Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill expands New Jersey's STEM teacher grant program to include retired teachers who receive retirement benefits from the Teachers' Pension Fund. It adds a specific payment formula for retired teachers (based on statewide average salary × teaching hours × 1.25) and allows teachers in broader STEM fields beyond traditional science/math. The $3.5 million appropriation funds direct payments to eligible teachers (both current and retired) for teaching STEM classes at participating nonpublic schools, replacing previous school district-administered payments. This change aims to increase access to STEM education by incentivizing retired educators to continue teaching.

Maddy summaryThis bill updates New Jersey's charter school rules to improve transparency and access. It requires charter schools to provide enrollment applications in the seven most common non-English languages in their district (based on census data) and prohibits them from setting admission criteria beyond a random lottery for oversubscribed seats. Charter schools must now report annual student exit data (including reasons and placements, without personal details) and appoint a student placement liaison to coordinate transitions. Additionally, charter schools offering athletics must join a voluntary sports association and follow its rules, including residency and grade-level restrictions for non-resident students.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows adults, emancipated minors, and their authorized representatives (like parents or legal guardians) to create a formal written directive preventing healthcare providers from prescribing or administering opioids. The directive must be created using a form developed by the New Jersey Department of Health and entered into the patient's electronic health record. Healthcare providers are protected from liability or disciplinary action for following the directive in good faith, though opioids may still be prescribed if medically necessary. Individuals can revoke the directive at any time, either orally or in writing.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires water suppliers to immediately notify specific entities when drinking water quality standards are violated. Affected groups include municipalities, school districts, charter schools, and nonpublic schools within the affected area. Suppliers must provide detailed information via phone and email, including contaminant names, test dates, locations, exceedance levels, and suggested remedies. The law takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's Aspire Program to provide tax credit incentives specifically for redevelopment projects by institutions of higher education and distressed hospitals. It defines "institutional project" as one where at least 51% of square footage is dedicated to qualified research and development, including spaces like labs, classrooms, and dorms. The bill allows developers to receive tax credits equal to 80% of project costs (up to $120 million), requires a minimum $30 million capital contribution from developers, and exempts these projects from the standard net benefit analysis required for other redevelopment projects.

Maddy summaryS 2019 allows New Jersey pharmacists to dispense HIV prevention medication (PrEP) and emergency HIV treatment (PEP) without a patient's individual prescription under specific conditions. Pharmacists must follow a standing order from the health commissioner, complete required training, and verify patient eligibility - including a recent negative HIV test, no acute symptoms, and no contraindicated medications - before dispensing up to a 90-day supply. The bill also mandates that health insurance plans cover these medications without prior authorization. This directly affects pharmacists (expanding their role), patients seeking HIV prevention (improving access), and insurers (requiring coverage).

Maddy summaryThis bill allows winery license holders who produce no more than 250,000 gallons of wine annually to sell their wine to other wineries within New Jersey or to wineries outside the state, following the purchasing winery's regulations. It also establishes a new "supplemental wine production facility sublicense" that permits these wineries to produce wine at facilities they own or lease, separate from their main winery location. Wine sold to other wineries doesn't count toward the seller's annual production total but does count toward the buyer's total for fee calculations and eligibility. The sublicense requires a $750 fee and prohibits retail sales at the supplemental facility. This change provides wineries with more flexibility in production and distribution while maintaining New Jersey's wine production regulations.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Department of Education (DOE) to create a statewide policy for K-12 schools within 90 days, addressing student cell phone and social media use during school hours, on buses, and at school events. The policy must include age-appropriate rules (like banning non-academic phone use in class), emergency exceptions, accommodations for students with special needs, and options for device storage. School districts must adopt a policy consistent with the DOE's framework by the start of the next full school year, though they may apply for exemptions. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools, students, and staff across New Jersey, focusing on standardizing device use rules while allowing districts to implement stricter policies.

Maddy summaryThe Climate Superfund Act would require fossil fuel companies that extracted or refined fossil fuels between 1995 and the bill's effective date to pay compensatory damages for climate change impacts they caused. Companies responsible for over one billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions during this period would pay based on their proportional share of emissions. The Department of Environmental Protection would collect these payments into a special fund and distribute them as grants for climate adaptation projects like flood protection, infrastructure upgrades, and health programs. Companies would have six months to pay in full or choose nine annual installments, with potential for administrative appeals if they disagree with the assessment.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A4848) requires doctors and nurses to screen pregnant patients for lead exposure if they identify risk factors - such as living in older housing - based on CDC and medical guidelines. It mandates one lead screening per pregnancy for at-risk patients, with providers notifying patients of elevated lead levels and ensuring children under six in the household are screened. Patients can refuse testing in writing, and labs must report results to health departments within five business days. The law applies to all pregnant individuals in New Jersey receiving care from covered healthcare providers, aiming to prevent lead poisoning during pregnancy.