2019 Press Releases

December 20 - Turner Bills to Reduce the Frequency of Suspended Driver's Licenses Advance

Trenton – A package of bills sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner, which would reduce the frequency of suspended driver’s licenses, cleared the legislature this week. The Governor took action on one of the three bills today. [MORE]

December 17 - Senate Approves Cunningham, Gill, Turner Crown Act

Trenton – The “Create a Respectful and Open Workspace for Natural Hair Act” or CROWN Act, sponsored by Senator Sandra B. Cunningham, Senator Nia Gill and Senator Shirley Turner, was approved by the Senate today. [MORE]

December 9 - Ruiz, Turner Bill to Expand Free School Meals Program Advances

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senate Education Chair M. Teresa Ruiz and Senate Education Vice Chair Shirley Turner, which would require the state to pay the difference between federal allocations and the total cost of reduced price breakfast or lunch, advanced from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. [MORE]

November 22 - Video- Senate Democrats' Week in 60 Seconds

Legislation sponsored by Senator Lorreta Weinberg and Senator Kristen M. Corrado, that was written to reflect the recommendations of the Legislative Select Oversight Committee, passed the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee this week. [MORE]

November 20 - Cunningham, Gill, Turner Crown Act Clears Committee

November 20 - Turner Bill to Expand Parole Services to Defendants Who Have Served Their Maximum Sentence Clears Committee

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner, which would require the Division of Parole to provide offenders who have served their maximum sentences with post-release services, passed the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee. [MORE]

November 19 - Turner Bill to Expand Parole Services to Defendants Who Have Served Their Maximum Sentence Clears Committee

November 18 - Video- Senate Democrats' Week in 60 Seconds

The select committee formed to investigate NJ Transit held a public hearing this week and heard valuable testimony from Transit users on the service and operations of the third largest public transportation system in the country. [MORE]

November 14 - Senate Health Committee Acts on Bills to Counter Vaping Crisis, Curb Tobacco Use

Trenton – A series of bills to counter the vaping crisis and better protect against the health effects of tobacco products were advanced by the Senate Health Committee today. [MORE]

October 29 - Our Lawmakers Are Right: It's Time to Ban Menthol Cigarettes| Editorial

The chilling vape scare, which has claimed one life in New Jersey, sent 20 people to the hospital, and placed 35 others under medical scrutiny, demands a robust government response. [MORE]

September 13 - Video- Senate Democrats' Week in 60 Seconds

Senate President Steve Sweeney spoke at Mantua Township’s Commemoration Ceremony of 9/11 this week. [MORE]

September 13 - Sweeney, Vitale, Turner on Governor's Executive Order on Vaping

Trenton – Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senator Joseph Vitale and Senator Shirley Turner issued the following statements on the Governor’s executive order, which aims to address the health concerns around electronic cigarettes and vaping. [MORE]

September 11- Turner Expresses Support for Vaping Ban

Trenton – Senator Shirley Turner issued the following statement in support of Senate President Steve Sweeney’s proposal for a phased-in ban on the sale of all electronic smoking devices: [MORE]

September 11 - Sweeney Plans Phased-In Ban on All Vaping Products

Trenton – Reacting to the surge in severe lung illnesses and reported deaths, Senate President Steve Sweeney today praised the efforts of fellow legislators to restrict the availability and use of flavored vaping products and said he will build on their efforts by proposing a phased-in ban on the sale of all electronic smoking devices. [MORE]

August 27 - Bill Prohibiting Prescription Drug 'Clawback' Schemes & 'Gag' Clauses Signed into Law

Trenton – Legislation that will help protect consumers from being overcharged for prescription medications and ensure pharmacists can inform customers of lower cost options was signed into law. The legislation is sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore M. Teresa Ruiz, Senator Joe Cryan, Senator James Beach and Senator Shirley Turner. [MORE]

August 26 - On Women's Equality Day We Celebrate our Progress and Acknowledge a Long Road Ahead

Women’s Equality Day celebrates the signing of the 19th Amendment in 1920. It gave women the right to vote, though women of color were left to face varying degrees of voter suppression for decades to follow. [MORE]

August 12 - Turner Bill to Ease Residency Requirement for Water System Employees Becomes Law

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner, to ease the residency requirement placed on local government water system employees, was signed into law today. [MORE]

August 12 - Greenstein, Turner Bill to Clarify Eligibility for NJ Stars Scholarships Signed into Law

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein and Senator Shirley K. Turner, which will clarify the eligibility of certain students receiving NJ STARS and NJ STARS II scholarships, was signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy. [MORE]

August 2 - Video - Senate Democrats Week in 60 Seconds (8.2)

Senate President Steve Sweeney participated in both a ribbon-cutting and a groundbreaking ceremony for affordable housing developments in Bridgeton this week. Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Sandra Cunningham were signed into law this week. [MORE]

