Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryS 4162 limits how New Jersey public and charter schools can use or share personal information from waiver forms students or parents submit to avoid completing financial aid applications for high school diplomas. The bill requires waiver forms to collect only minimal contact details (name, phone, email, date, and signature) and prohibits schools from disclosing this information without consent, in line with federal student privacy laws like FERPA. Schools must include clear disclosure notices on all waiver forms, whether created by the Department of Education or the school. This applies to students in the 2023-2024 grade 11 class through the 2025-2026 school year, and covers waivers submitted before the bill's effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to study how data centers impact electricity rates for residential customers. The BPU must determine if non-data center customers unfairly subsidize data center costs, whether infrastructure for data centers causes unreasonable rate hikes, and project the future portion of residential rates attributable to data centers over the next 20 years. The study will also evaluate policy options to prevent rate increases from data center growth. The BPU must complete the study within one year and submit a report to the governor and legislature within 15 months.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows commercial farms on preserved farmland (producing $10,000+ annually in agricultural products) to host special occasion events like weddings or parties, provided they meet specific conditions. Key restrictions include: events cannot interfere with farming, must stay under 10% of the farm’s annual revenue from such events, and cannot use permanent structures built within the last five years unless the revenue threshold is met. Farms must obtain written approval from the land’s grantee (e.g., state or nonprofit entity), limit events to 26 per year (with no more than six events exceeding 250 guests), and follow local regulations for noise, parking, and temporary structures. The policy aims to support farm revenue while maintaining agricultural use of preserved land.

Maddy summaryThis bill removes the prohibition on medical cannabis dispensaries establishing satellite locations in New Jersey. It allows dispensaries to open one satellite location after obtaining approval from the Cannabis Regulatory Commission. The bill specifically permits alternative treatment centers that received permits before or after the effective date of P.L.2019, c.153 to maintain up to two satellite locations, while other dispensaries can establish only one satellite location. This change aims to expand access to medical cannabis services while maintaining regulatory oversight through commission approval.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new "limited cosmetic retail service license" for retail stores that primarily sell skincare, hair care, makeup, and cosmetic products while offering related services. It requires these establishments to be at least 750 square feet in size, with specific facility requirements including proper sanitation areas and one workstation per 750 square feet of space. The license allows stores to provide services like applying makeup, facial treatments, and hair removal (using depilatories, waxing, or tweezers) that are currently restricted to licensed skin care specialists. This change simplifies licensing requirements compared to current salon standards, which require separate space allocations for customer chairs. The bill directly affects cosmetic retailers and licensed skin care specialists seeking to provide services within retail environments.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey to create a digital platform that automatically reviews and approves residential solar panel installation permits, directly affecting homeowners, solar contractors, and local municipalities. The platform must instantly approve 75% of standard rooftop solar applications that meet building safety rules, process requests 24/7, and eliminate manual paperwork. Local governments must either use this state platform or an equivalent alternative within 18 months, with penalties for non-compliance funding low-income energy assistance. The goal is to cut delays and high costs - currently adding $6,000-$7,000 per installation - by replacing slow, paper-based permitting.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits most sweepstakes wagering models where participants pay to enter for a chance to win prizes, with specific exceptions for free entry options or paid entry tied to purchasing food, beverages, or merchandise under $20. It establishes civil penalties of up to $100,000 for first offenses and $250,000 for repeat violations, with additional requirements for transparency including clear disclosure of rules, odds, and prize values. The bill designates the Division of Consumer Affairs to enforce sweepstakes regulations and the Division of Gaming Enforcement to oversee other gambling prohibitions, including expanded definitions for online gambling resorts. It affects businesses offering sweepstakes or gambling services in New Jersey, requiring them to comply with specific operational rules and disclosure requirements. The law includes protections for senior citizens, requiring restitution of twice the amount for violations against them.

Maddy summaryS 3064 increases the tax rate on online casino gaming and online sports wagering in New Jersey from 15% and 13% to 30% respectively. This applies only to internet-based gaming and betting services operated by licensed casinos and sports wagering platforms, not to traditional in-person casino operations or non-Internet betting. The additional tax revenue will fund the Casino Revenue Fund, with an extra 1.25% tax on internet sports wagering specifically supporting Atlantic City marketing efforts. The bill does not change tax rates for non-Internet gaming or sports betting activities.

Maddy summaryS 4621 authorizes the State Treasurer to sell two surplus state-owned properties to Mercer County for $1 each. The first parcel (1.3 acres in Trenton) was used by the Department of Transportation for vehicle storage, and the second (26.3 acres in Lawrence) is the Mercer County Fire Academy Dempster Fire Training Center, which trains fire and EMS personnel. Both properties must be used for public purposes after transfer, with all federal restrictions preserved. The sale must be completed within nine months of the FY2026 budget act.

Maddy summaryThis bill would amend New Jersey's Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF) rules to include pay for extracurricular activities in teachers' compensation calculations. Currently, additional pay for activities like coaching sports teams, directing school plays, or advising clubs isn't counted toward pension benefits. The bill would require that such additional pay be included when calculating a teacher's final compensation for pension purposes. It specifically defines extracurricular duties to include preparation for and involvement in public performances, contests, athletic competitions, demonstrations, displays, and club activities. This change would directly affect teachers who receive extra pay for these activities, potentially increasing their future pension benefits.