Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill requires all public colleges and universities in New Jersey to create campus food waste reduction programs. The programs must redirect unused food from dining halls, events, and facilities to local food security programs like soup kitchens and pantries, while following all food safety standards. Institutions must also submit annual reports to the Governor and Legislature detailing their contributions and post these reports online. The law aims to reduce food waste while supporting community food assistance efforts.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies to conduct detailed cost analyses before outsourcing public services to private companies. It mandates agencies to evaluate all costs - including hidden expenses like lost tax revenue, retraining for displaced workers, and monitoring fees - before approving any outsourcing contract. Agencies must publicly disclose these analyses, including projected savings and staffing costs, prior to soliciting bids. The law aims to ensure outsourcing decisions prioritize public service quality and cost-effectiveness over private contracting, directly affecting state agencies and employees whose roles might be outsourced.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey public employees' contributions to flexible spending accounts (FSAs) to follow the same annual inflation-adjusted limit as federal law. It applies to all state, local government, and school district employees who participate in employer-sponsored FSAs for medical/dental expenses. The key provision mandates that the contribution limit - currently $3,200 for 2024 - be updated yearly to match the federal inflation-adjusted amount, rather than using a fixed state limit. This ensures public employees' FSA benefits stay aligned with federal tax code standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of the Treasury to conduct and publicly report a triennial stress test analyzing the state's ability to maintain essential services during economic shifts. The analysis must include projections of tax and federal revenue, comparisons to historical trends, expected changes in spending, accounting of state reserves (like the Surplus Revenue Fund), and recession response options. The report must be posted online and included in the Governor's annual budget message. This applies directly to state budget planning and fiscal transparency, affecting how New Jersey prepares for economic downturns. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 455) is mislabeled in its title; the actual text amends **special probation rules for substance use disorder cases**, not expungement statutes. It creates a new "special probation" option for individuals with substance use disorders convicted of certain offenses (excluding serious violent crimes), requiring a court to assess their condition, confirm the offense was drug/alcohol-related, and ensure no prior violent convictions. If approved, offenders must enter licensed residential or nonresidential treatment (including medication-assisted therapy) with regular drug testing, replacing incarceration. The bill directly affects people with substance use disorders who meet strict eligibility criteria, aiming to reduce prison time by prioritizing treatment over punishment. *(Note: The bill's title incorrectly references "expungement" despite the text focusing solely on probation and treatment programs.)*

Maddy summaryS 536 modifies penalties for underage casino gambling in New Jersey. It changes current law so that courts may choose to impose a fine (between $500-$1,000) *or* require participation in a compulsive gambling prevention program, rather than mandating both. The bill directly affects individuals under 21 who gamble in casinos, as courts now have discretion in sentencing. It does not change the underlying offense (gambling under 21 remains illegal) or the age threshold (21, the legal drinking age). The program must meet criteria set by the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill would replace current voting systems with ranked-choice voting for New Jersey's state and federal elections. It directly affects voters in races for Governor, State Senate, General Assembly, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and presidential primaries/elections, requiring them to rank candidates in order of preference. The process counts votes in rounds: if no candidate reaches 50%+1 (for governor/senate/US House) or 33%+1 (for Assembly) in the first count, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated each round until one meets the threshold. Ballots are redistributed based on voters' ranked choices until a winner achieves the required majority.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 561) amends New Jersey's alcohol licensing laws to allow small breweries (with limited brewery licenses) to sell products from other licensed beverage producers on their premises. Specifically, it permits breweries to sell wine, cider, mead, or distilled spirits made by wineries, cideries, meaderies, or distilleries that produce no more than 250,000 gallons annually. The key change removes previous restrictions, enabling these small breweries to offer a wider variety of products to customers directly at their locations. This directly affects small breweries and other beverage producers seeking to expand their on-site offerings under existing licensing rules.

Maddy summaryS 258 requires landlords of public housing for seniors to waive late fees for tenants who are hospitalized or admitted to a health care facility. It mandates that landlords accept written proof of hospitalization to eliminate late charges during the stay and for five business days after discharge. Tenants remain responsible for rent due before lease termination, and the grace period doesn’t apply if they’re immediately admitted to another facility without returning home. Violations carry fines up to $500, enforced by the Attorney General. This bill directly affects seniors aged 62+ (or surviving spouses 55+) in subsidized senior housing.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 1188) amends New Jersey's "Extended Employment Act" to modernize support for people with significant disabilities. It revises key definitions - such as replacing "sheltered workshop" with "extended employment" to describe nonprofit-run programs providing work opportunities for individuals with disabilities who cannot compete in the open labor market. The bill updates funding mechanisms to tie annual increases to the CPI-W index (not fixed amounts) and requires contracted providers to submit detailed annual reports on participant outcomes. It directly affects nonprofit service providers administering these programs and people with significant disabilities who qualify for extended employment services. The changes aim to better align program structure with current vocational rehabilitation standards.