July 30 - Turner Bill to Improve Transparency of Higher Education Tuition and Fees Becomes Law

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner requiring institutions of higher education as well as proprietary degree-granting institutions to improve transparency of tuition and fees was signed into law today. [MORE]

July 22 - Turner Bill to Promote Tax Relief Programs Signed into Law

Trenton – Senator Shirley Turner issued the following statement on her bill, to require property tax bills to contain eligibility information on state tax relief programs, being signed into law: [MORE]

July 11 - Turner Calls for Equal Pay for U.S. Women's National Team

Trenton – Senator Shirley Turner is introducing a resolution at an upcoming Senate Session urging the U.S. Soccer Federation to provide the U.S. Women’s National Team with equal pay and work conditions. The Senator issued the following statement on the resolution: [MORE]

June 19 - Turner Bill to Establish Temperature Control Standards for Schools Clears Committee

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner, which would establish temperature control standards for school district facilities, cleared the Senate Education Committee. [MORE]

June 18 - Turner, Cruz-Perez Bill to Help People on Disability Return to Work Sooner Signed into Law

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Nilsa Cruz-Perez to establish a program for people who are on disability to be able to return to work sooner, while still receiving their Temporary Disability Insurance, was signed into law today. [MORE]

June 3 - Ruiz, Turner Bill to Expand Liability of Certain LLCS When Acting As Landlords Clears Committee

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley Turner, which would expand liability for certain commercial entities when acting as residential landlords, cleared the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee today. [MORE]

May 28 - Turner Initiative Brings Over 11,000 Books to Trenton School Children

Trenton – Senator Shirley K. Turner’s Annual Book Fair, held at the Columbus Elementary School, distributed over 11,000 books to nearly 400 students. This initiative has been occurring for five years in various K-12 schools, providing donated books to young learners in and around Trenton. [MORE]

May 13 - Turner, Vitale Bill to Allow Pharmacists to Dispense Birth Control Without Prescription Clears Committee

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner and Senator Joseph Vitale, which would allow pharmacists to dispense certain hormonal contraceptives without an individual prescription, cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today. [MORE]

May 13 - Turner, Singleton Bill to Pilot Restorative Justice Programs in Schools Clears Senate

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner and Senator Troy Singleton, which would establish the “Restorative Justice in Education Pilot Program,” cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

May 13 - Greenstein, Turner Bill to Allow Electric Bicycles on NJ Roadways Signed Into Law

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Linda Greenstein and Senator Shirley Turner permitting the operation of low-speed electric bicycles on New Jersey roads was signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy. [MORE]

March 25 - Turner Bills to Reduce the Frequency of Suspended Driver's Lisenses Clears Senate

Trenton – A package of bills sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner, which would reduce the frequency of suspended driver’s licenses, cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

March 4 - Turner Bills to Reduce the Frequency of Suspended Driver's Licenses Clears Committee

Trenton – A package of bills sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner, which would reduce the frequency of suspended driver’s licenses, cleared the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today. [MORE]

March 4 - Turner, Singleton Bill to Pilot Restorative Justice Programs in Schools Clears Committee

February 22 - Senate Advances Lagana, Singleton, Turner Retirement Savings Plan

Trenton – Private sector employees would be provided a means to save for retirement under the terms of legislation sponsored by Senator Joseph Lagana, Senator Troy Singleton and Senator Shirley Turner. The bill advanced from the Senate today. [MORE]

February 22 - Weinberg, Turner, Greenstein, Singleton Bill to Require Presidential Candidates to Disclose Tax Returns Clears Senate

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, Senator Shirley K. Turner, Senator Linda R. Greenstein and Senator Troy Singleton, which would require candidates for President and Vice President to disclose their federal income tax returns in order to appear on the ballot, cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

February 21 - Turner Bill to Require Sunscreen and Protective Clothing Policies in Schools Clears Senate

Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley K. Turner, which would require school boards to adopt policies concerning students’ use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored events, cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

February 21 - Bill Would Protect Against Clawback Schemes & 'Gag' Clauses for Prescription Drugs

Trenton – Legislation that would help protect consumers from being overcharged for prescription medications and make sure that pharmacists can keep their customers informed about lower cost options was approved by the Senate today. [MORE]

February 8 - Budget Committee Advances Lagana, Singleton, Turner Retirement Savings Plan

January 31 - Turner, Ruiz Bills to Support Educational Needs of Deaf Students Clear Senate

Trenton – Two bills sponsored by Senate Education Committee Vice Chair Shirley K. Turner and Chair M. Teresa Ruiz, which would address the educational rights and needs of deaf students, cleared the Senate today. [MORE]

January 9 - Turner Issues Statement on Comptroller's Report

Trenton – Senator Shirley K. Turner (D-Hudson/Mercer) issued the following statement today in response to the State Comptroller’s report on New Jersey’s tax incentive programs: [MORE]