Asm. Bill Spearman

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a legal presumption that joint legal and physical custody is in a child's best interest for all New Jersey child custody cases. It requires courts to assume equal or approximately equal time with both parents and shared decision-making on health, education, and welfare, unless a parent provides clear evidence that joint custody would harm the child. To rebut this presumption, a parent must prove harm with "clear and convincing evidence," and courts must document their reasoning. The law applies directly to parents and judges handling custody disputes in New Jersey courts. If passed, it would shift the default custody arrangement from flexible court discretion to equal shared parenting, with limited exceptions.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill provides a $1,000 annual deduction from state gross income for eligible volunteer firefighters and first aid/rescue squad members. To qualify, volunteers must serve the entire tax year and meet specific service thresholds: firefighters need 60% attendance at alarms/drills plus Firefighter I certification, while first aid/rescue members need 10% attendance at alarms/drills plus approved training or EMT certification. Fire and rescue departments must submit annual lists of qualifying members to state health and community affairs agencies for verification. The deduction applies to taxable years starting after the bill's enactment date.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires courts to presume pretrial detention for certain repeat violent offenders unless the defendant proves otherwise. It directly affects defendants charged with serious crimes like murder, life imprisonment offenses, or two prior violent offenses (including domestic violence involving minors or human trafficking). Key provisions include mandating a court hearing within three business days of a prosecutor's motion, establishing a "rebuttable presumption" for detention, and allowing defendants to challenge the presumption with a preponderance of evidence standard. The law specifies qualifying crimes but does not change bail amounts or release conditions for other cases.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the "New Jersey Grid Modernization Task Force" within the Governor's Office to develop a comprehensive plan for updating the state's electric grid. The task force, made up of state agency leaders, utility representatives, industry experts, and public members, will address grid upgrades needed due to rising electric vehicle adoption, residential solar installations, and electric heating systems. It must submit its master plan - including recommendations for maintaining funding for the Transportation Trust Fund - to the Governor and Legislature within one year, after which the task force will expire. The plan aims to prepare the grid for future energy demands while examining how electric vehicle growth affects transportation funding.

Maddy summaryThis bill helps National Guard and Reserve members who passed police or firefighter civil service exams but couldn't start jobs due to military service. If they served 30+ consecutive days after September 11, 2001, during specified military operations (including Operation Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel), their name moves to the next eligible hiring list for the same job type. It also extends age eligibility - those who met age requirements when the exam closed are considered eligible when their name is added to the new list. The bill applies only to those whose military service prevented completing employment requirements.

Maddy summaryThis New Jersey bill (A 2511) requires courts to presume pretrial detention for certain repeat offenders or those facing serious charges, rather than allowing release on bail. It directly affects defendants with prior convictions for specific crimes - including murder, life-sentence offenses, two or more violent crimes, or domestic violence - when prosecutors file a motion. Key provisions include a rebuttable presumption of detention (meaning defendants can challenge it with evidence), mandatory hearings within three days of a motion, and a lower burden of proof ("preponderance of evidence") to overturn the presumption. The law aims to ensure defendants appear in court and do not pose community safety risks, while still allowing courts to consider release conditions if justified.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a study on wave and tidal energy potential within 12 months of a pilot project. The study must evaluate environmental impacts, economic benefits, grid reliability, and potential incentive programs (like renewable energy credits) to support ocean energy development. It directs the BPU to establish goals for wave and tidal energy as part of the state's clean energy strategy, aiming to position New Jersey as a national leader. The findings will be reported to the Governor and Legislature within 15 months, with recommendations for future policy actions. This affects state energy planning and future development of ocean-based renewable energy infrastructure.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes New Jersey registrars to issue certified electronic copies of vital records - including birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership, and civil union certificates - alongside traditional paper copies. It specifies that authorized requesters (such as the record subject, family members, government agencies, or legal representatives) can receive these electronic copies upon request. The Commissioner of Health must establish security standards for electronic copies, including encryption, identity verification, data privacy protocols, and authentication features to prevent forgery. Registrars may charge fees for electronic copies but must ensure they meet the same legal standards as paper certified copies.

Maddy summaryThis bill requires New Jersey's Attorney General to create a training program for municipal police departments to manage large gatherings (over 500 people) and "flash mobs" (50+ people organized via social media without advance notice, impacting safety). The training covers crowd control techniques, juvenile-specific approaches, social media response strategies, and inter-agency coordination. It also establishes protocols allowing local police to request state resources like mobile command units, social media monitoring tools, and additional personnel during such events. The bill, now effective as part of P.L.2025, c.246, directly affects municipal police departments across New Jersey.

Maddy summaryThis bill (A2529) amends New Jersey law to allow certain substitute teachers to enroll in the Teachers’ Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF). Currently, TPAF eligibility typically applies to regular classroom teachers, but this bill expands it to include specific substitute educators who meet defined criteria. The key provision modifies eligibility rules under N.J.S.18A:66-2 to permit these substitute teachers to contribute to and eventually receive retirement benefits from the fund. It directly affects substitute teachers who qualify under the new enrollment rules, providing them access to a retirement savings system previously unavailable to them. The change focuses on concrete eligibility expansion without altering existing benefit calculations or funding mechanisms.