Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill designates May of each year as "Water Safety Month" in New Jersey to raise public awareness about safe water practices and prevent drowning. It directly affects K-5 public school students by encouraging the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE), in consultation with the Department of Health, to provide resources for schools to host water safety education programs during this month. The bill requires DOE to support school districts in organizing presentations and activities - potentially with nonprofit partners - to teach age-appropriate water safety skills. It does not create new laws or funding but urges existing state agencies to promote education on drowning prevention.

Maddy summaryS 289 requires New Jersey's Chief Diversity Officer (in the Department of Treasury) to partner with the Business Action Center and Economic Development Authority to organize regular outreach events and training programs. These programs directly support certified minority and women-owned businesses by providing accessible technical, managerial, financial, and marketing assistance. Key provisions include virtual and in-person workshops at community locations (like non-profits or faith-based sites) to improve these businesses' access to state contracting opportunities. The bill mandates these activities to promote greater participation of certified minority and women-owned businesses in state procurement.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2332, amends New Jersey's affordable housing law to exclude certain environmentally protected or flood-prone lands from counting toward a municipality's obligation to provide affordable housing. Specifically, it removes lands where development is already prohibited or heavily restricted by environmental laws (like flood zones or conservation areas), agricultural preservation covenants, historic sites, or small private parcels under five housing units. Municipalities will no longer need to count these excluded lands when calculating their "fair share" of affordable housing requirements under state law. The change clarifies that lands already legally off-limits for development cannot be forced into housing projects.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires Administrative Law Judges (ALJs) in New Jersey's Office of Administrative Law to enroll in the Workers Compensation Judges Part of the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), removing them from an existing exclusion. Currently, ALJs are excluded from this retirement system under state law, but the bill amends Section 2(a)(2) of P.L. 2007, c.92 to include them. The change directly affects ALJs who serve in the Office of Administrative Law within the Department of State. It does not alter retirement benefits or create new provisions - only updates their mandatory enrollment status in the existing PERS framework.

Maddy summaryThis bill changes penalties for underage gambling in New Jersey from criminal charges to civil fines. It directly affects underage gamblers (under 21), casino licensees/employees who allow underage gambling, and caregivers who permit it. Key provisions set tiered civil penalties: up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000 for a second, and $2,000 for subsequent offenses. All collected fines must fund gambling addiction prevention, education, and treatment programs through the Department of Human Services. The bill removes criminal penalties while redirecting fines to support treatment services.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 265) changes how New Jersey reimburses state employees for using their personal vehicles on official business. It sets the reimbursement rate at the federal IRS standard mileage rate for business use (currently $0.67/mile for 2024), instead of the current fixed rate of $0.18 per mile adjusted biannually for gas prices. The key change removes the need for annual state budget adjustments to reflect gasoline price fluctuations. This directly affects all state employees who drive their personal cars for work-related travel. The bill repeals the existing provision requiring biannual rate adjustments.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 248) expands the state's child tax credit to include children aged six through 11, while increasing credit amounts for both children under age six and those aged six to 11 over a two-year period. For 2023-2024, taxpayers with children under six receive up to $750 (for income under $30,000) and those with children aged six to 11 receive up to $500 (for income under $30,000), with credits phasing out completely at $80,000 income. Starting in 2025, maximum credits rise to $1,000 for children under six and $600 for children aged six to 11 for low-income households. The credit is refundable and applies to all filing statuses, affecting New Jersey taxpayers with qualifying children in these age groups.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides financial allowances (like tax credits) for redevelopment projects by colleges/universities or financially struggling hospitals under New Jersey's Aspire program. It allows these institutions to claim incentives during a defined eligibility period (up to 10 years, or 5 years for certain projects). The bill amends existing law to clarify key terms like "distressed hospital" (hospitals facing financial hardship) and "commercial project" to determine eligibility. Note: The bill was withdrawn after being approved as part of P.L.2025, c.313, meaning it is now law.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires correctional police officers in New Jersey state correctional facilities to wear body-worn cameras during specific duties. Officers must wear cameras when assigned to the Special Operations Group, working in close custody units (areas for disciplinary housing), housing units (sleeping areas), providing mobile security, or interacting with the public. The law defines "body-worn camera" as a device recording audio/video during official duties, excluding vehicle-mounted systems or undercover use. The bill takes effect seven months after enactment and directly affects correctional officers performing these specified tasks.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's state-administered pension funds from investing in corporations that shift operations or ownership outside the U.S. to lower their effective tax rate by 20% or more within three years. It directly affects pension funds managing public employee retirement savings and corporations using tax-driven "inversions." The law requires the state to sell all violating investments within three years of enactment and mandates two reporting deadlines: a 60-day initial report listing current violations and annual reports until all such investments are divested. Key provisions define "shift in operations" as moving income sources abroad and "shift in ownership" as acquiring foreign assets to reduce U.S. tax liability.