Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey courts to mandate domestic violence counseling for offenders convicted of domestic violence crimes, placed on probation, or having their sentences suspended. It applies specifically to defendants found guilty of domestic violence offenses or those receiving probation/suspended sentences for such offenses. The court must order defendants to complete counseling provided by professionals with expertise in domestic violence, and defendants must submit proof of attendance. Completion of counseling is required before a defendant can seek to dissolve a restraining order. The law makes counseling mandatory (previously discretionary) and ties it to court-ordered conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey state agencies currently located at 300 and 400 Riverview Plaza in Trenton to relocate to new office spaces within the city as soon as reasonably possible. It directs the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) to actively recruit private businesses to occupy the vacated office space and prioritize them for EDA’s existing business assistance programs. The EDA is authorized to modify its programs - such as the Grow New Jersey Assistance Program - to offer enhanced incentives, including bonuses, to private entities moving into the vacated buildings. The goal is to redevelop the Riverview Plaza area, a centrally located site near the Delaware River and Route 29, to encourage business growth and community development.

Maddy summaryThis bill, S 2616, requires that salary caps established for school district superintendents also apply to charter school administrators. Currently, the commissioner of education sets these caps based on school district enrollment, but they do not cover charter school leadership roles. The bill extends these same salary limits to "charter school lead persons" or any other individual managing a charter school's operations. This change applies immediately upon the bill's enactment and directly affects charter school administrators in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryS 2608 improves accountability for New Jersey's charter schools. It requires charter schools to use random lotteries for enrollment when spaces are limited, report student demographic information annually, and maintain waiting lists. The bill establishes new grounds for charter revocation, including failing to meet academic goals, discrimination, financial issues, or not matching the demographic makeup of the local school district. Charter schools will now be reviewed under the state's accountability system, and the state must commission independent studies and hold public hearings on the program.

Maddy summaryS 2599 raises New Jersey's compulsory school attendance age from 16 to 18 years. This means students must attend school or receive equivalent instruction until age 18 (unless they graduate early), directly affecting all students in public schools and their parents/guardians. The bill amends key statutes to update age ranges in truancy enforcement, parental penalties, and juvenile delinquency definitions from "16" to "18." It applies to students in eighth grade at the time of enactment but excludes those who entered ninth grade before the effective date.

Maddy summaryThis bill provides tax credits to New Jersey businesses that pay National Guard or reserve component members a salary differential while they're on active duty. Specifically, businesses can claim a credit equal to the amount they pay to cover the difference between the employee's regular salary and their military pay during active duty. The credit applies against both corporation business tax and gross income tax, capped at 50% of the tax liability for the relevant period. It directly affects employers in New Jersey with qualifying National Guard or reserve employees receiving active duty orders. The credit can be carried forward for up to seven years if not fully used in the initial tax period.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords in New Jersey to attach a copy of a municipal inspection or occupancy certificate to residential leases before signing with a new tenant. It directly affects landlords in municipalities that mandate such inspections (under N.J.S.A. 40:48-2.12m) and their tenants. Landlords must deliver the certificate with the lease, have tenants initial a receipt, and may correct failures within 30 days. If unresolved, tenants can void the lease, vacate without further payment, and receive their security deposit back within 30 days. The law aims to ensure tenants know rental units have passed safety inspections before moving in.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Secretary of Higher Education to revoke a for-profit college's license to grant degrees if it fails to meet specific graduation rate targets. For four-year programs, schools must achieve at least a 75% six-year graduation rate for full-time students by the end of the sixth year after the bill takes effect. For two-year programs, the target is a 75% three-year graduation rate by the same deadline. The Secretary may grant additional time to schools making sufficient progress toward these rates after five years, but must revoke licenses if targets are not met within the six-year timeframe.

Maddy summarySJR 75 designates May of each year as "Youth Smoking Prevention and Awareness Month" in New Jersey. It requests the Governor issue an annual proclamation to encourage public awareness activities focused on preventing youth tobacco use. The resolution directly affects middle and high school students by promoting education about smoking's health risks and costs. It does not create new laws but designates a specific month for state-wide awareness efforts. The resolution takes effect immediately upon passage.

Maddy summaryThis resolution memorializes Congress to request changes to the federal Section 8 housing voucher program. It asks Congress to increase funding and revise rules to help more New Jersey residents - particularly very low-income families, the elderly, and disabled individuals - secure housing. Key requested changes include allowing housing authorities to exceed fair market rent limits by 20% (instead of 10%), giving more flexibility on rent affordability calculations, and permitting use of federal funds for enrollment costs. The resolution does not change current law but urges Congress to act on these specific program adjustments.