2021 Press Releases
December 21- Senate Passes Turner-Ruiz Bill to Expand Coverage of Prescription Contraceptives
TRENTON- In an effort to expand birth control accessibility, the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and M. Teresa Ruiz that would require health insurers to increase the current required length of coverage for prescription contraceptives from six months to twelve months. [MORE]
December 17- Sweeney, Turner Bill to Improve Online Access to Government Services Approved by Committee
TRENTON- The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today approved legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Shirley Turner. [MORE]
December 2- Senate Approves Bills to Expand Projects Eligible to Receive Funding
TRENTON- day the Senate approved multiple bills which would amend the projects laid out under the New Jersey Infrastructure Bank’s (NJIB) financial plan for Fiscal Year 2022 as well as provide funding to various historical site preservation projects. [MORE]
November 8- Singleton, Turner Bill To Improve Transparency of Drug Utilization Review Board Signed into Law
TRENTON- Utilization Review Board to disclose benefits and financial ties with pharmaceutical companies was signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy. [MORE]
August 13- Turner Calls on Governor Murphy, Atlantic City Casinos to Strengthen Covid-19 Precautions
TRENTON – As New Jersey reports the highest number of COVID-19 cases since mid-May, Senator Shirley Turner today issued the following statement calling on casino owners to implement mask mandates and for Governor Murphy to once again institute a ban on smoking within New Jersey casinos: [MORE]
August 2- Turner, Pou Host Roundtable Discussion on Restorative Justice Initiatives
TRENTON – Senator Shirley Turner and Senator Nellie Pou were joined by advocates and communities leaders today for a conversation on the importance of efforts to expand restorative justice programs in the state. [MORE]
June 24 - Senate Advances Bills to Bolster Career and Technical Education, Update Schools' Water Infrastructure
TRENTON – In an effort to build up technical and vocational education programs, improve school security and ensure clean drinking water in New Jersey’s schools, the Senate today passed a series of bills that would allocate project grants from the Securing Our Children’s Future Fund, a bond initiative approved by voters in 2018. [MORE]
June 21 - Senate Advances Turner, Pou Restorative and Transformative Justice Pilot Program
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Nellie Pou, which would create the two-year “Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youth and Communities Pilot Program” in the Juvenile Justice Commission, passed the Senate.[MORE]
June 21 - Weinburg, Turner Bill Aimed to Protect Older Workers Goes to the Governor
TRENTON – Recognizing that the State’s workforce is graying, and that current law is outdated and fails to protect older workers from age bias, the Senate passed legislation today sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senator Shirley Turner that would amend laws on the books in order to extend age discrimination protections for State employees.[MORE]
June 4 - Greenstein, Turner Bill to Streamline Snap Application Process for Senior Citizens Clears Senate
TRENTON – In an effort to ensure the State is maximizing its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senators Linda Greenstein and Shirley Turner, which would ensure that the number of senior SNAP participants either matches or exceeds the state’s overall SNAP participation rate. [MORE]
June 4 - Senate Passes Singleton, Turner Bill to Improve Transparency of Drug Utilization Review Board
TRENTON – To prevent pharmaceutical manufacturers from influencing the drug review process, the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senators Troy Singleton and Shirley Turner that would require public members of the New Jersey Drug Utilization Review Board to disclose benefits and financial ties with pharmaceutical companies. [MORE]
June 4 - Stack, Turner Bill to Prevent Displacement of Low-Income Residents Goes to the Governor
TRENTON – To prevent the permanent displacement of low-income residents, legislation sponsored by Senators Brian Stack and Shirley Turner would require developers to give priority status to tenants who were displaced during the redevelopment of affordable housing. The bill was passed by the Senate and sent to the Governor for final approval. [MORE]
May 21 - 'Laura Wooten's Law' Requiring Civics in Middle School Goes to Governor
TRENTON – In an effort to ensure students are receiving adequate civics and government education, the Assembly sent legislation to the Governor sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner, Troy Singleton, M. Teresa Ruiz, and Linda Greenstein, which would require civics instruction in middle school. [MORE]
May 20 - Ruiz, Turner Bill to Create Teacher Residency Program Advances
TRENTON – In an effort to diversify the state’s educator workforce the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee advanced legislation today to establish a teacher residency program. [MORE]
May 13 - Turner Bill to Require Course on Remote Teaching Before Receiving a Teaching Certification Advances
TRENTON – Reflecting on the past year and the technological challenges many schools and educators grappled with, the Senate Education Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner that would require all candidates for a teaching certification to complete a course on remote teaching. [MORE]
May 13 - Legislation to Strengthen Summer Programs, Address Learning Loss Advances
TRENTON – In an effort to address the learning loss which has compounded over the last year, the Senate Education Committee today advanced four bills to strengthen and expand summer educational programs. [MORE]
May 6 - Weinberg, Turner Bill Aimed to Protect Older Workers, Passes Labor Committee
