Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to create a program that helps businesses understand and adopt employee ownership models, such as worker cooperatives or stock ownership plans. To support this goal, the program will offer funding for feasibility studies, provide expert consulting advice, and publish educational resources online for both employers and employees. Eligible businesses must be located in New Jersey, have at least 20 full-time employees, and maintain good standing with state agencies to receive these services. Additionally, the authority will partner with educational institutions to offer early-stage technical assistance to smaller companies that may not yet be ready for a transition.

Maddy summaryThis bill directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to create a program that helps businesses explore transitioning to employee ownership models, where workers hold shares or equity in their company. The initiative provides financial assistance to cover the costs of feasibility studies for eligible businesses with at least 20 full-time employees and offers ongoing advisory support to those choosing to make the transition. Additionally, the program will publish educational resources online and conduct outreach through partnerships with schools and nonprofits to raise awareness among businesses of all sizes. The legislation defines various employee ownership structures, including worker cooperatives and stock ownership plans, and establishes specific criteria for businesses and contractors to qualify for the program's services.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency to provide reimbursements to qualified counselors for offering pre-purchase homebuyer counseling services. The legislation expands the existing Foreclosure Mediation Assistance Program, which currently funds counselors who help homeowners facing foreclosure or mortgage difficulties, to also include those assisting potential homebuyers before they purchase a property. By creating a dedicated funding account, the bill ensures that these counselors can receive payment for their work in providing early intervention education aimed at preventing future mortgage delinquency and foreclosure. This change directly affects homeowners and renters seeking guidance on buying a home as well as the counseling agencies that deliver these services.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the New Jersey State Department of the Treasury to create a list of unused state-owned land and buildings that are not currently generating revenue or serving a public purpose. State agencies must submit these lists every two years, after which officials will analyze each site to determine if it can be developed into low- or moderate-income housing. The final report detailing these findings will be sent to the Governor and the Legislature and made available online every two years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors working on New Jersey public works projects to verify that each craft worker meets specific qualifications. Contractors must register electronically and confirm workers either completed a federally compliant apprenticeship program or have four years of documented work experience in their craft. Workers covered by union collective bargaining agreements (which determine prevailing wages) are exempt from these requirements. The law directly affects contractors and craft workers on state-funded construction projects by setting clear, verifiable standards for employment.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires contractors working on New Jersey public works projects to verify that all craftworkers meet minimum qualifications. Specifically, it mandates that contractors register electronically and provide proof that each journeyperson has either completed a registered apprenticeship program meeting federal standards or has four years of documented work experience (with union members under certain collective bargaining agreements exempt). The law also requires contractors to confirm they participate in approved apprenticeship programs for any craftworkers they employ. These requirements apply directly to contractors bidding on or performing state-funded construction projects.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 3411 establishes a Social Media Research Center at a public four-year university to study social media's impact on youth mental health. The center will research risks like excessive use linked to depression (e.g., double risk after 3+ hours daily), develop safe social media courses for public schools, and make recommendations to address mental health challenges. It will administer a competitive grant program for external research, modeled on NIH standards, and require state agencies to share relevant data upon request. The center must report annually to the Governor and Legislature on its research, funding, and future plans. This bill directly affects New Jersey students, schools, and state agencies focused on youth health and safety.

Maddy summaryS 3413, the "New Jersey Kids Code Act," requires online services likely accessed by minors to implement age-appropriate design standards. It directly affects major platforms with significant child users (like social media and gaming services), mandating default privacy settings that protect minors and prohibiting the use of their data for harmful purposes. Key provisions include designing products with children’s developmental needs in mind, preventing exposure to harmful content, and ensuring data practices don’t negatively impact minors’ well-being. The law adopts New Jersey’s version of an "Age-Appropriate Design Code" to create safer online experiences for children.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Division of Travel and Tourism to create and maintain a public website listing all state historic sites, districts, and roadside markers. The website must include searchable maps, driving directions (from all compass points), photos, tour details, contact information for site owners, and links to local historical programs. It will be updated whenever new sites are added by state agencies like the Department of Environmental Protection or Department of Transportation. This directly benefits tourists, historians, and local communities by centralizing access to historic resource information in one accessible online platform.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 229 requires colleges and universities to collect and publicly report detailed employment outcomes and earnings data for recent graduates, along with other key metrics like graduation rates, costs, and financial aid. Institutions must post annual, disaggregated data (by race, gender, income, and other factors) on their websites, including employment rates, average student debt, and cost projections for different student scenarios. This transparency aims to help prospective students and families compare institutions based on concrete outcomes rather than general information. The law applies to all higher education institutions in New Jersey, with reports due annually and linked directly from application pages. The Secretary of Higher Education will also compile comparative profiles to help students easily evaluate institutions.