Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new certification pathway for Montessori educators in New Jersey seeking preschool-grade 3 or elementary (K-6) teaching credentials. Candidates must hold a Montessori credential from approved organizations (American Montessori Society, Association Montessori Internationale, or MAC-TE accredited), a bachelor's degree, and pass required tests. It eliminates standard requirements like 50 pre-service hours, 350 post-employment credits, or 24 additional credits for these candidates. Instead, they must complete a Montessori-specific program requiring 200 academic hours and 400 practicum hours, after which they receive a certificate of eligibility.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 1393, would allow registered medical cannabis patients in New Jersey to grow cannabis at home for their personal medical use. It specifically permits registered qualifying patients or their designated caregivers (who must be 18+, registered with the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, and not currently serving as a caregiver for more than one patient) to cultivate cannabis in their residence. The law explicitly excludes commercial entities, as home cultivation would not apply to permit holders like dispensaries or clinical registrants. This change would amend existing medical cannabis laws to add a personal cultivation option while maintaining registration requirements and background checks for caregivers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year "Male Teachers of Color Mentorship Pilot Program" in New Jersey, targeting male students of color enrolled in the final year of educator preparation programs at participating colleges and male teachers of color in school districts, charter schools, or renaissance schools. It requires pairing each eligible student with a mentor teacher for their final academic year and the first two years of employment, if hired by the same district. The program appropriates $95,000 from the General Fund, including a $5,000 annual stipend for participating mentors, and mandates school districts to make a good-faith effort to hire students who receive favorable performance reviews. The Commissioner of Education must submit a report on the program's effectiveness and recommend potential expansion after the pilot concludes.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Medicaid program to cover emergency contraceptives purchased over the counter without needing a prescription or provider approval. It directly affects Medicaid recipients who currently must pay out-of-pocket for these products when obtained without a prescription. The key provision mandates that Medicaid managed care organizations include this coverage in their plans, removing the requirement for a prescription or "authorization" (defined as any provider approval). This change would improve access to emergency contraception by eliminating unnecessary medical visits for coverage, aligning Medicaid coverage with over-the-counter availability.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides a temporary tax credit for New Jersey businesses that build or improve child care facilities for their employees' children. Businesses can claim a credit equal to 50% of up to $50,000 in qualifying expenses for real property used to operate a child care center primarily serving employees' children. To qualify, businesses must agree to use the facility for 60 consecutive months and submit documentation to the state tax authority. Failure to maintain the facility as required (without exceptions like disasters) triggers repayment of the credit plus interest.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2250 increases Medicaid reimbursement rates for primary care services to match Medicare rates for the most commonly used medical billing codes in 2022, using $20 million in state funding. It directly affects primary care providers - including family doctors, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and midwives - who serve Medicaid patients in both fee-for-service and managed care systems. The bill requires the state to calculate rate increases so that the total annual cost equals $20 million combined with expected federal matching funds, without lowering current reimbursement rates. It also mandates a report within one year on how these changes impact access to care and service quality for Medicaid beneficiaries, including recommendations for underserved areas.

Maddy summaryS 1193 (New Jersey) allows eligible voters who missed the 21-day registration deadline to register and vote on election day or during early voting. It permits registration at assigned polling places on election day or at early voting sites by providing ID or address verification (e.g., utility bill, photo ID) and completing a provisional ballot affirmation. This directly affects voters who did not register before the deadline but appear at their polling location or early voting site during the early voting period. The bill amends Section 19:31-6 of New Jersey law to establish this process, ensuring provisional ballots are counted if requirements are met. It does not change the standard 21-day registration deadline for regular voting.

Maddy summaryS 1272 allows limited breweries in New Jersey to sell products from small wineries (under 250,000 gallons annually), cideries, meaderies, and craft distilleries on their licensed premises. This amendment to the state's alcohol licensing law (R.S.33:1-10) expands what limited breweries can offer to customers directly. The change specifically permits these on-premises sales for products made by other small producers within defined size limits. It applies only to licensed retail locations operated by limited breweries, not to wholesale distribution.

Maddy summaryS 1575 establishes a three-year pilot program called the MOM Project within New Jersey's Department of Health, targeting low-income pregnant women and new mothers who are not enrolled in Medicaid and live in medically underserved areas. The program requires maternal health consortia to provide at least three hours of culturally tailored oral health education (covering hygiene, nutrition, and disease prevention) followed by assessments, then partners with community dental centers to deliver one year of dental care including cleanings, cavity assessments, and necessary treatments. It appropriates $4,150,000 for implementation and data collection to evaluate impacts on maternal and child oral health outcomes. The initiative directly affects eligible mothers in underserved communities by addressing barriers like lack of insurance and language access.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2006) requires specific healthcare providers - such as physicians, nurses, and midwives - to conduct regular, private screenings for intimate partner violence during patient visits. If a screening suggests abuse, providers must document findings, immediately provide victims with local resources and referrals, and ensure patients reapprove who can access their medical records (preventing abusers from obtaining them). The bill mandates that the state’s health and children’s departments update resource lists biennially for providers. It applies directly to patients experiencing intimate partner violence and healthcare professionals treating them.