TRENTON – Recognizing that the State’s workforce is graying, and that current law is outdated and fails to protect older workers from age bias, the Senate Labor Committee passed legislation today sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senator Shirley Turner that would amend laws on the books in order to extend age discrimination protections for State employees. [MORE]
April 19 - Weinberg Legislation To Protect Rights of Survivors of Sexual Assault, Harassment Becomes Law
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg to protect the rights of survivors of sexual assault, improve law enforcement and judicial case management and training, and codify harassment and discrimination policies throughout state government was signed into law today. [MORE]
March 10 - Turner, Diegnan Bill to Allow Parents to Request Students Repeat Current Grade Advances
TRENTON – In an effort to address the challenging learning environments created by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senate Education Committee approved legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner and Senator Patrick Diegnan which would allow certain students to repeat the grade level which they were enrolled in for the 2020-2021 school year. [MORE]
February 22 - Gill, Greenstein, and Turner Early In-Person Voting Legislation Advances
TRENTON – The Senate today advanced legislation sponsored by Senators Nia Gill, Linda Greenstein and Shirley Turner that would require an in-person early voting period for certain elections. [MORE]
February 17 - Turner, Pou Restorative and Transformative Justice Pilot Program Advances
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner and Nellie Pou, which would create the two-year “Restorative and Transformative Justice for Youth and Communities Pilot Program” in the Juvenile Justice Commission, passed the Senate Judiciary Committee. [MORE]
February 12 - Gill, Greenstein and Turner Early In-Person Voting Legislation Advances
TRENTON – The Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee advanced legislation sponsored by Senators Nia Gill, Linda Greenstein and Shirley Turner that would require an in-person early voting period for certain elections. [MORE]
February 9 - Greenstein, Turner Bill to Streamline SNAP Application Process for Senior Citizens Advances
TRENTON – In an effort to ensure the state is maximizing its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Senate Health and Human Services Committee today passed legislation sponsored by Senators Linda Greenstein and Shirley Turner which would ensure that the number of senior SNAP participants either matches or exceeds the national average. [MORE]
February 9 - Turner Legislation to Expand Access to Emergency Contraceptives Advances
TRENTON – In an effort to expand access to all forms of birth control, the Senate Health Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by Senator Shirley Turner which would require Medicaid to cover emergency contraceptives without requiring a prescription or other authorization for the product. [MORE]
February 4 - Sweeney, Turner, Cruz-Perez Bill to Allow Exemption From the Civil Service Exam for Police Officers Becomes Law
TRENTON – In an effort to increase diversity in the ranks of law enforcement, legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senators Shirley Turner and Nilsa Cruz-Perez which would permit a municipality to exempt entry-level law enforcement officers from the Civil Service examination requirement was signed into law today. [MORE]
January 29 - 'Laura Wooten's Law' Requiring Civics in Middle School Advances
TRENTON – In an effort to ensure students are receiving adequate civics and government education, the Senate today advanced legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner, Troy Singleton, M. Teresa Ruiz, and Linda Greenstein, which would require civics instruction in middle school. [MORE]
January 29 - Senate Advances Legislation to Promote Assistance Programs, Track Utility Shut Offs, and Fees
TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate President Pro Tempore M. Teresa Ruiz, Senator Troy Singleton, and Senator Shirley Turner, to promote utility financial assistance programs and increase data collection and transparency surrounding public utilities, passed the Senate today. [MORE]
January 21 - 'Laura Wooten's Law' Requiring Civics in Middle School Clears Committee
TRENTON – In an effort to ensure students are receiving adequate civics and government education, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee today advanced legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Turner, Troy Singleton, M. Teresa Ruiz, and Linda Greenstein, which would require civics instruction in middle school. [MORE]
January 21- Transportation Advances Legislation to Extend and Clarify Existing Extensions
TRENTON – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting operations at the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC), the Senate Transportation Committee today passed two bills which would extend deadlines for certain documents and provide clarifications for existing extensions. [MORE]
January 11 - Senate Clears Bill to Prohibit Use of Stats for Arrests, Citations in Officers' Evaluations
TRENTON – A bill that would prohibit law enforcement agencies from using the volume of an officer’s arrests or citations as a factor when evaluating that officer’s overall professional performance or when making personnel determinations was passed out of the full Senate. [MORE]
January 11- Ruiz, Turner Bill to Help Schools Procure PPE Passed by Senate
TRENTON – Today, in an effort to help school districts procure the necessary PPE, the Senate passed legislation sponsored by Senator M. Teresa Ruiz and Senator Shirley K. Turner, which would maximize districts’ buying power and reduce costs. [MORE]
January 11 - Turner, Pou Bill to Increase Transparency of College Tuition and Fees Clears Senate
TRENTON – In an effort to make colleges and universities more transparent, the Senate today passed legislation sponsored by Senators Shirley Tuner and Nellie Pou which would require institutions of higher education to provide a breakdown of their tuition and fees to both prospective and current students. [MORE]
