Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill shifts $45 million in state funding for opioid care from the Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to the General Fund for the 2026 fiscal year. The funds must be distributed to four specific hospitals - $10 million to Hackensack, $15 million to RWJ Barnabas, $15 million to Cooper, and $5 million to Atlantic Health - to provide opioid-related treatment. Each hospital must submit quarterly reports detailing fund usage, patient outcomes, and remaining balances until all funds are expended.

Maddy summaryS 2977 requires chain restaurants with 20 or more locations in New Jersey to meet specific nutritional standards for children's meals (sold as a single-price combo for kids). The bill mandates that these meals contain no more than 550 calories, 700mg sodium, 15g added sugar, and 0g trans fat, while including at least ½ cup of fresh fruits/vegetables and healthier beverage options like water or milk (not sugary drinks). Restaurants must clearly display the nutritional content of compliant meals on menus or signage. Violations can result in fines up to $1,000 per offense, enforced by the Department of Health.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey school boards to use competitive bidding when purchasing insurance or hiring insurance consultants, directly affecting school districts across the state. It mandates that consultants be paid a fixed fee (not commissions) by the school board, prohibits insurers from paying consultants for services related to school contracts, and requires annual disclosures of past commissions received from insurers. School boards must include these requirements in bidding documents and publish procurement notices in local media and online. Violations allow school boards to terminate contracts and seek reimbursement for improper payments. The law aims to prevent conflicts of interest in school insurance procurement.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 3345, authorizes state funding to cover relocation expenses and safety costs for people who help police by testifying in court (including confidential informants). It directly affects cooperating witnesses who face threats due to their involvement in criminal cases. The bill adds specific protections to New Jersey’s Crime Victim’s Bill of Rights, guaranteeing these witnesses "protection from harm and threats of harm arising out of their cooperation" with law enforcement. Key mechanisms include requiring the Victims of Crime Compensation Office to fund relocation and safety measures, and explicitly listing safety protection as a right under the existing bill.

Maddy summaryS 3364 extends eligibility for New Jersey's Schools Development Authority (SDA) Section 15 grants to the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf. These grants cover the state share of costs for health and safety facility projects, such as building repairs or upgrades, which were previously only available to regular operating school districts. The school can now apply for a one-time grant under the same process used by other districts, requiring it to secure local financing before the state portion is disbursed. This change directly affects the Marie H. Katzenbach School for the Deaf, enabling it to access funding for critical facility improvements.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes when New Jersey's Probation Division can file child support judgments as liens against a parent's property. It requires that a lien be filed only when the total child support judgment equals or exceeds one month's required payment, preventing automatic liens for minor, temporary payment delays. This primarily affects parents who owe child support (obligors) and the Probation Division, which handles these filings. The change aims to avoid unfairly triggering liens due to timing mismatches between pay periods and payment deadlines.

Maddy summarySCR 81 is a New Jersey concurrent resolution requesting the U.S. President and Congress to amend federal Medicaid rules to permit federal funding for substance use disorder treatment programs currently excluded under the "IMD exclusion." This exclusion prevents Medicaid reimbursement for inpatient and outpatient treatment in facilities classified as Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMDs), forcing states to cover full costs. The resolution seeks to repeal or modify this exclusion - allowing states like New Jersey to use federal Medicaid funds for these programs - thereby reducing state financial burdens and expanding access to treatment for individuals with substance use disorders.

Maddy summaryS 3332 requires New Jersey public water systems to notify customers of boil water notices via phone, email, or text message - using each customer's preferred contact method - beginning 90 days after the bill becomes law. It mandates that systems provide notices within 24 hours of an emergency, including specific details like affected areas, corrective actions, and a contact number. Water systems must collect customer contact preferences within 60 days of enactment and maintain the capability to send electronic or text alerts. This bill directly affects all public water systems (excluding transient systems) and their customers in New Jersey.

Maddy summarySJR 78 is a symbolic resolution designating May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey. It does not create new laws or allocate funds but requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to encourage public awareness about smoking risks for youth. The resolution aims to support prevention efforts targeting middle and high school students, referencing New Jersey's high youth tobacco use rates and annual smoking-related costs (over 11,000 deaths and $2.6 billion in expenses). This designation is procedural, focusing on raising awareness rather than implementing policy changes.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 3329) changes New Jersey's gross income tax rules to benefit taxpayers using specific retirement plans. It excludes certain contributions to deferred compensation plans (like employer-sponsored retirement savings) from taxable income and creates a deduction for eligible individual retirement savings. The key change amends the tax code to remove these specific retirement contributions from the calculation of taxable income. This directly affects New Jersey taxpayers who contribute to qualifying retirement plans, reducing their taxable income for state tax purposes.