Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill phases out New Jersey's state tuition aid grants for students attending private for-profit colleges (proprietary institutions) starting in the 2024-2025 academic year. It directly affects new students at these institutions, who will no longer qualify for state aid, while current recipients who received aid before this academic year may continue receiving it until they graduate or become ineligible. The key mechanism limits state tuition aid to students who had already received an award prior to the 2024-2025 school year. The change takes immediate effect upon passage.

Maddy summaryS 2603 requires State agencies, counties, municipalities, and school districts to use a competitive contracting process for professional services, including architectural, engineering, and land surveying services, instead of direct negotiations. It mandates that professional firms submit a current statement of qualifications with a $100 fee to be considered, and requires public advertising of these contracts before soliciting proposals. Agencies must evaluate firms based on demonstrated competence and qualifications, then negotiate with the top three firms to select the most qualified provider at fair and reasonable compensation. The bill also allows for continuation of legal services contracts without competitive bidding when the provider's expertise is essential for ongoing matters like pending litigation.

Maddy summaryS 2620 establishes a presumption that firefighters in New Jersey diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease developed the condition due to their employment, streamlining access to accidental disability retirement benefits under the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS). To qualify, firefighters must have passed a pre-employment physical exam showing no signs of Parkinson's Disease at the time of hiring. If diagnosed later, the system will presume the disability resulted from job duties (not willful negligence) unless proven otherwise. This directly affects PFRS members diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease after entering service, removing the burden of proving work-related causation.

Maddy summaryThis bill, the Textbook Access Act (S 2641), requires textbook publishers to provide public New Jersey colleges and universities with the price and availability of textbooks before faculty select materials. It mandates publishers to disclose if unbundled versions (without extra materials like CDs or workbooks) are available in the same edition as bundled options. Public institutions must create policies encouraging early ordering to confirm textbook availability and explore used or digital alternatives. The goal is to increase price transparency for students, helping reduce costs on required course materials at public higher education institutions like Rutgers and NJIT.

Maddy summaryS 2602 modifies New Jersey school election procedures by shortening school board members' terms when moving elections from November to April, and requiring approval from both the school board and municipal governing body to make this change. When a school district moves its annual election from November to April, board members whose terms would have expired in January will now serve only until the day after the April election when the new board organizes. Currently, only one body (school board or municipal government) could approve moving elections back to April, but this bill requires both to agree. This affects all school districts in New Jersey that want to change their election timing, particularly Type II districts with boards of school estimate. The bill clarifies procedures to ensure both educational and municipal authorities have input on election dates.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's Senate Concurrent Resolution 87 urges Congress and the President to pass legislation banning federal contracts with "inverted domestic corporations." These are U.S. companies that moved their legal headquarters overseas (e.g., to Ireland) to avoid higher U.S. tax rates (up to 26% combined state/local vs. 12.5% abroad), a practice critics say costs the U.S. economy. The resolution itself has no legal force but calls for federal law prohibiting such contracts, with possible national security waivers. It directly affects companies that restructure to operate under foreign tax regimes, not individual citizens or states. The resolution references ongoing federal legislative efforts to address this tax avoidance tactic.

Maddy summaryS 2545 creates a Deep Fake Technology Unit within New Jersey's Division of Criminal Justice to help law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts detect and investigate manipulated videos and audio (deep fakes) that appear authentic but depict false events. The unit will provide technical analysis, training, and expert testimony to state and local agencies, while collaborating with private sector and academic partners to share detection methods. It must issue annual reports on its work, deep fake trends, and recommendations for new laws. The bill appropriates $2 million from the state's General Fund to fund the unit's operations.

Maddy summaryS 2598 requires state contractors bidding on government contracts to submit annual reports measuring gender-based pay gaps (equal pay for equal work) and gender segregation in job titles (jobs dominated by one gender). The Division of Purchase and Property will develop a standardized reporting system, assign ratings based on equity performance, and consider these ratings when awarding contracts alongside price and other factors. This applies to all state contracts except those requiring immediate delivery, funded entirely by federal money, or where compliance would jeopardize federal funds. The bill takes effect one year after enactment, with the division allowed to begin preparatory work earlier.

Maddy summaryThis bill sets New Jersey's mileage reimbursement rate for state employees using personal vehicles for official business at the federal Internal Revenue Service (IRS) standard rate for business automobile expenses, rather than the current fixed $0.18 per mile rate. It directly affects state officers and employees who travel for work using their own cars. The key change repeals the current requirement to adjust the rate biannually based on gasoline prices, instead adopting the IRS rate - which changes annually based on business cost calculations. This eliminates the state's separate adjustment process for fuel costs and aligns reimbursement with federal standards.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes the Office of Community Schools within New Jersey's Department of Education to support public schools in implementing community school models. The office will provide grants, training, and technical assistance to schools adopting community-based approaches that address student needs through integrated educational, health, and family services. It appropriates $10 million total ($2 million from the General Fund and $8 million from federal recovery funds) to fund these efforts and requires an annual report to the Governor and Legislature. The bill directly affects public schools, charter schools, and renaissance schools statewide that choose to participate in community school programs.