Asm. Bill Spearman

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 3343) requires all teacher certification candidates who complete an approved educator preparation program to complete a mandatory anti-racism training course starting with the 2022-2023 school year. It also requires alternate route certification seekers to complete the training within one year of being hired. The training must cover recognizing diversity's role in teaching, developing racial literacy, examining personal biases, and understanding how race affects school decisions like grading and discipline. Educator programs must update their curricula to include this training and share syllabi and required texts online, though the state does not approve these materials. The bill directly affects all new teachers seeking certification in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill makes it a crime for someone to falsely claim ownership or possession of a residential rental property they don’t legally own or control, with the intent to rent it out or gain a benefit. Violations are classified as fourth-degree crimes (up to 18 months in jail or $10,000 fine) and also violate New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act. It specifically targets "imposter landlords" who misuse online platforms like Craigslist to rent properties they don’t own, while exempting actual tenants, subtenants, and real estate professionals acting in good faith. The law does not apply to internet platforms or override existing civil/criminal liabilities for fraud or theft.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes new contracting goals for New Jersey state agencies to increase participation by minority and women-owned businesses, based on a 2024 disparity study showing ongoing statistical gaps in public contracting. It requires state agencies and prime contractors to make a "good faith effort" to meet specific targets - 7% for minority-owned businesses and 3% for women-owned businesses - across construction, professional services, and goods/services contracts. The law defines key terms like "minority business" and references the 2024 disparity study as the basis for these goals, which replace previous race-neutral approaches. The bill is pending before the Assembly State and Local Government Committee.

Maddy summaryThis bill increases the daily credit for incarceration toward unpaid court debts from $50 to $90 per day. It directly affects individuals who default on court-imposed financial obligations, including fines, fees, restitution, or child support payments. The key provision amends New Jersey law to provide greater credit for each day served in jail due to nonpayment, reducing the total amount owed more quickly. This change applies to cases where incarceration results from failure to pay court-ordered financial obligations.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A1397) requires New Jersey's Department of Treasury to update the state's Disparity Study every five years, starting January 1, 2029. The study examines how well small, minority, women, and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses are participating in state government contracts. The updates must track changes in these businesses' availability and use in state procurement. The requirement applies directly to the state's procurement system and the businesses seeking state contracts. The bill builds on the 2024 Disparity Study, mandating regular reviews to inform policy.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 1666) amends New Jersey law to allow people with certain past criminal convictions to serve on juries, removing an automatic disqualification. It directly affects individuals convicted of most serious crimes (indictable offenses) in New Jersey, other states, or federal court, provided they do not have a conviction for murder or aggravated sexual assault. The key change eliminates the automatic bar for these past convictions, though current incarceration for any serious offense still disqualifies someone. The bill maintains existing exceptions for murder (N.J.S.2C:11-3) and aggravated sexual assault (N.J.S.2C:14-2), and does not apply to those currently serving prison sentences.

Maddy summaryThis bill amends New Jersey's 9-1-1 trust fund law to explicitly allow state funds to cover costs incurred by counties and municipalities for 9-1-1 emergency services. It permits the use of trust fund money for expenses like emergency response training, operating costs, and equipment purchases related to maintaining 9-1-1 systems. The bill establishes a priority system for distributing funds, directing them first to county, regionalized, or large centralized 9-1-1 centers, then to other local providers. This change expands the fund's existing scope to directly support local governments' 9-1-1 operations.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill allows retired public employees who received a retirement allowance (excluding disability retirees) to return to an elective public office with their former employer - such as a city council or school board - without losing their retirement benefits. To qualify, retirees must have reached their service retirement age at the time of retirement, the new role must pay under $12,000 annually, and they must return after their retirement allowance becomes payable. The bill ensures retirees can serve again without rejoining the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS), provided federal law compliance is maintained. It directly affects retired state/local government workers who meet these specific conditions.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A 2870) increases pension benefits for New Jersey police and fire personnel who suffer accidental disability or death caused by weapons. Specifically, it raises the accidental disability pension from two-thirds to 100% of the member’s final compensation when the injury or death results from weapon-related incidents during duty. It also increases the accidental death benefit for surviving families in these cases. The change applies to members whose disability or death occurs on or after the bill’s effective date, directly affecting active and retired police/firefighters in New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A2509) creates a new misdemeanor offense for adults who harass, intimidate, or bully minors based on protected characteristics like race, religion, or sexual orientation. It sets fines of up to $100 for a first offense and $250 for repeat offenses for both adults and juveniles (who face a "petty disorderly offense" penalty). The bill mandates that juveniles charged with this offense be diverted to restorative justice programs or counseling instead of formal court proceedings, with courts required to consider factors like the juvenile's age, family circumstances, and program availability. This directly affects minors targeted by bullying and juveniles charged with such acts, shifting focus from punishment to rehabilitation through community-based solutions.