Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill sets standards for when rental housing affordability controls expire in New Jersey. It requires landlords to notify tenants 120 days before expiration and mandates income certification (90-180 days prior) to determine if rent can increase. If tenants earn ≤80% of regional median income after expiration, landlords cannot raise rent until they move out; if income exceeds that threshold, landlords may charge market rate at the next lease renewal or 60 days later. The bill also requires leases to prominently display the expiration date and potential rent changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1536) expands eligibility for expunging criminal records in New Jersey by reclassifying certain marijuana-related convictions. Specifically, it treats offenses like possession or distribution of small amounts of marijuana (especially near schools or public spaces) as "disorderly persons offenses" instead of criminal convictions for expungement purposes. This change directly affects individuals with these specific marijuana convictions, allowing them to qualify for expungement under the same rules as minor offenses. The bill maintains a 5-year waiting period after the most recent conviction and requires payment of all financial obligations before applying. It does not alter the existing requirement that applicants cannot have subsequent convictions beyond the specified limits.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1505) requires New Jersey health insurance carriers to cover medical services, equipment, and prescriptions for people under 18 with diagnosed complex medical needs, as determined medically necessary by a licensed provider. It mandates that carriers approve such coverage within three days of receiving a provider’s letter, eliminating pre-approval requirements for covered services. "Complex medical needs" includes conditions that are emergent, life-threatening, substantially disabling, or require specialized care across multiple medical domains. The law applies to all health insurance plans in New Jersey, including state-administered programs like the State Health Benefits Program.

Maddy summaryThis Senate Resolution (SR 46) urges New Jersey residents to support "Small Business Saturday," observed on the Saturday following Thanksgiving each year. It highlights that New Jersey has approximately 800,000 small businesses employing 1.7 million people across diverse sectors like retail, health care, and manufacturing. The resolution encourages residents to shop at these local businesses to help them compete with larger retailers during the holiday season, referencing American Express’s promotional program that offers consumer incentives and subsidized advertising for participating small businesses. As a symbolic resolution, it does not create new laws or funding but aims to raise awareness and promote consumer support for small businesses.

Maddy summaryThis bill extends New Jersey's student information law to for-profit colleges (proprietary schools), requiring them to publish detailed consumer data online. Schools must disclose graduation rates by demographics and major, annual costs (tuition, room, books), faculty composition, and student debt levels. It also restricts state financial aid eligibility for students at these schools unless the institution meets a minimum graduation rate set by the state education secretary. The law applies immediately to all for-profit colleges offering degree programs.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates tax credits for New Jersey businesses that hire qualified ex-offenders. It allows a 15% credit against corporation business tax and gross income tax, capped at $900 per employee, for wages paid to individuals who: (1) were convicted of a first- to fourth-degree crime in New Jersey, and (2) were hired within one year of conviction or release from incarceration. The credit reduces tax liability but cannot exceed 50% of the tax due or lower it below the statutory minimum. Businesses directly benefit by lowering their tax burden when employing eligible former offenders.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Health (DOH) to encourage health care facilities and licensed pediatricians, family practice physicians, and other health care professionals to implement the national "Reach Out and Read" program. The program promotes early literacy by having health care providers discuss age-appropriate reading with parents during well-child visits for children aged 6 months to 5 years. The DOH must provide printed and online resources about the program and post a link to its website for facilities to apply as program sites. The goal is to support children's language development, strengthen parent-child bonds, and integrate literacy guidance into routine pediatric care, based on evidence showing benefits for early childhood development.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires municipal courts in New Jersey to inform applicants for public defender services about any application fee (up to $200) and the process to waive it if they cannot afford it. It directly affects individuals applying for municipal public defender representation in municipalities that charge such fees. The key provision mandates that courts provide clear notice of both the fee amount and waiver procedures before applicants pay. The bill does not change the existing $200 fee limit or waiver criteria but ensures applicants are properly informed of their options.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 1563 revises the Smoke-Free Air Act to prohibit smoking (including electronic devices) in specific outdoor public areas. The bill directly affects visitors and businesses in state/municipal parks, beaches, sports venues, and recreational facilities (like race tracks), while excluding adjacent parking lots. Key provisions define "outdoor public place" to cover these locations and require enforcement by those managing the areas. The change aims to reduce secondhand smoke exposure, litter, and fire risks in public outdoor spaces, aligning with existing indoor smoking bans.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows New Jersey municipalities to allocate up to 30% of their municipal development trust funds - collected from residential construction fees - to provide down payment grants for first-time veteran homebuyers. Each veteran can receive up to $15,000 in grants, which do not count as income for eligibility in other state programs or for tax purposes. The funds must come from existing trust funds designated for affordable housing, not new taxes, and supplement existing state housing assistance programs like the NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency’s low-interest loans. This provision directly benefits veterans purchasing their first home in municipalities that choose to implement it.