Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits landlords and brokerage firms from charging residential tenants fees for real estate brokerage services. It bans imposing, passing through, or accepting from tenants any fees, commissions, or charges related to brokerage services, and prevents conditioning leases on tenants engaging a brokerage firm. The bill requires clear disclosure of all tenant fees in rental listings and mandates an itemized written fee disclosure before lease signing. Violations would trigger penalties equal to the greater of $5,000 or three times the amount of fees charged, with tenants able to pursue legal action for these penalties.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides New Jersey businesses with tax credits for hiring and retaining neurodiverse individuals in qualifying STEM or AI roles. Businesses receive credits of up to $7,000 (full-time) or $4,500 (part-time) in the first year, increasing to $8,000 or $4,500 in the second year, and $9,000 or $4,500 for each subsequent year of employment. To claim credits, businesses must get certification from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services confirming an employee meets the definition of a "qualified neurodiverse employee" (working in STEM/AI fields at minimum wage, with neurodiversity verified via director guidelines). The credits apply against corporate business tax and individual gross income tax, with unused credits potentially carried forward for up to seven years.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's State Treasurer, working with the State Comptroller, to create rules for how independent state authorities (like public boards or commissions) award contracts for goods and services. It mandates specific best practices, including ensuring broad bidder access, using clear work descriptions, applying transparent merit-based scoring, and documenting all evaluation steps. Exceptions exist for emergencies, sole vendors, federal contracts, or when state/federal law requires different procedures. The rules must be reviewed every two years to reflect current procurement standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey colleges and universities from partnering with sports betting companies. Specifically, it bans institutions from entering agreements that allow betting operators to advertise in stadiums, digital content, or broadcast sports coverage through athletic departments or booster clubs. The law applies immediately to all higher education institutions in the state and defines "sports wagering partnership" to cover these advertising arrangements. It does not address other forms of gambling or funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill bans recreational cannabis retailers in New Jersey from using coupons, discount codes, or price rebates for sales to consumers. It directly affects licensed Class 5 cannabis retailers selling recreational products, imposing civil penalties starting at $250 for first violations (rising to $1,000 for repeat offenses) and allowing license suspension or revocation for repeated violations. Medical cannabis dispensaries remain exempt, as the bill explicitly excludes discounts for medical cannabis dispensed to registered patients under New Jersey's medical program. The law also clarifies that news media isn't liable for advertising violations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 4450) requires healthcare practices or entities to notify patients within 10 business days if their state-licensed physician has a suspended or revoked medical license. It directly affects patients of physicians whose credentials are suspended or revoked, ensuring they receive timely notice via mail or email. The bill also mandates that, upon patient request, these practices provide contact information for the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Division of Consumer Affairs. The law takes immediate effect and aims to improve patient awareness of physician license status and provide clear pathways to report concerns.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S4418) creates a 60-day special enrollment period for health insurance plan members when a healthcare provider leaves their insurance carrier's network. It requires insurers to begin this enrollment period 60 days before a provider's contract with the carrier expires. Insured individuals must receive notice about this period from the insurer, following guidelines set by New Jersey's Department of Banking and Insurance. The policy change directly affects people whose current healthcare providers are transitioning out of their insurance network, giving them time to adjust their coverage without gaps.

Maddy summaryS 4473 allocates $20 million in constitutionally dedicated Corporation Business Tax (CBT) revenue to create a new "State Capitol Complex Park Fund" for the State Capitol Complex Park in Trenton. This fund, established by the bill, is specifically dedicated to funding recreational and conservation projects at the park - located behind the State Capitol building - such as maintenance, landscaping, and habitat improvements. The money comes from a portion of existing environmental funding that would otherwise support broader open space or farmland preservation programs. The bill ensures these funds cannot be used for other purposes and requires annual reporting on how the money is spent.

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits nine specific substances - including preservatives like propylparaben and food dyes like Red 3, Yellow 5, and Blue 1 - from commercial food sold, distributed, or manufactured in New Jersey within two years. It immediately bans those same dyes in all school food, including meals, snacks, vending machines, and after-school programs on school property before the end of the school day. The law applies to food manufacturers, distributors, and schools, with violations punishable by fines of $50-$1,000 per offense. It amends existing food safety laws to add these substances to the list of "adulterated" foods and updates school nutrition rules to exclude the banned dyes.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes New Jersey's "Urban Gardening Pilot Program" within the Department of Agriculture, appropriating $100,000 to fund up to three grants of $35,000 each. The program targets low-income areas (defined as census tracts with ≥20% poverty or income below 80% of state median) and requires grantees - municipalities or nonprofits - to partner with agricultural experts to teach residents how to grow fresh produce in urban gardens. The three-year pilot mandates grantees to use funds solely for garden development, with the goal of improving neighborhood conditions and fostering community integration. After three years, the Department must submit a report evaluating the program’s effectiveness and recommending whether to make it permanent.