Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill increases annual property tax deductions for three groups: senior citizens (65+ or permanently disabled), persons with disabilities, and veterans (and surviving spouses), raising the amount from $250 to $500 per year. It applies to property taxes paid on real property owned or occupied by eligible residents. The change would take effect in 2024 but requires prior voter approval of a constitutional amendment to become active. The bill does not alter existing income eligibility rules or other tax benefits.

Maddy summaryS 2795 requires New Jersey health care providers to give patients (or their survivors/legal guardians) a detailed, plain-language bill within 30 days of discharge or 7 days after a written request. The bill must list each service by date, include unit prices, avoid vague terms like "miscellaneous charges," and specify drug names (brand or generic) instead of codes. Providers must also clarify if charges are covered by insurance or due from the patient and include a contact for billing disputes. Health care facilities must respond to billing questions within seven business days, with implementation rules to be developed by state agencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Delaware River Port Authority, and Delaware River and Bay Authority to use competitive bidding for professional services contracts like architecture, engineering, and land surveying. Authorities must publicly announce these contracts before awarding them, evaluate firms based on demonstrated competence and qualifications, and select at least three qualified firms for negotiation. Professional firms must submit current qualification statements to be considered, and authorities must negotiate with the most qualified firm first at fair and reasonable compensation. If negotiations fail, they move to the next qualified firm until an agreement is reached, with the final contract price required to be fair relative to the services' value, and the process doesn't apply during federal requirements or declared emergencies.

Maddy summaryThis bill upgrades the penalty for stalking when the victim is under 18 years old. Currently, stalking is a fourth-degree crime; this bill makes it a third-degree crime if the victim is a minor. A third-degree stalking offense carries a potential sentence of 3 to 5 years in prison or a $15,000 fine, compared to the lesser penalties for adult victims. The change directly affects minors who are victims of stalking, increasing the legal consequences for offenders targeting children or teenagers.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a three-year pilot program in New Jersey's public schools to provide assistive technology tools to elementary and middle school students with dyslexia or related reading/writing difficulties. The program will fund grants for participating school districts to purchase tools like text-to-speech software and voice-to-text applications, along with teacher training, to help students access grade-level materials and complete assignments more effectively. Seven school districts will be selected (including representation across urban, suburban, and rural areas and county classifications) to participate, with applications requiring details on student needs and implementation plans. At the program's conclusion, the state education commissioner must report to the governor and legislature on student outcomes, teacher training, and recommendations for potential statewide expansion.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2728 prohibits the state from awarding contracts for goods, services, or public construction projects (funded by state money) or development subsidies to companies classified as "inverted domestic corporations" by the IRS under federal tax law. These are corporations that have restructured to avoid U.S. taxes by moving their legal headquarters abroad. Companies must certify they are not inverted corporations to receive state contracts or subsidies, and if they become inverted during a subsidy period, they must repay the full amount. The law includes an exception to avoid conflicts with federal law or loss of federal funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill permanently bars individuals convicted of fraud-related crimes involving government contracts (specifically under N.J.S.A. 2C:21-34) from contracting with New Jersey government agencies or serving as key employees (e.g., executives, managers) for any contractor or affiliate working with the government. Contractors must provide written certification confirming they and their key employees are not barred, and the State Treasurer will maintain a public online list of permanently debarred individuals. Exceptions allow emergency contracts if certification is provided within two weeks, and the rule does not apply to federal supply schedule purchases. The law applies to all state and local government contracting agencies, including departments, universities, and counties.

Maddy summaryThis bill (S 2704) changes how New Jersey's Probation Division files child support judgments as liens. It requires that a lien be filed only when the overdue amount equals or exceeds one month's child support payment, preventing automatic liens for minor, temporary payment discrepancies (e.g., due to paycheck timing). The bill clarifies that subsequent delinquent payments accrue to the existing lien when reported to court, and establishes the lien's initial recording date for priority purposes. It also amends enforcement timelines, allowing execution on child support judgments within 20 years of the most recent delinquent payment reported. This directly affects child support obligors who might otherwise face liens for short-term, non-intentional arrears.

Maddy summaryThe Neighborhood Scholar Revitalization Pilot Program (S 2732) would provide up to $7,000 in student loan reimbursement to college graduates who commit to living for two years in targeted neighborhoods within Camden, Trenton, Jersey City, and Paterson. To qualify, participants must have at least $7,000 in student loan debt and reside in designated residential areas with median household income at or below 60% of the regional median. Businesses in enterprise zones can receive tax credits equal to their contributions to the program's fund, which would reimburse participants' student loans after their two-year residency commitment. The Urban Enterprise Zone Authority would administer the program, with a report due within three years evaluating its effectiveness and recommending potential expansion or termination.

Maddy summaryS 2711 prohibits New Jersey public colleges and universities from raising tuition for resident undergraduate students during their first four consecutive academic years of enrollment. The law directly affects in-state students who begin their studies at a public four-year institution, locking in their tuition rate for four years (or longer for programs requiring more than four years to complete). Key provisions require institutions to maintain the initial tuition rate for eligible students throughout this period, regardless of future cost increases. This policy creates immediate financial predictability for students and families during the core undergraduate years.