Sen. Shirley Turner

Maddy summaryThis bill prohibits New Jersey's state pension and annuity funds (managed by the Division of Investment) from investing in companies that manufacture or wholesale tobacco products. It requires the state to divest all existing investments in such tobacco-related companies within three years of the bill's effective date. The bill also mandates that the Division of Investment submit annual reports to the legislature detailing progress on divestment and analyzing the fiscal impact on pension funds. This directly affects public retirement systems, including state employee pensions, by restricting their investment options.

Maddy summaryNew Jersey's S 2486 prohibits state pension and annuity funds (managed by the Division of Investment) from investing in hedge funds or derivative contracts. The bill defines these as high-risk investments, including hedge funds using "absolute return strategies" and financial instruments like options or swaps. Funds must divest existing holdings within three years of the law's effective date, with annual reports to the Legislature on progress. This applies to all state pension funds under the Division of Investment, including the Police and Firemen's Retirement System. The law aims to eliminate investments deemed too risky based on historical market events.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the annual income limit for New Jersey seniors (65 or older) and disabled citizens (permanently and totally disabled) to qualify for a $250 property tax deduction from $10,000 to $15,000. Currently, the $10,000 limit applies to 2022 and prior years, but the bill would raise it to $15,000 for 2023 and beyond. The change requires voter approval of a constitutional amendment before taking effect. The deduction amount itself remains capped at $250 annually.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey municipalities to assess impact fees on developers of new construction to fund necessary capital improvements like infrastructure, schools, parks, and public safety facilities. Municipalities must have a capital improvement program and master plan in place before implementing these fees, which must be proportional to the development's share of the costs. The bill establishes a commission to review and certify fee ordinances, exempts low and moderate income housing from fees, and requires 50% of fees to be paid before construction begins and the remainder before occupancy. It also limits how long municipalities can hold unspent fees (eight years after final payment, unless construction has begun).

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey law enforcement disciplinary records to be treated as public government records, making them accessible to the public. It defines "law enforcement officer" broadly to include police, school officers, correctional staff, and parole officers. The bill mandates redactions for sensitive personal information (like home addresses and medical details) while requiring most records to be retained for 20 years, with bodycam videos kept for 5 years unless tied to ongoing criminal or civil cases. This directly affects all New Jersey law enforcement agencies and officers by increasing transparency around disciplinary actions. The bill is currently pending in the Senate after introduction on January 29, 2024.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires landlords of public housing for seniors (subsidized housing for residents 55+ years old) to remove late fees for tenants who are hospitalized. Specifically, landlords must waive late charges during a tenant's hospitalization and for five business days after discharge, provided the tenant submits written proof of hospitalization. Tenants remain responsible for rent due before lease termination, and the grace period ends if they are immediately admitted to another health care facility. Violations carry fines up to $500, enforced by the Attorney General.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires public water systems in New Jersey to notify customers about boil water notices within 24 hours of an emergency. Starting 90 days after enactment, systems must use customers' preferred contact methods (like phone, email, or text) instead of relying solely on traditional notices, and must have the capability to send these alerts. Notices must include the affected area, cause of the notice, required actions, and a contact number for questions. The bill applies to public water systems serving communities (excluding transient systems), directly affecting residents who receive water bills from these systems. It also mandates that water systems notify customers when a boil water notice is lifted using the same contact methods.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires mandatory training for law enforcement, judges, and court personnel handling domestic violence and child abuse cases in New Jersey. It mandates specific training on topics like the impact of domestic violence on children, trauma-informed assessments, racial bias, and child abuse dynamics, with requirements of 20 hours initial training and 15 hours every five years for relevant court staff. The training aims to improve how courts and law enforcement respond to domestic violence and child abuse allegations during custody disputes. It directly affects law enforcement officers, municipal and superior court judges, judicial personnel, and child abuse case attorneys. The bill does not change custody laws but focuses on enhancing professional preparedness through standardized education.

Maddy summarySCR 83 proposes a temporary amendment to the New Jersey Constitution that would allow a constitutional convention focused on property tax reform to propose changes to state laws (statutes), not just constitutional amendments. The convention would only be convened if voters approve it in a separate 2024 election, and its proposed statutory changes would be voted on by the public in 2025. Without this amendment, the convention could only suggest constitutional changes, but this would enable it to also propose necessary statutory changes to implement property tax reforms. The temporary amendment would expire three years after voter approval.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (S 2398) requires for-profit colleges and all higher education institutions to clearly disclose two key pieces of information: (1) whether the school is a for-profit business, and (2) its accreditation status with a U.S. Department of Education-recognized agency. The disclosure must appear prominently on websites, course contracts, catalogs, and all promotional materials (digital and print) created after the law takes effect, using text size at least as large as surrounding content (except the institution's name). Schools must also restate accreditation disclosures if they mention non-recognized accrediting agencies. The law aims to increase transparency for students and families when evaluating educational options.