entering 12th grade in the 2027-2028 school year.